More than 40,000 babies were born to teenage mothers in England and Wales in 2005. Although conception rates for the under eighteens are at their lowest for twenty years we still have the highest number of pregnancies in Western Europe. Portrayed in the press as gymslip mums and benefits scroungers, teenage mothers often find themselves the brunt of society's prejudices. Behind the statistics and the stereotypes there are teenage mothers who cope admirably and others who struggle to deal with the consequences of their actions. To find out what life is really like for pregnant teenagers, we follow three of them in the weeks before the birth of their babies: Kevani who is pregnant and in care; Adelle who has found that the support of her family has proved vital in coping with the stress of having a baby and finding somewhere to live; and Natalie who has rediscovered the importance of education when faced with the prospect of bringing a baby into the world.

Video Series: School Matters
Release Date 2006