Could Advertisements Cut the Teen Pregnancy Rate?

When it comes to teenage pregnancy, the UK stands out, unfortunately, for the wrong reasons – the country has the highest rate in Europe. More than 8,000 girls under 16 get pregnant each year, more than 40,000 under 18. This statistic comes despite ministers making the issue a key priority and promising to cut the rate in half by 2010.

With the end of decade goal in site to be missed, regulators are considering relaxing the rules on the advertising of pregnancy and abortion services on radio and TV. It could mean you’ll see condom advertisements on television before 9:00 p.m.

But what impact will this have on the behavior of young people? Rebecca Findlay, from the formerly Family Planning Association, believes more frequent advertising could act as a prompt for discussions within the family about contraception and safe sex. “Our advice to parents is to avoid the big ’sit down’ conversations. Seeing these adverts on TV could be the perfect way to get people talking about the issues. It could make it more normal.”

Simon Blake, chief executive of Brook, the sexual health charity for young people, agrees it could provide a context for having ‘meaningful conversations’. “We are still not having mature discussions about sex, it is treated as a subject for titillation.” He believes if this were to happen it could have a dramatic effect on teenage pregnancies.

Over half of the under 18s that get pregnant end up having an abortion, meaning the number of new teenage mothers has actually fallen by nearly a quarter since the late 1990s. “That tells me that there are lots of teenage girls out there that do not want to get pregnant,” Blake said. “If we can help give young people the confidence to approach sex in the right way then we could see real progress. It is not going to be a magic bullet, but advertising can be a very powerful tool.”

Hilary Pannack, who heads up Straight Talking, a sex education charity, agrees relaxing the advertising rules could raise awareness. But she is concerned people will just switch off when the adverts are aired. “We really have to tackle the underlying cause of the high teenage pregnancy rates. It is to do with self-esteem and self-respect. Young girls too often feel pressurized to have sex without protection. To change this we need better education in schools and better social mobility. Too many young people do not feel they have real opportunities in life that would encourage them to make sure they do not get pregnant.”

She also said it was important the advertising was carefully designed so as not to promote abortion services as an alternative to contraception. And she added there was a risk that the advertising could be undermined by the highly sexualized nature of television. “It is good to have the advertising, but what message does it send if it is followed by Big Brother where we are all waiting for the contestants to have sex?”

Lindsay Lohan’s Labor Pains: Not Playing at a Theater Near You

Lindsay Lohan, 22, is starring in a new movie called Labor Pains. The film, about a woman who fakes a pregnancy to save herself from getting fired, will not be premiering in theaters. It won’t even be going straight to DVD video. It’s going to cable.

Labor Pains will make it’s debut on ABC Family, the same channel that scored big with The Secret Life of the American Teenager, about a teen who accidentally gets pregnant and deals with the realistic consequences. By showing up on the hot teen-viewed channel, there’s a chance that it might offer the film a wider audience and greater commercial potential.

Labor Pains, which costars SNL’s Chris Parnell and Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Cheryl Hines, will first crown on ABC Family in July. And, just in case the family is on summer vacation, the laughter will hit video stores the following month.

13 Year Old Alfie Patten is NOT the father of Girlfriend Chantelle Steadman’s Baby Maisie

For the latest news on the case of Alfie Patten, Tyler Barker, Chantelle Steadman and baby Maisie, visit our new website at wwwBabyLifestyles.com.

A DNA test has revealed that ‘dad at 13′ Alfie Patten is NOT the father of baby Maisie. The story rocked England seven weeks ago when baby Maisie Roxanne was born to 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman, who claimed her boydfriend, 13-year-old Alfie was the father. A media circus insued when six other teenage boys from Eastbourne England came forward claiming they had slept with Chantelle and that they might be the baby’s father. (See below for Alfie’s dad appearing in a devil’s mask to the press, or his mother facing truancy charges for letting Alfie miss months of school.)

Chantelle (15) had insisted that she was in love with the babyfaced boy and that he had taken her virginity, but six other local boys came forward soon after the baby’s birth and said that they had also had sex with her and could be Maisie’s daddy. Alfie had been excited about the prospect of fatherhood: “I take responsibility and will look after baby Maisie like a grown up father.”

The teen agreed to a DNA test to answer the question for once and for all. At first, little Alfie wasn’t even sure what a DNA test was and had to have it explained to him by his mum. “I didn’t know about DNA tests before but mum explained it’s when they do a swab in your mouth and it tells if you’re the dad. So if I have it, they can all shut up.” His mum Nicole, 43, added at the time: “It had not even crossed Alfie’s mind whether Chantelle had not been faithful to him. He’s absolutely devastated that these lads say they slept with her.”

It has now revealed that Alfie is not the dad. His world seems to have fallen apart – he has reportedly been with Chantelle for two years, although the apparent evidence that she has been cheating on him may change that. It has also been rumoured that Chantelle’s mother Penny (38) had told her daughter to say that she had been a virgin until she slept with Alfie and that he was the only possible father.

So now the question is who is baby Maisie’s real daddy?

Follow Alfie’s story from the beginning on Baby Lifestyles:
Alfie Patten is a Father at Age 13
Alfie Patten Distraught At Idea Maisie is Not His
Did Teenage Parents Alfie and Chantelle Get Paid for Their Story?
Alfie Patten and Chantelle Steadman: the Playstation Parents
Alfie Patten, Chantelle Steadman Drama!
Eight Other Teenagers Say They are Baby Maisie’s Father
Judge Issues Media Ban on Alfie Patten Story
Betting Site Gambles on Whether Alfie Patten is the Father
Alfie To Reporters: I’m the Daddy, If I’m not I’ll Still Be There
Alfie Patten’s Mom Nicola due in Court on Truancy Charges
Alfie’s Publicist Regrets Client Went Public
Alfie Patten Situation Leads to Sex Education For Children as Young as Five

Autism Activist Jenny McCarthy Reveals Her Post Baby Body Secrets

Sure, Jenny McCarthy had a Playboy playmate body before she gave birth to her son Evan, now 6. But that doesn’t mean she was immune to having her weight balloon to over 200 pounds in the process. Now on the cover of Shape Magazine, McCarthy discusses how she got her weight back on track through smaller, meals, a diet overhaul, Weight Watchers, and yoga that make us all green with envy again.

Three years ago, McCarthy switched to a gluten- and diary-free diet, and now a typical day’s menu includes egg whites, fish, fresh fruit and veggies. Between meals, she noshes on little packets of nuts from Starbucks. “[Weight Watchers] taught me portion control and to be conscious of what I put into my mouth,” the outspoken McCarthy, 36, tells Shape magazine for its May issue.

Another activity McCarthy is attempting to teach her limber-limbed boyfriend, funny man Jim Carey: yoga. “I’ve seen him eyeing my toned arms,” she says. “I give it six months before I find him twisted into a pretzel!”

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Get Baby Fever, Ga Ga for Pink Nursery

Grammy songstress Mariah Carey and actor Nick Cannon are about to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary. And while the gossip mill has been churning of when the two will actually have a baby together, new reports are running wild that the “Touch My Body” singer has already dropped $200,000 on pink baby furniture at a trendy boutique in hopes of having a girl. And she’s looking to get a castle in which to raise her little princess.

The happy pair have their eye on the opulent David Saperstein ‘Fleur de Lys’ estate, worth a mere $125 million. (We guess the economy hasn’t affected their wallets much.) A real estate insider revealed, “It’s 45,000 square feet and looks like a European castle. It’s so big, it can’t even be called a mansion – it’s similar to Buckingham Palace!”

The purchase has not been finalized yet, but Carey has supposedly already hired interior decorator Kenneth Bordewick to create a pink palace for her not-yet-conceived princess. Judging by pictures of Mimi’s closet in her New York home, we can’t wait to get a peek at what she might do for a nursery. And while there’s no current indication that she’s expecting–Nick has been quoted as saying “soon, like a couple of years”, or that adoption is even on the horizon, by moving into this swanky pad the pair will guarantee they’ve got neighbors in the know to go to for diaper-changing advice (assuming the nannies have the night off), the Beckham brood lives in the neighborhood.

UpSpring Baby Company Secures Funding For Alcohol Breastfeeding Testing

The UpSpring Baby Company created a product we love called Milkscreen, a home test for alcohol in breast milk. It allows a new mother to go out and socialize, enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, and confirm that when she goes home to breastfeed her newborn in those first few months of life, that there is no alcohol in the milk. “We are seeing an increase in consumers wanting to better manage their own health care and UpSpring Baby is responding to that growing market by developing new platform technologies that help to improve the health and wellness of children and mothers,” said Lisa Williamson, Founder and CEO of UpSpring Baby.

UpSpring Baby recently secured $4 million in equity financing for their innovative parent and baby products. helping its distribution through national chains stores like Target and Walgreens. “We feel UpSpring Baby is uniquely positioned to develop, and bring to market tools that empower parents to monitor the health and safety of their children,” said Bill Perkins, CEO of Small Ventures. “UpSpring Baby has impressed us with their creativity in developing products, and they have cultivated strong strategic relationships in order to introduce those products to the world. We look forward to working with UpSpring Baby as they continue to innovate for the benefit of parents and their children.”

Buy your own Milkscreen Home Test for Alcohol in Breast Milk by Upspring Baby

It’s Octomom Nayda Suleman vs. Angels in Waiting on Dr. Phil

“I’m disappointed that the two parties could not find common ground to work together. Now my concern for the 14 children continues to be my singular focus,” said Dr. Phil in the opening of Wednesday’s show. Now it’s all out war between octomom Nadya Suleman and the Angels in Waiting organization that provided round the clock free care for her octuplets and other children. Arranged for her via Dr. Phil McGraw and Gloria Allred, Nadya spoke via telephone today on Dr. Phil’s show about the situation. Here’s some of what was said.

Dr Phil: Did this turn to be an advisarial situation? You said they were like spies.

Nadya: I don’t want to say anything derrogatory. I felt, it’s a feeling, I felt extremely uncomfortable in my own home. I felt like stragner, ostricized and excluded. There were such poor communication patterns. A lack of healthy environment and negative engery which will be validated by social workers. That was the only thing presented was negativity. I want to surround my family, my children with positive energy and that is what the nannies I hired do now, they provide that in my home, and I am. The Kaiser nursers were instrumental in training all my nannies, they came to the home, trained for hours. AIW did not rain anybody. What they presented originally in the plan was never followed through.

I don’t want to rely on people’s donations. I feel it’s wrong. My goal right now is getting my children off of medic health. Most importantly I feel that I provided all the nannies and I am responsible for providing my nannies myself out of my pocket.

The primary issue, it’s not just about the funding, is myself and all my nannies felt extremely uncomfortable. I personally felt like a stranger in my own home. The goal was to empower me as a mother, help me train me, I’m open to that, I want that. I want the very best for these babies. They’re premature babies and I wanted them to use their knowledge and training help guide me. I felt that was never really accomplished. I felt as though every time I tried to hold a baby, see a baby, they would be observing adn I felt that they were waiting for me to make a mistake. All the nannies felt that way. I’m a mother, this is my home. I must be empowered, not handicapped. The nurses, the social workers at Kaiser, they are supportive, they are my support network.

Angels in Waiting USA have made three complaints to Child Protective Services about Nadya Suleman. On Dr. Phil, airing today and tomorrow, Suleman, attorney Gloria Allred and representatives from AIW USA explain why the deal between the non-profit and the mother of the octuplets fell through. Suleman fired AIW USA earlier this week. Allred, who represents AIW USA, gave her assessment of the fall-out during the upcoming show, “I think the real reason that Nadya has not been able to continue with Angels in Waiting may be the fact that not one, but three reports had to be filed with Child Protective Service by Angels in Waiting [who] are mandated reporters under the law.”

Angels in Waiting Files Three Complaints with Child Services About Octomom Nadya Suleman with Dr. Phil

Were the Angels in Waiting really waiting for Nadya Suleman to make a misstep? If so, it didn’t take them long to start filing complaints. According to their attorney, Gloria Allred, Angels in Waiting USA have reportedly already made three complaints to Child Protective Services about the octuplets’ mom. And Nadya has fired the lot of them, accusing them of unprofessional and unethical behavior, of frightening her about child abduction, setting her up to fail and not empowering her.

On two episodes of Dr. Phil, airing today and Thursday this week, AIW USA reps and Allred (and Suleman by phone on one segment) will talk about why the deal between the nonprofit organization and Suleman went sour. Allred tells Dr. Phil: “I think the real reason that Nadya has not been able to continue with Angels in Waiting may be the fact that not one but three reports had to be filed with Child Protective Service by Angels in Waiting [who] are mandated reporters under the law.”

The complaints will be discussed in detail on Dr. Phil’s shows airing today (March 25) and Thursday (March 26). Allred has also scheduled a press conference for today at 1 p.m. Suleman talked to Dr. Phil by phone on one of the taped segments. “The primary issue was that myself [sic] and my nannies felt extremely uncomfortable. I personally felt like a stranger in my own home. The goal was to empower me as a mother, help me, train me. I’m open to that, I want that, I want to do the very best for these … premature babies. I wanted them [AIW USA] to use their training and knowledge to help guide me. I felt that was never accomplished. I felt as though every time I tried to hold the babies, feed the babies, they would be observing and they were waiting for me to make a mistake.” “I, I, I.” Why is it always all about Nadya and helping her feel “empowered” and not about those babies? Meanwhile, amid all the madness, Nadya found time to record her daily video with RadarOnline.com. Check out the video interview with Nadya, who accuses the Angels of making her paranoid that her babies might be abducted. She describes an Angels official opening her purse and saying how easy it would be to stuff a baby in there. Nadya talks about wanting to call the police for a restraining order because she was so fearful. She also describes feeling as if she was constantly being interrogated and how the Angels stopped talking whenever she entered the nursery. Right now, four of her octuplets are being cared for by nannies Suleman hired herself. Related Nadya Suleman posts on Baby Lifestyles: Dr. Phil McGraw Takes Charge of Octomom with Tough Love Four Octuplets Home, Four More to Go! Nadya Suleman Has 2nd Publicist Quit, Buys Home, Brokers TV Deal with Dr. Phil How Does Nadya Suleman Handle the Octuplets With Long Manicured Nails?

Pirates Minor League Outfielder Jose Tabata ‘Hurt’ By Wife’s Baby-Taking Arrest

Pittsburgh Pirates minor league outfielder Jose Tabata, whose wife is accused of abducting a 2-month-old child Monday, said in a statement through his team that he was confused by her behavior. “I am hurt, frustrated, and confused by her actions,” the 20-year-old Venezuela native said. “I have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials in anyway that I can. Until I have all of the facts, I cannot comment any further.” Jose Tabata was not involved in his wife’s alleged kidnapping of the infant.

Tabata’s wife, 43-year-old Amalia Tabata Pereira of Bradenton, was arrested Tuesday. She was charged with false imprisonment, interference with child custody and impersonating a social service worker. Today in a Manatee County courtroom, a judge read her charge, told her that her bail is set at $750,000 and said she will be sent to jail in Hillsborough County.

The baby, Sandra Cruz-Francisco, and her mother, Rosa Sirilo-Francisco, were reunited Tuesday evening at Plant City police headquarters. Sandra was unharmed. Sirilo-Francisco said she gave Sandra to a woman who claimed to be an immigration official. The woman told Sirilo-Francisco that she and the child’s father, Andres Cruz, could stay in the United States if the baby was handed over.

Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly released a statement today. “The Manatee County Sherriff’s Office confirmed with us last night that Jose was in no way involved in his wife’s alleged kidnapping of an infant girl,” Coonelly said. “Jose was as shocked as the rest of us upon hearing the news and has cooperated fully with law enforcement officials. The Pirates organization will continue to do anything and everything we can to assist and support Jose during this difficult personal time.

“Due to the nature of this ongoing investigation, we can not discuss any specifics of the case, other than to say that, like Jose, we are extremely thankful the young child was safely returned to her family. Our hearts go out to her and her family for the pain they must have endured during the hours that she was missing.”

Tabata, 20, married Pereira, 43, in January 2008, according to Hillsborough County records. Tabata was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates last July in a Trade Deadline deal that netted the Pirates four players in exchange for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. He was recently listed as the Pirates’ third-best prospect, according to Baseball America.

Marc Jacobs and Husband Ready To Adopt A Baby

Not content with getting married Marc Jacobs is rumoured to be taking the next step towards domestic bliss by adopting a baby, Grazia reports. Since the designer’s boyfriend Lorenzo Martone popped the question, the couple have been considering adopting a baby girl to share the house that Marc has just bought in New York. Complete with garden it would be the perfect place to raise a baby! Now if ever there was going to be a fashionable child, this would it would be the one raised in the house of Vuitton.

Marc recently admitted that he loves to draw attention’ to his relationship, so it it is true, we cannot wait to see the cute outfits the little girl will be modelling, the rest of the celeb baby world better watch out! Marc and Lorenzo got engaged last week and are currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil, holidaying in love and showing off their matching rings–as well as promoting Jacobs’ new store opening.

Perhaps this may be the start of a baby apparel line from the hot designer?!?!