‘I’m embarrassed my mum had me when she was 12′

Originally published: 3 April 2012

When Jenny Teague gave birth at just 12 years old in 1997, she shocked the nation.

Becoming the UK’s youngest mum, she and her baby daughter Sasha sparked a media frenzy and critics warned she’d never cope. But Jenny vowed to be a good mother and not let her daughter make the same mistakes as her.

Now, 15 years on, it seems Jenny’s hard work has paid off and Sasha is a model teenager. In fact, when she discovered how young her mum was when she had her, she was appalled.

Sasha says: “I was embarrassed when, aged 12, I found out my mum was just 12 herself when she had me – I was devastated. I don’t really tell people about it.

“I’m a virgin and plan to stay so until I’m at least 18 – I think teenagers having sex is disgusting. It’s better to wait than risk throwing your life away.

“I love Mum and she did her best by me, but discovering she had me so young – at an age when I was still playing with Barbies – shocked me. She never had a life or much money. I’d want better for me and my kids.”

And Jenny, now 27, from Poole, Dorset – also mum to Jessica, nine, and Lacy-Mae, one month – agrees. She says:

“I never had a life as a teenage mum and I’d never want Sasha to be a young mum. As soon as she had her first period aged nine, I told her it isn’t big or clever to have underage sex.

“If she fell pregnant now, I’d probably encourage her to have an abortion. I want her to get an education and a good job. Being a young mum’s hard.”

Jenny fell pregnant in 1997 when she was just 11 after “experimenting” with sex for the first time with a 13-year- old boy from her school.

The young mum, who was living with her unemployed parents and five siblings at the time, recalls: “I hadn’t had sex education and Mum hadn’t given me ‘the talk.’ I didn’t think I could fall pregnant the first time.”

Incredibly, Jenny only discovered she was expecting when she was eight-and- a-half months pregnant – after her mum walked in on her undressing.

She remembers: “I had a very small bump, but ignored it – there weren’t any other signs and my periods had continued. I thought I could be pregnant, but was so scared I blocked it out.

“When Mum saw my belly, she looked stunned. She went very quiet, then gasped: ‘You’re pregnant,’ then went out and bought me a test. Seeing the result is a blur – Mum took me straight to the hospital, where they confirmed it, but it didn’t sink in. Dad didn’t talk to me for two days. Though, thankfully, he came round,” she recalls, explaining Sasha’s father denied his involvement and has never had any contact with his daughter.

Jenny went into labour a week later and had to have a Caesarean because her young body wasn’t developed enough to cope with a natural birth.

She recalls: “I was terrified. When the nurse handed me Sasha, I thought, ‘What have I done?’ – but when I looked at her little face, I felt happy and I wanted her. I was scared, but determined to do my best.”

Jenny’s parents helped her care for Sasha and, six weeks later, she returned to school – but she was bullied and struggled to keep up with her schoolwork because of sleepless nights caring for Sasha.

Sadly, Jenny, who’d dreamt of becoming a midwife, left school at 16 with grade D and E GCSEs – and, unable to work as she had to care for Sasha, began claiming benefits and moved into a council house.

She says: “I loved Sasha to bits and never regretted having her, but I missed out on being a teenager – I was at home looking after a baby while my carefree mates were having fun with their futures in front of them.”

Jenny fell pregnant again at 17 with a new boyfriend.

She says: “I’d been a mum for five years and it felt like the natural thing to do.

“But even though my boyfriend worked, it was a struggle to get by. If we wanted a holiday or clothes, we’d have to save for ages. I thought about working, but I didn’t have any qualifications and I had the kids to care for.”

Incredibly, despite knowing her mum was young, Sasha didn’t realise Jenny had only been 12 when she gave birth until she was 12 herself.

“I never did the maths,” Sasha says. “I was at my nan’s and saw a newspaper cutting about Mum – it was a huge shock and I was embarrassed. I couldn’t imagine anyone having sex or giving birth at my age. I still played with Barbies and had never had a boyfriend – I didn’t even fancy boys. Some of the girls at school talked about sex, but I thought it was disgusting.”

She adds: “Mum had always warned me about getting pregnant. I understood then why she’d gone on about it so much. Discovering how young she’d been made me even keener to stop it happening. Mum was silly – but I won’t be.”

And Sasha is determined to remain a virgin until she’s 18. She insists: “I’m not interested in dating or having sex. I kissed a boy once, but I’ve never had a boyfriend. I tell my friends: ‘Boys will wait if they really like you.’

“I do feel pressure to have sex, but thinking about what happened to Mum puts me off. I don’t want to claim benefits and live in a council house. I want to get good GCSEs, go to college, own a hair and beauty salon, buy or rent a house and get married – all before I have a baby.”

She adds: “I’d like to start a family at 25 and for my kids to know their dad. You should only have a baby if you can support yourself.”

And Sasha’s resolution has been strengthened by sharing the house with her one-month-old sister Lacy-Mae – Jenny’s daughter with her new partner, mechanic Adam Dunn, 26, who she met after splitting with Jessica’s dad three years ago.

“Looking after my newborn sister is tiring – sleepless nights, nappies… no thanks!” Sasha says.

Jenny, who still lives in a council home and claims benefits, is more than happy with Sasha’s views.

“I will warn her off sex for as long as possible,” she says. “Life’s been hard for me. If I hadn’t had a baby so young,

I know I would’ve done well at school.”

Jenny reveals she returned to education three years ago to study for qualifications in English and maths and hopes to work when Lacy-Mae is older.

She adds: “I want Sasha to get everything out of life before she starts a family. I did the best I could for her – but I want her to give her kids more.”

By Jocelyn Cook