Creating a Family

The dominant discourse around teen pregnancy and mothering sees it as a mistake and those who opt for it as misguided, reckless, and ill-prepared. Yet few studies actually examine the considerations of young mothers themselves. Drawing on data from interviews with young women, we examine their considerations around getting pregnant, choosing motherhood and negotiating new family patterns. We argue that, far from seeing the conception and birth of their child(ren) as an error, these young women often welcomed their pregnancies and were actively engaged in negotiations with boyfriends, fathers of their children, their own families, and their boyfriends' families to create support structures for themselves and their children. We examine some of the implications for practice which acknowledges and respects the young women's choices around sexuality and reproduction.