Issues Regarding MTV's "16 and Pregnant"

One of MTV's latest hit reality TV series is "16 and Pregnant." This is a show basically chronicling the lives of teenage girls whom are dealing with being pregnant. It has given me an opportunity to think a bit more critically about some of the issues involving this show. I believe (don't know for sure) "16 and Pregnant" is a spinoff of "Teen Mom." I will be sure to express myself in my own way as I have done for 700+ blog posts here on "John's Blog Space."

NOTE: This blog post pertains to the show "16 and Pregnant" and is not a spinoff of my "Young and Pregnant" blog post.

WARNING: This blog post concerns a subject matter and themes that may not be suitable for all audiences. Read at your own discretion.

--- Young and Pregnant: Retrospective ---

Before I talk about this show, let me offer some brief insight from my past blog post, "Young and Pregnant." These issues will lead up to me eventually talking about MTV's "16 and Pregnant" show.

I think back to The Maury Show in thinking about episodes where teenage girls are hellbent on being pregnant. I think most about one girl (I think her name was Nicole) who was 15 at the time. Her and her boyfriend, Cruz, were reluctant and willing to have their baby. Cruz was even reluctant to get a job at Chuck E. Cheese's to help financially support the baby. Also, I think back to many other teenage girls who were seriously wanting to become mothers at such young ages. Some of them on Maury end up going to Baby Boot Camp. This is where teens reluctant to have children face the harsh reality of being a mother. Many of these wannabe teen moms fail at taking care of babies from other mothers. If you can't take care of one baby from one parent, how can you take care of children that YOU have?

Something else I think back on was back in the 10th Grade, where I met a girl in my P.E. class at Milby High School here in Houston (this was the 1998-1999 school year for me). I talked to her a bit as she was the only pregnant girl in my class. I had to wonder what exercises she could do and things like that. As my high school times were going to Hell, I ended up in alternative school with more girls in my age range that were either pregnant or have given birth. It led me to wonder how girls within the age range of 13 to 18 could even be pregnant. The feeling was mostly surreal knowing how teenage girls can be pregnant and still be in grade school.

The biggest problem is that being pregnant at a young age really takes away from the sort of freedom you have as a young girl. Instead of hanging out with friends or going out to the mall shopping, you have the responsibility of becoming a mother to your child or children. In addition to school, you have to worry about being a parent while also going to school. EXTRA responsibility on your behalf. Why responsibility? Simple- taking care of children is a lifelong process. There is nothing "cute" about having a child. Wanting to be a mother is a serious responsibility that shouldn't be taken carelessly or haphazardly. It isn't like playing with baby dolls. Think about it- you are giving birth to, and having to manage and raise a child. You have to go through nine months while also staying fit and healthy for both yourself and your baby. After that, you will have to realize that being a parent is a lifelong task. Again- NOTHING "cute" about getting pregnant or wanting to have a child.

There are too many responsibilities to take into account, and you have only one precious life (including the one precious life your child/children will have). Making some poor decisions early in your life may haunt you for the rest of your life. Giving birth to and taking care of a child (or children) is not something most teenage girls still in grade school want to deal with. That's why something like being pregnant early in your life is just too much responsibility for a young girl to have. You should be focused more on school and enjoying your youth rather than concern yourself with being a mother, especially at a young age. Don't put extra responsibility on yourself (as well as your parents) by wanting to be a teen mom. Get school out of the way (graduate), THEN worry about marriage and motherhood.


With this out of the way, let's begin the main point of this blog post.

--- "16 and Pregnant" and its Issues ---

^ from: startingrumors.com (best picture I could find) - Being young and pregnant can be tremendously difficult in going through life while also nursing and providing for a baby.


The first question most people (especially older adults) would wonder is why a teen girl between the ages of 13 and 18 even have unprotected sex. Such parents would be furious at their teen daughters for them to be pregnant while still in Middle School or High School. Here are two more issues that I have with this whole deal:

Issue 1: Why Have Sex Before Age 18?

Unprotected sex at a young age will bring almost ANY parent into an uproar. The first order of business is to even envision that a teenage schoolgirl is pregnant. As we grow older, we begin to think about issues that will affect us later in life. One such aspect involves becoming a parent.

Issue 2: Accepting Being Pregnant as a Teenage Girl.

A big reason why this is such a huge issue is the fact that a girl still in Middle and High School should NOT be having children. While that is true, unprotected sex among teenagers still is a gripping issue. Having such unprotected sex lends itself to the possibilities of being pregnant. If the girl somehow gets knocked up, life changes forever, not just for the pregnant teen girl, but also for the possible teenage boy father.


Those are the two primary issues that come to mind for me with this show.

--- Stepping Up ---

It is important that the teen parents and their respective parents will have to step up to take care of a child or children. Accepting responsibility and living up to responsibility are both key elements in being successful as teen parents. Some parents are understanding and want to help their daughter make the parenting process a bit easier. Some, however, will only offer so much or hardly any support. Stepping up being parents is a responsibility for not only the teen daughter, but also the father of the child (or children).

--- A Harsh Reminder ---

Of all the themes involving teen pregnancy and having sex, it goes to show the potential aftershock of trying to randomly having unprotected sex with as multiple females as possible. It may sound cool for guys to basically have sex with whatever females they want and with as many as they want, but you run the risk of possibly getting someone else pregnant. That scorned female may want to go after you in Maury fashion by pinning a baby or babies on you. Especially if you are with some girl and you have sex with another woman, you may end up having to accept responsibility in being a father figure to a love child.

Don't have unprotected sex with others without considering the consequences of engaging in intercourse. Think ahead to prevent any future problems from occurring or arising. You have the decision to NOT have unprotected sex with a female as much as you have a choice to have unprotected sex with a female.

So think before you have sex. REALLY think.





As if it isn't obvious, you can read my related blog post, "Young and Pregnant" here on John's Blog Space, for more of my thoughts on being pregnant at a young age. Thank you for reading! If you're a fan of the show, why not Become a Fan of (Like) "16 and Pregnant's" Facebook fan page? If you're a fan of me and my online work, why not show your support by doing any (or all) of the following:

Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page and subscribe this blog (and my others) via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Visit (or subscribe):
* Subscribe to John's Blog Space!
* Subscribe to John's Shop Space! (http://jbmshopspace.blogspot.com)
* Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space! (http://johnsgtspace.blogspot.com)

"Expectant Moms Only" Parking Spaces?

Should pregnant women have reserved parking spaces? For a while, I've wanted to blog about this deal here. Some places have parking lots have spaces reserved only for expecting mothers. What if a place has very few parking lots... except for the Pregnant Parking lots? Some people think pregnant women should walk long distance to the store like everybody else. Some, however, love the notion of pregnant parking. Where do YOU stand on this? Here is a picture to help you in your own debate and in your own expressing of opinion:


^ Should businesses feature Expectant Mom Only parking spaces? Should they be enforced in some sort of way? Are there any gray areas regarding these parking spaces? That's for you to debate in this blog post!

I am obviously not a female, so I cannot say that I have any invested interest in this topic or have convincing proof. Various businesses have handicapped parking spaces. You have to have either a handicapped sticker or something like that to be able to legally use these handicapped parking spaces. The only positive I see to pregnant parking spaces is if you are far into your pregnancy, where you could be set to deliver birth rather shortly. Such pregnant parking spaces (to me) should be made specifically available for those at least six months into their pregnancy as opposed to say, a woman six weeks pregnant.

Here's the thing- can you parking these pregnant parking spaces like you would handicapped parking? For example, some woman could probably fit something under her shirt or blouse to look like she's pregnant. Would a woman faking being pregnant face any charges or penalties for faking being pregnant just to get a close entrance into a store or other business? Does a pregnant woman have to be checked and patted down to be certain she is indeed pregnant? Being pregnant is obviously a situation that requires special attention. However, I am not sure if you can really enforce and regulate on expectant mothers. I think their presence is great, but there are too many gray areas in actually enforcing these. I think I would ONLY reserve these for those who are far into their pregnancy. I put in that threshold in an "in case of emergency" deal. What if the mom has pains far into her pregnancy when parking in a certain space? Especially if you are due to deliver shortly, you NEED to have a parking space close to the front doors because you want to be in and out of that business quickly as possible without having to be in that place for so long. If anything, these are special services offered out of convenience rather than something to be strictly enforced, regulated, and administered by any governmental agencies or authorities.

However, some feel expectant mothers should walk anyways than have the special privledge of having special parking spaces reserved for them. That's why I'm asking for your input. So what do you make of special parking spaces for pregnant women? Comment away! Oh, here is an article regarding these parking spaces: Stork Parking, on about.com.

Thank you for reading! Subscribe to my blog via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Click on the graphics below to subscribe to both of my blogs, and also Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page:
* Subscribe to John's Blog Space!
* Subscribe to John's Shop Space! (http://jbmshopspace.blogspot.com)
* Subscribe to the all-new John's Gran Turismo Space! (http://johnsgtspace.blogspot.com)

Hot Mama!

(UPDATED: February 28, 2012)

Congratulations to all of you moms-to-be! Maternity fashion doesn't have to be just a bunch of frumpy fashions. Designers have come along with various fashions for pregnant ladies. In addition, there are even sexy clothes for pregnant women. I want to be very careful talking about pregnant fashion here. Obviously, I'm not a female. I don't have a girlfriend or anything. I am NO professional on maternity fashion, and I am ESPECIALLY not a professional on the whole pregnancy process! Do not slam me just because I get certain things wrong! Most of my own commentary regards things I've read online as well as certain fashions I've seen in pictures. What I can do, however, is talk about fashion for expecting mothers.

With this said, it's time to move on. But first:

BEFORE I BEGIN... There are a number of different terms to describe a pregnant female. To keep things simple and professional, I will avoid using terms such as the following to describe someone pregnant: "preggo," "preggers," "[baby] bump," etc. Some of these terms are silly to begin with, so I'm just keeping things simple and real. You already know I'm all about keeping things real. So please enjoy this blog post!

LATEST UPDATE:

FEB 28 2012 - edited pictures and added extra content

--- Maternity Fashion at a Glance ---

http://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/black-woman-pregnant.jpg

^ from: www.gendenk.org - Becoming a mommy? Congratulations!

You don't have to wear a T-shirt and some sweatpants while pregnant. If anything, there are various fashion items to help you look stylish while sporting a pregnant belly (or baby bump, or whatever you want to call being pregnant). Finding the right clothes would entirely depend on how far along in your pregnancy you are. There are primarily three "levels" of pregnant fashion- maternity itself, nursing, and post-baby.

Maternity Clothes.

The majority of this blog post will regard fashions for pregnant females. Common belief is that being pregnant means you can no longer enjoy wearing your ultra-chic, real sexy, real cute clothes. That's not true as certain designers, including maternity fashion lines and maternity specialists. This is where those nine months of child-bearing goodness take form. This is where shopping for clothes to help compliment your pregnant body begin to take form. Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you have to wear frumpy and dull clothes. There are shapers you can wear if pregnant.

Maternity Nursing Clothes.

After giving birth to your child or children (congratulations!), you will need to get yourself some clothes to help you in nursing your little one(s) to health. Nursing clothes (also refered to as transitional clothes) allow you to do just that by helping you better be able to breastfeed to your little one(s). Clothes that are nursing-friendly (especially those designed for nursing) mostly have certain openings that make breastfeeding simple and unobtrusive.

Post-Baby.

You've given birth to a baby or babies! Now it's time for you to gain back your lovely body prior to being pregnant. You will need to exercise to work to get your body back to its former shape prior to pregnancy. Or... it's possible you can have a LOVELIER body than when or before you became pregnant! Certain clothes and certain compression binders help you to regain your body's fabulous form. These compression binders help make the post-baby body process easier and faster to help you get back to your pre-pregnant body. Or as I mentioned earlier, you may even work yourself out to be lovelier than even when you became pregnant.


The majority of this blog post primarily pertains to maternity clothing. This was not meant to be a serious resource on what you need to know in becoming pregnant or anything like that. All about the clothes here.

--- Remaining Sexy When Pregnant? ---

This is a strange issue to some. Strange in the sense that you wonder how to remain sexy and confident when pregnant. And I'm like... hello! You're about to deliver a baby (or babies)! How much more sexy do you need to be and feel?

Being a pregnant female is beautiful in its own ways. After all, you are the bearer of a baby (or babies). Being a mother should be a beautiful feeling and should be treated with great responsibility and pride. One of my friends who was pregnant in the past talked about enjoying being pregnant. She mentioned things like enjoying the feeling of becoming a mother and remaining positive through her pregnancy.

--- Glorifying Pregnancy? ---

^ from: foolzfun.com, by way of imageshack.us - While Demi Moore's pregnant shoot for Vanity Fair in 1991 was risqué, Christina Aguilera's picture on the cover of the January 2008 edition of Marie Claire was equally risqué.

While being pregnant is a wonderful and joyous occasion, the thing that has made me uncomfortable was in glorifying pregnancy to be cool. Case in point- your favorite female celebrity gets pregnant. What happens next? Many (usually younger females) want to have their own baby so they think they can be cool. It's that "celebrities are doing it, why not me?" deal. If you want to read much more about my thoughts on youth pregnancy, read my blog entry called "Young and Pregnant."

More Attractive When Pregnant?

^ from: olx.com - Some people find pregnant women more beautiful than or as beautiful as non-pregnant women.

Speaking as a male, there are some males who think females are more attractive when pregnant. Most of us guys are usually into females with slender and attractive bodies. We often become romanticized on the image of a pregnant female, especially ones that have their pregnant bellies exposed. I came across a website where people have posted notes about what makes pregnant women attractive. According to what I read, there are hormones added to make women more attractive when pregnant. These include features like fuller lips (for example) to keep the father aroused and attracted to her. Pregnancy may be nightmarish considering how much your body swells up or being grumpier than usual. If you suffer from stretch marks in being pregnant, you will likely have to rub some sort of cream or oil or whatever to help take away the stretch marks.

Is it Okay to Flaunt Your Pregnant Belly?

^ from: imageshack.us - How confident are you at showcasing your pregnant belly?

The image of a pregnant female, especially in a romantic and enticing way, expresses something totally beautiful. There is a romantic and ultra-feminine quality of a female about to populate the world with her offspring. Think of a strong woman ready to populate the world with a heavenly offspring of her own. Nothing makes any female more beautiful than when a female is confident about herself and her body. I am someone who believes in three "B's" that make any female beautiful- breasts, belly, and butt. In this context, we're discussing the belly. I think it is a showing of confidence and beauty for a pregnant lady to showcase her pregnant belly. Not as many females are happy or as confident in their evolving bodies in showcasing their pregnant belly. That is why so many very confident females show their pregnant belly in a romantic way. If there is more reason to be convinced at the appeal of showing off your pregnant body, you gain weight as you become pregnant. Your body is still changing as you are trying to properly and safely deliver your unborn child to the world. Therefore, it is even more of a confidence boost to say that while a female is gaining weight, she still loves herself and her body enough to showcase her beauty to onlookers. In ways, you can say that a pregnant woman still confident to show off her pregnant bare belly to others and in pictures boasts as much confidence as a plus size female confident about her own body.

As an artist, I think there is artistic beauty of showcasing your pregnant belly in an artistic or romantic way. This is one time in your life where you feel like you are a goddess. You may or never may become pregnant again. If you become pregnant, this is a chance for you to look great while also bearing an yet-to-be-born child.





I have MUCH more to share than what you just read. I have included this Jump Break for performance purposes. Make sure you are reading the full blog entry. If you are, disregard this line. If not, click on "Read More" to see the rest of this blog entry, which includes resources to various maternity specialists, maternity fashion lines, resources for petite and plus size maternity fashions, and more! Click on "Read More" if you are not reading the full post and if you enjoyed this blog post so far.

--- Maternity Fashion in Pictures ---

The next section will feature pregnant fashion in pictures. These are certain garments for pregnant females. I had initially intended this section to include various pregnant females in pictures. But because I've struggled to find pregnant pictures to help keep this blog moving, I will mostly just discuss certain garments. Consider this a digest of maternity fashion in this section. So here is a look at pregnant fashion through pictures:

Maternity Tops and Dresses.

^ from: www.motherhood.com (couldn't find anything better) - A sleeveless maternity top with fun floral designs.

Here is the first example that maternity fashion doesn't have to be frumpy or ugly. This top would be beautiful even if it wasn't made for pregnant women. A similarly-styled top would look equally lovely on a non-pregnant woman. A good pair of jeans and some cute pumps or sandals will set you straight with a top like this. And of course, nothing says "hot!" quite like a sleeveless chic top.



^ from: 3critical.wordpress.com - A pregnant T-shirt with a funny message.

Just as much as there are novelty tees for almost anything, there are also things like novelty maternity tees, such as the picture above. It's always nice to have a sense of humor in making pregnancy fun. Those who fancy novelty T-shirts usually find something fun to wear as a top showcasing your pregnancy.



^ from: olx.com - A cute, feminine maternity top paired with jeans and sandals.

Again- this top looks lovely even if it were not made for pregnant women. The patterns and style make this very lovely and fun to wear. Take note of the loose sleeves as well as the neckline- very chic and fun. It's girly. It's cute. It's ANYTHING but frumpy. Of course, the look is topped off with a lovely pair of jeans and some chic sandals.



^ from: just4mums.com.au - A casual maternity dress can be just as lovely as a formal one.

Dresses can still be fun to wear even when pregnant. You can still enjoy wearing airy and cute dresses, just that there are some casual maternity dresses that can be just as lovely as most non-maternity dresses.



^ from: pregnancyfashion.sheknows.com - You can still be one glamourous pregnant party princess even when it's party time!

You can still look glamourous (even when pregnant) for a night out or for a party! If the occasion is a fancy party or anything that coincides with my "Party Time!" blog post, a dress like this is still fun and elegant for formal (or even semi-formal) functions. Something like the dress above will help you in looking and feeling beautiful even with formal occasions or certain parties.



^ from: kaboodle.com - A formal-type long gown for pregnant women.

Whomever said you can't look stylish in a formal gown while pregnant is kidding himself/herself. When the occasion calls for a formal dress that is as beautiful as the pregnant lady wearing is, you'd be surprised what beautiful formal dresses there are to compliment and flatter a pregnant lady.

Maternity Bottoms.

^ from: www.momfinds.com - Everyone (let alone females) want a good-fitting and stylish pair of jeans. Even when pregnant, you can still enjoy wearing good jeans.


^ from: babble.com - There are also other bottoms (such as shorts, pants, and skirts) specially tailored for pregnant women. They serve the same purpose as the maternity jeans from the previous picture.

As much as you enjoyed them before pregnancy, jeans are still enjoyable bottoms while pregnant. Maternity jeans allow you to enjoy the appeal and style of jeans even as you're due to give birth. Denim designers, ranging from affordable makes to high-end makes, make these jeans available to many pregnant women. For example, I saw a pair of maternity jeans online from either Chip and Pepper or 7 for All Mankind. Other maternity bottoms, such as pants and skirts, allow the same amount of comfort and style during your pregnancy. These bottoms have spandex belly bands to help offer back support and lower belly support. They basically help keep your lower body secure and shape your body firmly.



^ from: runningskirts.com - A mom must still remain active. Would you, then... do some running while pregnant? This mom-to-be did!

Feeling sporty? Well, fitness is important in becoming a mom. Have to be sure to remain in shape and active even as you're due to give birth. There is a good deal of maternity activewear for sporty moms-to-be. Items such as yoga pants, active skorts, and things like that help sporty moms look and feel sporty cute.

Nursing Clothes.

^ from: sheknows.com/pregnancyfashion.sheknows.com - Proper nursing clothes allow you to easily breastfeed your baby.

In post-baby times, you'll need to do some breastfeeding to properly nurse your baby/babies to health. Nursing clothes have certain panels and plackets to make breastfeeding easy. Some nursing clothes are cute even if not pregnant. However, these nursing clothes are very much functional as you're nursing your newborn(s) or trying to regain your original body doing post-baby exercise.

Fun With Pregnancy: Belly Painting!

^ from: meredith.com - A creative way to express your pregnant belly is to have someone do a painting on your belly.

Body paint on a pregnant belly yields itself to having fun while still pregnant. These painters use pregnant bellies and paint on pregnant bellies making creative paintings on them. FDA-approved, hypoallergenic, water-based makeup are used for body painting on pregnant bellies. One such website offering these pregnant belly paintings is pregnantbellypainting.com. Some of the work featured from this site has been featured on ABC and CBS. You can learn more about this site by visiting www.pregnantbellypainting.com.


That covers maternity from a style standpoint. Thanks for reading!

--- Maternity Fashions: Special Conditions ---

I recommend you visit Maternity Fashions - LoveToKnow Pregnancy for all of your pregnant fashion advice, as it covers lots of ground in brief pieces. Here are two separate topics in pregnancy.

Petite and Pregnant.

This is for you sweet petites out there! Here is a resource for you if you are a petite lady (5'4" or shorter) set to give birth: Finding Petite Maternity Clothing

(ADDED: October 5, 2011) Sydney of "PetiteLittleGirl" answered one reader's questions about being pregnant and petite. To gain some insight from a petite mother, feel free to draw inspiration from Sydney by reading this blog post: "Reader Corner: How to shop for petite-friendly maternity wear" on PetiteLittleGirl.

Plus Size and Pregnant.

This is for you plus size moms-to-be who want some maternity fashion advice. Here is a resource to help you out here: 5 Plus-Size Maternity Fashion Tips

More resources will be added in the future to better suit and service my audience.

--- Maternity Fashion: Designers and Specialists ---

I will mostly focus on the "specialist" side here. Various designers have maternity lines, and some others are maternity fashion specialists. Click on any of the headings to visit their official websites (if offered). If they are also on Amazon, you can click on the alternate link to shop for their fashions on Amazon. Because my blog is read internationally, I may find some non-American sites for you to visit if wanting to shop online for maternity fashion. International sites will have their nationality listed in parentheses.


--- American Specialists (or are all of them?) ---

A Pea in the Pod.

A Pea in the Pod on Amazon
A Pea in the Pod is a maternity fashion specialist with a vast array of garments for pregnant women. The Philadelphia-based retailer offers a variety of tops, bottoms, dresses (from casual dresses to formal dresses), sleepwear, and more from dozens of designers. It is the first retailer that comes to mind for me when thinking of maternity fashion.

Motherhood Maternity.

Motherhood Maternity on Amazon
Like A Pea in the Pod (and with a similar website), Motherhood Maternity also specializes in a variety of maternity fashions for women.

BellaBlu Maternity.

You're due to give birth to beautiful offspring. Why not wear maternity clothes as beautiful as you are? BellaBlu makes this all possible. It features lovely maternity clothes, lovely nursing clothes, gifts, baby furniture, and more. In addition, there are also maternity clothes for petites and plus size women. So you can say that this is a real all-in-one online store for moms-to-be and for post-baby goods.

Japanese Weekend.

Japanese Weekend on Amazon
Also specializing in maternity fashion is Japanese Weekend Maternity and Nursing, based in San Francisco, CA, USA. They have no shortage of functional and fashionable items for the pregnant woman. Have a look at their many collections. Japanese Weekend even has green (as in eco-friendly) fashions for you green types out there.

Liz Lange.

Liz Lange specializes in sophisticated and stylish maternity fashions. Her maternity fashions have been around since 1997 with her own line and since 2002 offering her fashions to Target. A vast collection of garments are offered by this designer to help you look your best as you're due to give birth. Her fashions are available through the official website and through Liz Lange for Target Maternity.

Olian Maternity.

Olian Maternity specializes in stylish high-end maternity fashions. From cute to sexy, casual to classy, Olian has the right kind of fashions to make you one hot mom-to-be!

Due Maternity.

Duematernity.com retails various maternity fashions from various designers. Make this your all-in-one maternity fashion online store.

One Hot Mama.

Based in Los Angeles, CA, USA (and this blog post's title is NOT named after for); One Hot Mama has one philosophy- you're a 21st Century mom-to-be. Why not look your hottest? You can visit their website or check out One Hot Mama's Amazon Store.

MommyLicious Maternity.

Think of Mommylicious Maternity as being two flavors- cute and sexy. Rather than modest and stylish maternity fashions, they offer their own style of cute maternity fashions. These are mostly chic and somewhat edgy maternity fashions on the cute side. On the sexy side, however, they offer some more daring chic fashions including intimates. The "sexy" clothes from MommyLicious are not seriously over the top- just more ultra-feminine and some casual fashions.

Destination Maternity.

If motherhood is your destination, let Destination Maternity steer you in the correct direction! They retail lots of maternity and nursing clothes and gifts for mommies. Look your best while also proudly bearing the world's most beautiful baby/babies (at least to you)!

Beautiful You Maternity.

Vast resources and items are offered for moms-to-be here, including petite and plus size maternity fashions. They offer some lovely-looking clothes. Feel free to give B.Y. Maternity a visit!

ASOS Maternity (USA ASOS Site).

The maternity fashions of the world-famous ASOS is featured here. The link takes you to the USA store of ASOS for maternity fashions. Tops and bottoms from ASOS are offered. The best thing about ASOS' website is that you can view runway models wearing these fashions, so you get an idea as to how each garment looks and feels. Also, you get to hear a little song to compliment the look. :)

BellyBra.

The BellyBra is designed to help you prevent pain in your upper body as you are set to deliver your baby/babies. Recommended to be worn during your third trimester, this can help take some weight off of your pelvis, thereby limiting pain on your lower back. The BellyBra is a top. I mean that in saying it is essentially a top you can wear while still feeling comfortable doing almost anything. Learn more by visiting www.bellybra.com (or click on the heading to this area).

Baby Nursery Rooms.

If you want to shop for furniture and other furnishings for your new baby/babies, Baby Nursery Rooms offers a vast array of home furnishings for your baby or babies. It also includes nursery safety tips as well as various kinds of decor for your baby/babies. (PERSONAL NOTE) I want to thank a loyal reader for suggesting this site to me for inclusion to this blog post.



Now let me take you around the world to see maternity fashions outside of the United States.

Wee World (Canada).

Wee World is a home-based business in New Brunswick, Canada. Many items are available for mommy, the baby/babies, and even daddy.

Mummy and Little Me Maternity Wear (United Kingdom).

Mummy and Little Me can be found in the United Kingdom. Their stores in Birmingham, Leeds, and Lincoln feature various items for moms-to-be as well as lots of gifts and items for post-baby mommies. You can, of course, shop for their maternity gear at their home page online.

L'avenue des bébés (France).

As you may know, fashion is a big deal in France. So be fabulously French by checking out L'avenue des bébés. This French online store offers many feminine and fashionable maternity clothing items. Unfortunately, I think they only offer maternity clothes, not nursing clothes. It is still worth a visit. Most of the website is in French, but there is still a good amount of English-language material so that you don't scratch your head trying to understand what the site is about.

Polline srl Maternity Wear (Italy).

Be bellissima (Italian for "beautiful") with Italy's Polline srl Maternity Wear. Both SARA... and menonove are offered from this online store. The site links you to the Italian page. However, there are language options available for English, German, French, and Spanish sites.

Boob Design (Sweden).

The Swedish designer known as Boob Design specializes in maternity fashions and has done so since 1999. Since their store site is in Swedish, you may have trouble understanding the text on this site if you don't speak or know Swedish. The site includes a brand site and its own store.

Maternity Lane (South Africa).

A South African online store based in Gauteng, South Africa; Maternity Lane features fashions for both moms-to-be and babies themselves. They even offer petite and plus size maternity fashion. I didn't see any nursing fashions offered, though, when I checked this site.

Sweet Mommy (Japan).

• Sweet Mommy (English/Multilingual; Alternate Link)
This Japanese retailer of maternity fashions specializes in a variety of fashions. Maternity and nursing fashions are offered with many cute styles. Their clothese are colorful and cute no matter what styles may interest you from Sweet Mommy. You're going to give birth to cute offspring... why not look as cute as the baby/babies you will deliver? The link takes you to the Japanese site, but English, French, and Italian sites are also offered. Click on the link below the Sweet Mommy heading to visit the English Sweet Mommy Site, which also features currency conversion if you plan on shopping for their clothes.

Just 4 Mums (Australia).

Just for you moms-to-be in Australia, this site features lots of items for you Australian moms. Many resources and styles for you moms-to-be in Australia.

Motherhood Maternity Wear (Australia).

Mommies in Australia can seek maternity and nursing fashions online from Motherhood Maternity Wear. Based in Ormond, Victoria, Australia; they have many fashions so that you can still be chic while and after pregnant. Everything from clothes to swimwear are offered as well as maternity fashions for plus size women.

EGG Maternity (New Zealand).

The maternity fashions offered by New Zealand's EGG Maternity are vast and varied. Loads of different items are available for you Kiwi moms to look your best while reluctantly ready to give birth.


More specialists may be added in the future. These are various stores and collections with maternity lines offered. Click on any one that you are interested in to visit their official sites. More may be added in future edits, so if you have enjoyed your reading here, I MAY be able to interest you in more sites.


--- Maternity Lines ---
• Love 21 (Forever 21's maternity fashion line)
• GapMaternity (The Gap's maternity line)
• Ann Taylor Loft - maternity line
• Maternity on Saks Fifth Avenue (better have a lot of money!)

--- Maternity from Major Retailers ---
• JCPenney Maternity
• Target Maternity
• Walmart (or Wal-Mart) Maternity
• Kohl's Maternity
• Sears Maternity

More links will be added in future edits.






That concludes this blog post regarding maternity fashion. I want to try to work on a blog post for John's Shop Space featuring certain individual fashions for those looking to shop for maternity fashion online through Amazon. You can use these Amazon widgets below to shop for maternity fashions ranging from maternity to nursing/transition fashions. Change up the search text to include anything you are interested in (relevant to this blog post recommended). For example, change "maternity" to "petite maternity" for petite maternity fashion items. Change "maternity" to "maternity dresses" to find maternity dresses that may interest you. Have a look around and thank you for reading my blog and its entries (including this one)!

The JSS blog post is complete! You have two options if shopping for maternity and nursing fashions...

A.) Click on this link to enter my John's Shop Space blog post on this topic:
"Hot Mama!" on John's Shop Space, click on this graphic below to visit the John's Shop Space entry:



, or...

B.) Treat yourself to maternity fashions in this section:

For maternity clothing in general (of various kinds):

For maternity clothing:

For nursing fashions (which includes lingerie)

I would gladly appreciate your business if you buy something that interests you on Amazon. I hope you are able to find something you will enjoy.





Thank you for reading!

Love John's Blog Space? If so (and if you haven't yet subscribed or followed), Subscribe and/or Follow! Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page and subscribe this blog (and my others) via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Visit (or subscribe):
• Subscribe to John's Blog Space!
• Subscribe to John's Shop Space! (http://jbmshopspace.blogspot.com)
• Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space! (http://johnsgtspace.blogspot.com)

Young and Pregnant

Being Pregnant at Age 18 or Younger Can Pose Many Problems.

NOTE: This blog entry concerns a discomforting topic. Reader discretion is advised and encouraged.

(UPDATED: October 14, 2011)

If you normally watch The Maury Show (as I do), you know full well about the paternity drama that ensues on most of the episodes of Maury for the more than 15 years of Maury's existence. What this blog entry is mostly about is in becoming a mother at a young age. I become disgusted about teen girls wanting to become a mother even before graduating from school. It is a great ambition to become a mother. However, do you REALLY want to go through with this at a young age? You can't just "populate the world" without being completely physically and financially able to support a child. What about cooking and cleaning for a baby? What about taking a baby to the doctor? What about making sure the baby is safe from any danger?

Becoming a mother (even of an adopted child) can be a wonderful. There is NOTHING like becoming a parent. You have a chance to bring a child (or children) into the world to live happy and prosperous lives. However, there are some teenagers who think they are so grown that they can handle adulthood... but most still aren't even high school graduates! There is a lack of responsibility and self-esteem in wanting to bring a child into the world at such a young age. You can't just bring a baby into the world without having some kind of way to take care of the baby. Not even playing with baby dolls will prepare you for being a real mother. And what about those prospective teen moms who just have sex with as many men as possible to try to get pregnant? Having a baby is pretty much assured when having sex with multiple partners. But, who actually FATHERS your baby? Being this sort of wild child can come back to bite you, leaving you to crash and burn.

This blog entry concerns the issue of youth pregnancy, but I'm mostly concerned about pregnant teens. I named it as "youth pregnancy" because I have heard of girls 13 or younger who became pregnant.

INTERESTING FACT: The youngest female human to ever give birth was a five-year old girl in Peru back in 1939. The baby was delivered by Cesarean section. Read more about this five-year old pregnant girl on oddee.com.

--- Teen Pregnancy at a Glance ---

^ from: clevelandleader.com - a pregnant teenage girl.

Teens becoming pregnant is a concern, but nowhere near the level of concern of teen girls who love to have sex just to become pregnant... and doesn't care who the father of the baby is. Before I get to my own commentary, below are some statistics I looked up online.

Here are some statistics on teen pregnancy:

(source: pregnantteenhelp.org)
• The United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy of any industrialized nation in the Western Hemisphere
• Teen pregnancy costs the United States $7,000,000,000 USD (about as much as the US' national debt!).
• 1/3 of girls will be pregnant in their teen years.

More statistics...
• Approximately 750K teenagers in the United States annually become pregnant.
• Nevada has the highest rate of teen pregnancy (113 per 1,000 teens); North Dakota with the lowest at (42 per 1,000 teens)
• 24% of all unmarried mothers in the United States are teenage girl mothers.
• 2/3 of all pregnant teen girls in the United States will not graduate from high school.
• Billions of US Dollars are spent trying to take care of teen moms, but millions more spent on prevention programs.


You can read many more statistics on teen pregnancy in the United States by reading the link where I got this information from: Teen Pregnancy Statistics. Teen pregnancy is taxing, both in time and effort, but also financially. No one teen mother can honestly say (and prove) she is financially ready and responsible to take care of a baby. Why do you think parents become upset about something like this? Unless a teen mother can take care of herself (which is very unlikely), the parents have their own financial issues to attend to. A teen mother will only exasperate how much parents are spending anyways in trying to maintain a healthy household and stay financially stable.

Later in this blog post, I have some resources for you all to check out in case you are interested in providing facts and cold hard truths about teen pregnancy.

--- Forever 21's Controversial Love 21 Line ---

Forever 21, a fashion line for teens and young adults, recently launched a maternity lineup of clothes called Love 21. The controversy lies in marketing maternity clothes to a mostly Junior-exclusive fashion line. A report from CNN in July of this year indicated that Love 21 was unveiled in five states. These states with Love 21 include: Texas, Alaska, Arizona, Utah, and California. Texas, Arizona, and California are among 15 states with some of the highest teen pregnancy rates.

The controversy is that some feel Forever 21 is marketing this Love 21 line to teens "on purpose" in the states with high teen pregnancy rates. Love 21's executive vice president, Larry Meyer, says it is not marketed specifically to teen girls or in the aforementioned states.

Links...

• To read the full report from CNN, visit: "Forever 21 asked about maternity line" on CNN Living.
• There is also this Associated Content post: "Forever 21 Maternity Line Controversy," on Associated Content
• If you're interested in the Love 21 lineup, visit: Forever 21's Love 21 line.

--- A Personal Story ---

Here is a personal story. One time back in about 1998, I was a student at Milby High School here in Houston. There was a girl in my Physical Education class who was pregnant. It was the first time I had ever known someone around my age in high school who is pregnant. I wasn't even sure what exercises were right for her. A year later (long story short), I'd basically get kicked out of my former high school to go towards this alternative school. So from my days at H.P. Carter Alternative here in Houston, my eyes were opened to a few more girls my age or younger/older.

Pregnant... and still in high school. It was an eye-opener for me because I never thought you could be young and pregnant.

--- Commentary Piece ---

One of the roughest realities of being young and pregnant is that it can impacts your life in a serious way. You won't be able to live your young life and enjoy life. The thing that disgusts me the most about some teen girls is the desire and ambition to become pregnant. I become disgusted with out-of-control teens who think they are so grown that they want to have children. You know... having unprotected sex with all kinds of men, being a wild party girl who takes drugs and drinks hard liquor at such a young age, and stuff like that. What I become more disgusted in is a young teen who loves having sex with other men, gets pregnant... and doesn't care who the father is. THEN guess what? You'll end up on The Maury Show or The Steve Wilkos Show (I prefer Maury with all due respect) complaining to every guy you remember having sex with that he is the father.

This is somewhat of a critical stand, but part of me blames entertainment media for showcasing and fetishizing pregnancy. A by-product of young girls getting pregnant is mostly when you hear of famous celebrities giving birth. We become so fixated and influenced by celebrities that we try to pattern our lives about almost EVERYTHING we love about famous people. And in the case of female celebrities getting knocked up, having baby bump, or whatever you want to call being pregnant (I HATE the words "preggers" or "preggo" to describe someone pregnant), some teen girls especially get the idea that (tell me if you heard/seen this before) if celebrities are doing it, why not us non-celebrities? So some teen girls want to become pregnant so they can enjoy parenthood at a young age and feel "grown." They are mostly influenced by living wild and out-of-control lifestyles semi-inspired by some celebrities. When you're young, you have to care more about living your life and gaining a quality education. You're not going to have the same level of freedom and fun when you become a young mother. You have to basically commit to and take care of a baby. This also applies to consuming the right foods to help make sure your baby is delivered in a healthy way. You can't be drinking Vodka and overdosing on drugs when you're trying to deliver a healthy baby (or babies). What negative you consume could impair the baby for perhaps the rest of his/her life. You may even suffer miscarriages and stillborn babies.

Pregnancy (at least among American celebrities) is promoted and marketed in a way that pregnancy is about as cool as being rich and famous. Pregnancy, however, is a life-long dedication to nurture, educate, and maintain a healthy baby. Even if you have a baby that has some ailments or whatever, it is still a lifetime of love and care to take care of a baby. Maybe you try to have a baby but fail to deliver or become pregnant. It doesn't mean you try to have sex with guys you don't even know or care about just to become pregnant. Just having sex with tens to hundreds of men mean that you don't even care about means that you will just be on your own taking care of your baby or babies. You basically act as if you just want a baby for yourself without regard for whomever the father is. However, what happens when the baby becomes a child (or even a teenager or young adult) and he/she wants to know who daddy is apart from your wild child ways?

Sometimes watching The Maury Show, I hear these teen girls say that their parents will take care of the children. Two things... (1) what if the parents aren't there? (2) What happens when parents REFUSE to help? You may be fortunate if parents are willing to step up to take care of both you and your baby, but will mostly be disappointed in their young teens trying to get pregnant, thinking they are grown. Giving birth is about raising and maintaining children. It is about mom and dad contributing to be in the child's/childrens' life/lives. If you are young and want a child so bad, go to a Toys 'R US or someplace and get a baby doll. Then when REALLY ready to experience parenthood (in other words, marrying a man and wanting to have a child), THEN worry about pregnancy. Otherwise... you may end up having to drop out of school and try to get your GED rather than trying to get your high school diploma at 18 or younger. You have the rest of your life ahead of you... don't risk it at a young age by trying to become pregnant at such a young age. Worry more about education than trying to get pregnant while still young.

--- There is Still Hope... ---

Not every teen mother has severe difficulties. Some are actually able to properly take care of their babies. This is where parents and loved ones usually step up to try to raise and maintain a healthy and happy baby. Most of my venting has been about teen girls who think they are so grown that they want to have children and live fabulously. Parents may be able to help you, but some will not be as reluctant. If there is a child, mom and dad (even future mom and dad) need to step up in a big way. I've once known a girl who was 14 (at the time), and her mother was 29. The parents and teen parents will need to step up to take care of a child.

It's not the end of the world if you're a teen and pregnant. It just means that people have to step up in taking care of a baby from a teen mother. It has to be all hands on deck and a total team effort. Not every family is so advantageous, but a big salute to families who step up to take care of a baby from a young mother. That includes being able to financially take care of the baby or babies.

--- A Disgusting Experience: Negligent Teen Moms ---

(ADDED: October 14, 2011)
Watching Maury yesterday, there was an episode that showcased teenage moms who'd rather have sex and party than properly take care of their children. As if being a teen mom is stressing enough, imagine being a teen mom and not even care about raising your children. For one thing, being pregnant at such a young age should never happen. There is a lot in your young life to experience before even thinking about becoming a mother. Some teen girls, though, just feel they are too grown and look at having children as having an extra pair of clothing or shoes.

I hated to see how teenage girls could be so abusive and disrespect their own children. It was just terrible watching these teen moms just... basically give up on being responsible and respectful parents. You wanted a baby so bad, and now that you have these babies, you don't want to take the responsibility and the burden of taking care of them yourself. Your parents may or may not have helped you. Still- this is YOUR child, YOU wanted this baby so bad, and YOU are failing miserably both as a mother and as a human being. You are giving parenting a bad name with your negligence. Who wants to be proud of treating a baby so poorly, let alone a mother at a young age? Get with the program, or your child/children may not grow up to be as well and as educated as he/she/they could be.

Just my opinion. That episode was just so poor to watch.

--- Teen Pregnancy Resources ---

Here are some resources online to help you in getting through teen pregnancy. I suggest any of you teen mothers to visit at least one of these resources I've found:

Resources For Teens...

• Pregnant Teen Help
• Teen Pregnancy on TeenHelp.com
• Adolescent Reproductive Health, from the CDC
• Teen Pregnancy on LIVESTRONG.COM
• stayteen.org
• Overview, Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy
• Raising Awareness About Teen Pregnancy | the Candies Foundation

For Parents...

If you are the mother or a parent of a pregnant teen, here are some resources for you:
• Parenting a Pregnant Teen, from parentingmyteen.com
• When Your Teen Is Having a Baby
• March of Dimes - Teenage Pregnancy


The entire month of May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. One day out of the entire month of May is devoted to as being the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy was founded in 1996. Learn more about this occasion by visiting The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's website.


(UPDATE: Dec. 7, 2010) - I have set up a blog post called "Hot Mama!" which involves maternity fashion. If you want to read my blog post regarding maternity and nursing fashion, you may visit either of the following blog posts:

• Hot Mama! (JBS) - my blog on maternity fashion
• Hot Mama! (JSS) - my blog on maternity fashion with items from Amazon






I've looked at this issue from a number of perspectives. Let me know how you think I did by posting comments. Share ANY of my blog entries with others if you love my content. Thank you for your reading!

Thank you for reading!

Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page and subscribe this blog (and my others) via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Visit (or subscribe):
• Subscribe to John's Blog Space!
• Subscribe to John's Shop Space! (http://jbmshopspace.blogspot.com)
• Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space! (http://johnsgtspace.blogspot.com)

Issues Regarding MTV's "My Super Sweet 16"

Sometimes, sixteen ain't so sweet. Anyone who's seen this MTV series know what this is all about- social status, turning a new leaf, and more boastfully... being spoiled... and arguing. This blog entry focuses more about some of the issues and themes of people featured in these episodes rather than retrospective on the series itself.

--- "My Super Sweet 16" Synopsis ---

^ from: pendulumopinions.wordpress.com - My Super Sweet 16- both a reality TV series and a reality check.

There are understandably people who cannot stand MTV programming. In case you don't know what this series was about, let me provide you a synopsis of this series.

The series mostly features girls in their mid or late teen years of (usually) rich families having these lavish birthday parties for their little birthday girl (or boy). The majority of teens featured are usually very spoiled and have an attitude of "gimme, gimme, gimme!" There are some issues that tend to deter the progress of a party going great. In some episodes, I can remember a girl's credit card being canceled, some girls needing to make good grades just to have a party, and things like that. It's all about the birthday boys/girls, but the parents are playing a serious role in making sure the kids have their heads straight. The parties themselves have this kind of theme: plan a party, type of party, bring in a musical guest, high-dollar birthday gift. Those music guests are usually big-name artists and groups. They vary from pop stars, hip-hop stars, even some rock groups. The only one I can readily remember are Bow Wow, Lucas Prata, and that's about it (maybe Texas' own Ciara as well).

So that's this show in its most basic sense.

--- The Issues of "My Super Sweet 16" ---

^ from: remotecontrol.mtv.com - "It's MY party, and I'll _____ if I want to!"

This section focuses on all of the various issues from episodes I've seen of "My Super Sweet 16." All areas come with my own commentary. So let's go!


Spoiled.

^ from: mtv.com - "I get what I want because I'm so blessed and special! Don't be jealous!"

I'm not going to admit to being spoiled, but some of the ones that are on this show are treated almost like royalty. A great majority of the (especially females on the show) are basically spoiled. And for them, it's nothing because they love having things their way even if hissy fits are thrown.


I Get What I Want!
One episode of "My Super Sweet 16" featured one teen girl getting a [2006 or 2007] Lexus SC430 (a $67K USD car!), and turned it down. Spending $67K USD for a new car as a present would warrant happiness and devotion for most people. Sadly, an expensive Lexus wasn't good enough for this girl. What if she got a Bugatti Veyron? Would she turn THAT down too, even if it was painted pink?


I'm the Princess!/Prince!
Princes and princesses are associated mostly with royalty. They are associated with importance and power. You are not a true prince or princess unless born into a royal family. It's okay to be seen like a prince or princess, but you are still a human, and you still have to provide for your family and yourself. You still play an important role in this world.


Grown Too Fast?
Sweet Sixteen is usually seen as that transition from being a young girl to a maturing woman. Some such parties, however, features acts and themes that make someone feel they are much older than their young age implies. You're grown... just not THAT grown. At least, not yet.

--- The Issues of "My Super Sweet 16" in Videos ---

Here is a video reaction from a bloke named Charlie Brooker about this series (WARNING: bad language!):

--- From Sweet Sixteen to Sweet Reality Check ---

Once, MTV aired a series called "Exiled" in which some of the most memorable "My Super Sweet 16" princes and princesses had to learn tough lessons in love and in being responsible and respectful people by going to places around the world. These weren't glamourous cities. In fact, many of them are places devoid of any kind of glamourous cities or areas. One teen girl named Sierra was sent to Vanuatu, one girl had to go up to Norway, one boy went to Morocco... all in a lesson of learning responsibility and working for status. Some of the people these teens met were other teens. So in essence, it was a learning experience as well as a crash course with reality.





"My Super Sweet 16" was still a show I watched often. Trouble is, I really tend to feel for the parents more than their children. I admit I've been spoiled, but I never take advantage of it or feel entirely blessed. There will come a point where I'll have to fend for myself. There's still a number of things I can't do- cook, drive a car (even at my old age), pay bills, dress properly, conduct myself in an objectionable way. I'd feel crushed and on my lonesome. If I can feel this way at my current age of 27 (as of the date of this blog post), I can only imagine how teens at least ten years younger than me feel. "My Super Sweet 16," if anything, is a mere reality check that there are some who parents see their children as royalty, and then those who are BASICALLY royalty. So much so that they don't really do chores or do any kind of dirty work to show some character and hardness.

That was my blog entry concerning certain issues involving "My Super Sweet 16." How do you feel about these issues? PLEASE comment!