Welsh mother who says she is delighted her daughters both became pregnant at the age of 14.

 

Both of Pauline Rees’ daughters gave birth at that age, but although she said she had warned them about the dangers of underage sex, she admitted that she had been extremely pleased when both announced their pregnancies at the same age.

 

The 45-year-old mum-of-six, from Tonypandy, said, “When my children grew up I felt so sad. “I wanted babies in my house again.

 

“So it was really wonderful when the girls told me they were pregnant. I wasn’t a bit angry.

“Now we’re one big happy family."

Her daughter Gillian, is 19 and has two children – three-year-old Jasmine and Cameron, who is four months old.

 

She said, “I’ve wanted kids since I was 12. I was sick of babysitting other people’s, and wanted one of my own.”

 

She added, “I wasn’t worried about it changing my lifestyle. I never did anything but stay in and watch TV anyway. There’s nothing to do round here, so having kids keeps me busy.”

 

Pauline’s other daughter, Sky, now 16, said, “I’d always wanted to wait till I was 21 to have children, but I was still happy when I got pregnant – and Jamie (her boyfriend) was pleased too.

 

“I look up to Gillian, but I wasn’t copying her.”

 

In 2004, the Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded the highest number of underage pregnancies out of the 22 authorities in Wales, and accounted for almost 20% ) of the total number of underage pregnancies in Wales. Chief executive of Children in Wales, Catriona Williams said, “Children in Wales has been concerned that areas in Wales have at times had extremely high rates of teen pregnancies compared to other countries in Europe. In many ways it is like children having children, and for both mother and baby the emotional consequences can be negative.

 

“We really must look to other countries to learn how they have so effectively cut their rates of teen pregnancies, and ensure there are good quality services in place for all concerned.”

 

In the past six years, the number of teenage pregnancies has fallen from 597 to 434, and the Welsh Assembly Government has introduced a number of initiatives to cut the rates of underage pregnancies in Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for health and social services Helen Mary Jones said, “We have a real problem in Wales, particularly in our poorer communities with young women having babies very early, and we need to address this and ask the question as to why.

 

“This won’t be an easy question to raise, or an easy answer to find, but it is necessary if we are to reduce rates of teen pregnancies.

 

“We also need to make sure that if young women are falling pregnant at an early age, they get as much support as possible so that they become the best mothers they can be.”