New Season, New Format

We're changing up our episode recaps and remarks for the new television season, mainly to shift our focus to covering new series and specials before they air rather than after. We believe this will help you make more fitting choices as to what to watch, and it will also help out our subscribers not to receive as many articles about shows they potentially have no interest in, as our current lineup is very broad.

But, we're not dropping recaps with remarks completely. We will still cover pilots we deem promising, and we'll be writing about holiday episodes of those and of our returning favorites. Plus, we are continuing to cover some series in their entirety, particularly cable shows that are tougher for you to catch up on elsewhere. What does this mean for your favorite show? For all of the series we were currently recapping, here are their fates:

                                                      16 & Pregnant: regular posting
                                                      19 Kids & Counting: regular posting
                                                      2 Broke Girls: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Bob's Burgers: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Buddy's Bakery Rescue: discontinued
                                                      Cake Boss: regular posting
                                                      Cake Boss: Next Great Baker: fate to be determined if series is renewed
                                                      Falling Skies: discontinued
                                                      Girl Meets World: regular posting
                                                      Hot in Cleveland: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Instant Mom: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Last Man Standing: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Little People, Big World: regular posting
                                                      Melissa & Joey: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Mistresses: fate to be determined if series is renewed
                                                      South Park: regular posting
                                                      Switched at Birth: regular posting
                                                      Teen Mom 2: regular posting
                                                      The Big Bang Theory: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      The Exes: regular posting
                                                      The Goldbergs: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      The Middle: holidays and special episodes only
                                                      Under the Dome: fate to be determined if series is renewed
                                                      White Collar: holidays and special episodes only

what do you think of the posting schedule? sad to be losing regular updates? excited for more new program coverage? 

Teen Mom 2: Softball, Summer Plans, Custody, New Baby

This particular spin-off of 16 and Pregnant really follows the statistics. Jenelle now has a second child (within five years of the first), Leah has three under 5, Aubree's dad fathered a second daughter, and Kailyn has two sons before she's 22. I probably should have figured this out before, and not been surprised, but I was caught off-guard when I thought about it today. Of course, Kailyn's maturity is ten times that of Adam, and Leah comes off as a far superior mother compared to Jenelle, so the individual stories remain unique as can be. I do hope that Isaac's time with Jo is seen on the show, and if Corey gets custody, we see more of his parenting as well. 

Teen Mom 2 "Summer Daze, Summertime Sadness" (S05E22): It's clearly summer, probably June. 
Chelsea: She gives Aubree a mini facial. [why?] Adam is seeing a new girl, Jessica, and brings her to Aubree's softball game. [I like how Chelsea's dad's company sponsors the team, LoL.]

MTV

Kailyn: During the summer, Jo gets Isaac for six weeks, which is a problem for Kailyn's beach vacation plans. She also worries about routine, as she gets Isaac to bed by 7:30, but Jo barely manages 8:45. [that sounds really late for a four-year-old! I remember thinking my second-grade friend was super cool because her bedtime was 9pm!]

Leah: Her lawyer sends Corey documents asking for more money and medical authority over Ali. Ali has missed two therapy appointments. Leah cuts her hair short and can't decide how she feels about it. [her hair changes so often, who cares?!?]

Jenelle: She wants to have Jace during the week. She and Nathan get into yet another fight, and he won't help set-up the baby shower because he's upset. [eye roll.] Soon, she also storms out, upsetting Barbara. [eh. Barbara should expect this from her daughter at this point.]

Teen Mom 2 "Co-parenthood" (S05E23): It's still summer, and late June for Jenelle, who welcomed Kaiser on June 30th.
Chelsea: Aubree is at Taylor's to see Paislee, and Chelsea asks Taylor to stop posting pictures of Aubree online. [good for Chelsea.] Adam brings a different girl to Aubree's next softball game. [ha!]

Leah: Corey continues to fight for more custody of the girls, wanting 50/50. [I'm curious as to whether he'll get it? I also wonder in general why more parents don't want a similar arrangement...]

Kailyn: Isaac has a trampoline that he uses with the dog. Kailyn plans to finish college.

Jenelle: She has her baby shower. Her water breaks, and she drives to the hospital before her contractions start. [hahaha, I forget Nathan can't drive!] She has a natural childbirth. [does her probation prevent her from having drugs?] Nathan stays up making bottles so Jenelle can sleep.

16 & Pregnant: The Wrap-Up

After seeing where the twelve ladies of this past season of 16 & Pregnant ended up, I'd be surprised if MTV went forward with a Teen Mom 4 from this group. Because of her family dynamic, Summer's story is somewhat interesting, especially with her teenage sisters, and Millina's issues with the mothers in her life is a bit different. Aleah isn't particularly interesting herself, but Shawn's brother also about to have a child might make for a multiple-families-raising-kids-together storyline? The only other one I might see a glimmer of intrigue with is Jazmin, who may decide to take a different approach to parenting than her strict parents.

16 & Pregnant "Life After Labor 6" (Special):
Arianna: It's been 3.5 months since she saw Maurice, and she says that she won't give him any more chances. He says that he wasn't allowed to randomly show up, so he got a lawyer to gain custody rights. She still doesn't want to talk to him, though he throws money at her and she storms off. [ugh.] He claims that he has $3200 set aside for his son, though he's wearing $500 kicks. [ain't that always the way?]

Savannah: He wants to get back with her, but she won't forget that he made her miserable when they were expecting. She didn't think she was going to get pregnant because she was in an 18-month-long relationship before Stone and she didn't get pregnant then. [rolling my eyes over here.] She's using an IUD now.

Jordan: They talk about how they left Texas to return to Maryland for Derek's scholarship. Their families have stepped up to help, and they're cordial with her parents now. [nice that she was able to swallow her pride on that one.]

Summer: Her sisters are on the shot now, and she's using the ring, but is planning to switch to the shot. [I'm glad that her sisters are learning from her, though the relationship with "one of them" seemed odd.] They had an issue with him being intimate with someone else in their home. [ouch.]

Autumn: They're together right now, but they break up every three months or so. [not impressed.] He's working full-time, plus umpiring for Little League. [but he's still smoking a lot of weed? not gonna be working with kids for long, guy!] He's cheated on her twice and knows not to get caught smoking.

Courtney: Their son's cleft lip surgery is considered cosmetic rather than necessary, because it doesn't affect the palate. She just finished high school. [not gonna lie, I'm surprised he stuck by her.]

Millina: Her mother left rehab early, so Millina feels the woman will probably relapse. She's currently getting along with Trevor's mom, but still won't let her watch the baby alone. She has implanon in her arm now.

Maddy: She's going back to school in August. They haven't talked since December, when Cody asked for a DNA test. He got another girl pregnant two months before Maddy conceived, and that's the girl he's dating currently. [whaaaat?!?] Maddy is fine with the test happening, but she won't pay for it. [I think that's fair.] Cody has never paid for anything for their child, and Maddy won't even agree to pay for half of the DNA test. She's planning to get an IUD.

Savon: She's still friends with Mauwi. The babydaddy (who has like 5-6 other kids) has been coming around a little, but they're not in a relationship. [interesting earrings.]

Karley: Her little family is living on their own now. [they remind me a bit of Katie from Teen Mom 3.] 

Aleah: She has implanon now, but isn't dealing with her diabetes well. [why didn't Dr. Drew make a bigger deal out of that??] Her babydaddy wants a vasectomy after the implanon, as they don't think they could manage a third child.

Jazmin: She's not talking to her babydaddy anymore, but is talking to someone new.

16 & Pregnant "Life After Labor 6" (Special):
Autumn: She tries to get Dustin to watch a birth video and he vomits immediately. [gross!] They do a belly cast. Maurice's mother gets upset when he doesn't complete chores at home. [that was an awkward scene!]

Jordan: They go to a baby store and scrape together fifty cents to buy some baby socks. [that was kinda painful to watch.] She dances, eats spicy food and pineapple to try inducing labor.

Summer: She continues a family tradition of not graduating from high school. [bleh.]

Maddy: They try a sleepover to prepare for living together. [glad they decided not to follow through on that idea!]

Courtney: Scott watches porn on his phone and she finds out. [how random!]

Jazmin: She sees things on her babydaddy's phone that she doesn't like. [all this new-age drama with technology!]

Karley: Her older sister was mad when Karley got pregnant, as she was trying to conceive. [awww.] She and Tony had to get used to tag-teaming feedings. [multiples are rough!]
 
Arianna: Maurice had a shower of his own to get gifts to give to Arianna. [whoa.]

Aleah: Shawn's younger brother announced he was expecting a baby shortly after they had theirs. [dang. how do you NOT learn from that??]

Savannah: She suffered from PPD. [more on that would have been interesting.]

Millina: Trevor wanted a DNA test, but it proved he was the father. [I wonder why that didn't make it into the original episode?]

SEASON FINALE: 16 & Pregnant: Trouble in the Next Room

Well, no adoption episode this season after all... seems a bit odd, but maybe that's just not who is applying for this program anymore. Instead, we have a born-again Christian and yet another young woman whose parents aren't fit to be raising children. It was somewhat interesting to feature another child born with health anomalies, but I am also very glad that it doesn't appear to be a major ordeal for little Dayton. The numbers for this season are down a bit, so it's possible that this was the end of the series... although MTV has a long history of sticking up for its programming, so I wouldn't be surprised if more teenage parents on television pop up in the future.

16 & Pregnant "Courtney" (S05E11): She's a HS senior living in Woodland Park, CO with her divorced dad. She's had seven reconstructive surgeries because she was born with a cleft palate. She planned on saving herself for marriage (and even had a purity ring), but she gave in to Scott, who is an electrician's apprentice with a two-bedroom apartment 45 minutes away. [how did they meet?] She's continuing her education with online school. 

MTV

October, 34 weeks: Courtney tells Scot that she doesn't want to have sex again until she's married, and hopes that he will share some of her morals.

October, 35 weeks: An ultrasound shows that their son will also have a cleft, so she talks to her mom about it, who also had it. [I don't think I knew it was genetic.]

November, 37 weeks: Scott wants to apply for WIC and food stamps, but Courtney's bigger concern is to find a surgeon and determine the cost to operate on their future son. She does, however, agree to move in with him, but thinks they should have separate rooms to remove some of the temptation. [I feel for this girl... it's gotta be tough to push away Scott after they've already been intimate.]

November, 38 weeks: Her dad helps her move.

November, 39 weeks: She goes into labor. After 12 hours, her contractions are 90 seconds apart and she's 4cm dilated. She got an epidural but is still in a lot of pain two hours later. Another four hours later, she's finally pushing. [ugh. sounds like a rough labor!]

Dayton Cash is born December 15th at 7lbs. His cleft lip isn't too bad, and they hope only one surgery will be necessary.

2 days old: They head home from the hospital and give the baby his first bath. [another family showed this recently, too. I guess the producer likes to see the bathing process?]

2 weeks old: Scott returns to work, and they schedule the baby's surgery for seven months later, though they won't know the price out-of-pocket until after the procedure. [yeah, that's frustrating. I remember wanting to know what the cost for an out-patient procedure would be, and all I could get was a general ballpark, with lots of "but don't hold me to it because you might need more xyz..." stuff.] 

3 weeks old: Scott still doesn't help with many diapers or late-night needs, upsetting Courtney. [yeah, I didn't like him before but now he's really bothering me.]

6 weeks old: She starts the last semester of her senior year, and he's frustrated that they're not sleeping together. [... then propose and get the show on the road, guy.]

3 months old: Scott goes days without holding the baby, wanting to make him independent. [break my heart!] They have a fight and she heads to her dad's for a few days. Scott doesn't know that he'd still be dating her if they were abstinent but had no infant. [I'm betting NO.]

16 & Pregnant "Savannah" (S05E12): At 17, Savannah lives in Jefferson City, Mo with her alcoholic Mom and little brother. Her dad isn't part of her life. Stone was her best friend for three years before they started dating, and they never used protection. [I'm over this one already.] 

January, 35 weeks: She and Stone broke up a couple months ago because he was negative about Savannah's mother, but he is still planning to provide financially for the baby. She's doing an online GED class, which requires ten hours each week. They try discussing co-parenting, and Stone is concerned that Savannah's mom still has slip-ups with her drinking.

37 weeks: They have a co-ed baby shower at a restaurant. Stone hangs out with a friend and they meet girls, and Savannah and her friends play laser tag. Savannah is interested in one of her friends, but he doesn't think it's the right time to get into a relationship. [smart guy.] Meanwhile, her mom is staying out late and doesn't want to share what she's been up to, as she feels judged. [man, this is such a bad situation.]

40 weeks: She tries to repair her relationship with Stone because of her mother's issues. Savannah is induced with pitocin, and in eight hours she's pushing.

Rowan James is born February 27th at 7lbs. 5 oz. Savannah needed five stitches. [this is an aspect of pregnancy rarely mentioned on this show, and it would do them well to cover more of the aftermath.]

2 days old: They head home from the hospital.

2 weeks old:  She won't trust her mother alone with the baby, and when the woman is seen drunk and smoking, Savannah calls the police out of fear for her brother's safety. [we don't see what the outcome is, but it's suggested the police don't really do anything.] The next morning, Savannah suggests in-patient treatment for her mother, which is a road traveled many times previously.

16 & Pregnant: Lack of Parental Support

The big question social media seems to be asking is whether Jordan made the right decision to move to Texas with Derek, but I think what people should be discussing is her decision to shut out all communication from her parents. They aren't seen or interviewed in the episode, so we don't know their side of the story, but judging by the few things Jordan's aunt and grandmother say, it really appears that Jordan might be acting stubbornly toward making amends with her family. If they allowed Derek to live there, and let him stay after her impregnated their daughter, then maybe there was a more significant breaking point than "Derek lost his job." Personally, I wonder if what got to them was that he wasn't actively seeking a new one, which seems to be a problem throughout. Anyway, onward to Savon... I find it interesting that she references her aunt taking her in after she got pregnant, but there's no mention of her parents otherwise in the episode... while they could be the type to just turn their backs on Savon, it was interesting that Savon didn't even have a statement or anything about it in the episode. Or maybe it's not that her aunt took her in because they turned her away, but maybe they died and she doesn't want to talk about it? Either way, the two episodes together certainly made for an interesting angle a little different from what we've been seeing lately on this show.

16 & Pregnant "Jordan" (S05E09): Jordan is a recent high school grad from Baltimore who had intentions of joining the army. She met boyfriend Derek on Twitter a year ago, and he seems to be a year or so older than her. [I guess that screams 2010s if nothing else does!] He moved in when he needed somewhere to live while going to college (on a scholarship), but when Jordan got pregnant (he's not a fan of condoms), he dropped out of school to get a job. However, it was seasonal, and when he became unemployed, her parents kicked him out, and she went with him. 

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January, 33 weeks: They've been couch-surfing and living out of a minivan for three weeks now. She turns to her aunt and grandmother, but there's no room for them.

34 weeks: Derek reaches out to his dad in Texas, who welcomes them, but they can't go there and keep her parents' health insurance. [see, if they really did want to cut her off, and she's 18, couldn't they?] He does offer them a friend's place, and they move in there, putting twin mattresses together on the floor. [the dog going on the floor seriously grossed me out.] Jordan's friend, Sugar, plans a baby shower, and Jordan is repeatedly asked why Derek isn't working. [that must have been rough on Sugar, as she decided to abort a baby conceived around the same time as Jordan's.] Jordan suggests Derek get a job so they'll eventually be able to move out of Tracy's place.

37 weeks: The car won't start, and jumping the battery doesn't work, so they have to walk the mile back to Tracy's before they lose daylight.

38 weeks: The car gets impounded, so the couple must now rely on Tracy for rides. They have the baby shower. Tracy gives Derek money for a haircut, because she won't be a job reference for him unless he looks neater. [ha!] Jordan's amniotic fluid begins leaking, so she goes to the hospital (courtesy of Tracy) and is induced. [lucky Tracy was available...] Nine hours later, she pushes, and Genevieve Shae is born March 7th, 7 lbs, 5 oz.

3 days old: they head home from the hospital.

1 week old: They have a tough time keeping the baby quiet, bothering the other residents of the house. When it turns out that Tracy's landlord is going to sell the house, and they only have 30 days to find a new space, the couple again turns to Derek's dad, who buys them plane tickets to Texas so they can live with him. [it appears Derek's dad was about 20 when Derek was born, and he really didn't want a similar lifestyle for his son.] 

16 & Pregnant "Savon" (S05E10): A junior in high school, Savon lives in Marietta, GA, with her aunt and two cousins. [seemingly after her parents turned her away when she got pregnant.] She hooked up with a guy named Eli, who has multiple kids and doesn't care about any of them, and gets pregnant. Eli suggests an abortion. Then, she meets a guy named Mauwi while playing basketball, and they become a couple. He stays with her regardless of the baby, but is only around on weekends anyway, as he goes to college out of town. 

January, 7 months: She has her last day of school before she switches to online classes. Her aunt says she won't make purchases for or transport the baby.

35 weeks: She fills out some job applications and tries to conceal her pregnancy. Her aunt doesn't think her relationship with Mauwi will last six months. [why is there no push to get Eli to cough up some money?]

36 weeks: Her aunt loans her some money to pick out stuff for a baby shower. [that was pretty awkward. so the girl is throwing her own shower but can't even use the colors she likes? if the aunt was throwing it, why was the party supply money a loan?]

37 weeks: She's behind in her assignments, and hangs out with Mauwi instead of catching up. Their lack of intimacy starts to catch up with the relationship, and Savon tells Mauwi that she doesn't want sex again because of the consequences. Her aunt then questions why they're not intimate. [I didn't know how to take the question, "then why have a boyfriend?" significant others are handy for so many things...]

38 weeks: There's an ice storm, and when Savon starts cramping with her aunt out of town, she takes an ambulance to the hospital. [yikes!] She's 6cm dilated after 5 hours, and an hour later she's pushing, though that lasts a couple of hours.

Eden Lavon is born February 13th at 7 lbs. 5 oz. Savon texts Eli half an hour after Eden is born, to no response. [a male Eden is interesting.]

2 days old: They head home, and she texts Mauwi an update. 

1 week old: Mauwi comes over and when Savon claims she can't balance a boyfriend and a baby, that's the end of that.

3 weeks old: Her friend agrees to babysit a few nights a week so Savon is able to work, though she just falls more behind in school. [is she working at a pizza place?]

4 weeks old: She misses Mauwi, but they hang out. She hits an open mic night and thinks about being a music teacher in the future. [interesting way to end the episode... didn't see that coming!]

16 & Pregnant: Jazmin Breaks Her Parents' Trust

Though this episode was not the most interesting, it did depict another side to teenage pregnancy that seems often ignored by this series. Rather than encourage the young couple to move in together and deal with parenting together, Jazmin's parents retain the same rules that applied a year ago, meaning that Dell couldn't come over without permission, nor could he be there after 10pm, which hinders his chances to spend time with his daughter, given his work hours. And, despite the fact that Dell seems to be working as much as he can and stockpiling the money rather than spend it himself, her parents feel as if he's not trying hard enough. This is a far cry from many of the teenage fathers seen on this show, who blow their money on dogs and trucks or largely ignore that they now have offspring. Four more episodes left in the season have me wondering what other perspectives might be explored... no adoption stories have popped up yet, so that's a very likely one...

16 & Pregnant "Jazmin" (S05E08): She's 17 and from Raytown, MO, where she lives with strict mom and stepdad, as well as her younger brother. She met babydaddy Dell a year ago online, though they only live a block apart. [that's got to be the worst story I've ever heard.]. They only knew each other for three months when she got pregnant, thanks to the fact that she didn't want to take birth control pills because "you get fat and lose your hair." [I didn't think her parents' rules were that bad, actually.]

August, 30 weeks: Her mother is worried that Jazmin won't fulfill her potential with a baby. [but there is never a mention of abortion or adoption this episode.] Jazmin should be able to graduate in December by finishing school online, and she doesn't think life will change all that much. [these people terrify me. how could it NOT change?!?]

August, 31 weeks:  [I liked her friend's Iron Man shirt.] She was going to be a cardiovascular perfusionist, but now it's looking more like she'll need to choose a profession which takes less preparation. [what teenager knows what a cardiovascular perfusionist is??] Her parents talk to the couple about their finances, future plans, etc. and surprise the kids by announcing that they won't support them living together (they don't know one another well enough), and that the "rules" will remain in play after the baby is born. [I might relax the 10pm one, though, to give Dell more of a chance to relieve Jazmin.]

August, 32 weeks: She has a checkup, then her baby shower.

September 35 weeks: Dell oversleeps and misses Jazmin's appointment.

October, 37 weeks: Dell says that reality hasn't hit yet. [uh oh.] Jazmin's stepdad reiterates that Dell can't make surprise visits, and he can't be there if there isn't adult supervision. Dell and Jazmin think that the limited time he'll be able to see the baby are "malarkey."

October, 39 weeks: She gets her hair done so she doesn't have to worry about it when the baby comes, though she also gets long nails put on. [why? that just seems like a bad idea.] Dell talks to Jazmin's mom about working on the house rules a little more, but she says it'll be a family decision. Jazmin goes into labor, opts for an epidural, and pushes six hours into labor.

Laila Aubrielle is born 6 lb, 13.5 oz on October 17th.

2 days old: They head home, and Jazmin's older sister comes over to help, where they sponge-bathe the newborn. [I thought you didn't start that so early?]

3 days old: There will be no change in the house rules

2 weeks old: She isn't getting her homework done, and Dell has been working late shifts.

mtv.com

3 weeks old: Dell hasn't been able to come over because he's working late most nights, so when he is able to be there, he addresses Jazmin's mother, but that doesn't help.

4 weeks old: Dell wants to take his daughter overnight to spend time with her, but Jazmin doesn't approve. She does, however, begin wondering if they should just break her parents' rules. [but she has that unseen little brother who could tell on her...]

5 weeks old: Jazmin won't let Laila leave the house because it's cold outside.

6 weeks old: Jazmin agrees to take the baby out so she goes to a restaurant to meet Dell. He admits that they should have waited.

16 & Pregnant: Three More Girls Make Mistakes

I can't handle learning how irresponsible some people are. Throwing caution into the wind is an idea that is not compatible with my personality, so all of these "we just ran out of condoms and didn't buy more," "we had unprotected sex once and didn't get pregnant, so we figured it was okay," "I just stopped getting the shot" stuff irks me to no end. Yes, condoms only work 98% of the time and hormonal birth control can still fail even when used correctly, but rarely are the teenagers on 16 & Pregnant in their current situations because of those issues. (they're also rarely 16 anymore, but that's a different problem.) At least the series is still depicting a wide variety of outcomes to teen parenthood - (un)supportive parents, different approaches toward completing one's education, various living arrangements, and other unique factors affecting family development. Regardless, coverage of this program will continue, as the details aren't given many other places on the web, and the circumstances depicted are helpful to some, I'm sure.

16 & Pregnant "Summer" (S05E05): From Collins, GA, she met DJ online three years ago. He's going to be a welder. [though at first I thought they said realtor, LoL.] Summer has three younger half-sisters and a pill-addicted mother who was a teen mother herself. [figures.] She has stopped going to school because she's homebound, but promises DJ's mother that she'll finish her education. The couple had been using condoms, but when they ran out, they just started being careless. [really??] She doesn't believe in abortion, and never considered adoption, either.

32 weeks: She has moved in with DJ's parents, though his dad lives mainly in West Virginia, where he works. Her mom is nearly three weeks sober. [and I'm willing to bet it won't last.]

33 weeks: She tells her three sisters to get on birth control. She tries to have dinner with her mom, but the woman is high on klonopin. [yep, it didn't last.]

34 weeks: They buy a crib off Craigslist, but there were bugs on the mattress. [OMG GROSS! also, crib mattresses are one of the things that you should really shell out good money for (along with breast pumps and car seats).] She has her baby shower. DJ wants to buy a pitbull, but it causes some drama in the family. [who gets a dog when they're expecting a baby in a month??]

October, 35 weeks: DJ gets the dog. Summer's water breaks, and she's 4cm dilated when she gets to the hospital. She gives her mom a chance to be there for her, but when she and Summer's aunt arrive, they start scaring the hell out of her about labor and delivery. [what's the point now? they should have told her those stories before she got pregnant.] 12 hours in, she's crying in pain but makes it to 10cm. She's scared to deliver, but she makes it through. Peyton Daniel is born 7 lb, 8 oz on October 28th. [that baby has a really elongated head, though.]

1 day old: The baby is breathing too fast, so he's rushed to a bigger hospital in Savannah so he can be in a NICU. He's there for a week with a bacterial infection, so the couple has to borrow money to stay in Savannah. [there is a Ronald McDonald House in Savannah, but it's possible that the couple didn't get information from a hospital social worker on it because the baby's condition wasn't too serious (the average length stay is over two weeks).]

2 weeks old: Summer is getting behind in her schoolwork, and is thinking about getting a GED instead of finishing high school. [it's only been two weeks. kids with mono are out longer than that.]

3 weeks old: DJ's parents express their disappointment in Summer not wanting to finish school. To make matters worse, Summer's mom gets arrested for writing bad checks, so she faces up to two years in jail. [dang. what a terrible role model.]

16 & Pregnant "Karley" (S05E06): 17, from Tooele, Utah, near Salt Lake City. She lives with her mom, dad, younger brother and sister, and four dogs. [that's a lot! she also has an older, married sister] When her high-school-dropout boyfriend, Tony, gets her pregnant (with twins), they get married and he moves in, too. [I wonder why that part wasn't covered in the episode.] He's not comfortable living there, but he's working full-time as a mechanic to get money to move out. She's moved to homeschooling, though she was previously a good student. They had unprotected sex once, then again, then again, and she started to believe they were fine not being safe. 

September, 31 Weeks: Her mom tries to dissuade them from moving out in the next 8 months so they can make the best financial decision, but Tony keeps repeating that he doesn't worry about finances in advance.

October, 32 weeks: They meet with a realtor to learn about the costs of getting their own place, and find out that the cheapest places in town are $600-800/month, and Tony only makes about $1,000/month. [he has some huge gauges!]

October, 33 weeks: Baby shower time!

October, 34 weeks: Tony misses a doctor's appointment to get tattoo work done. [she's COVERED in stretch marks!]

October, 36 weeks: Tony says that he'll take some time off work when the babies are born, and suggests that she get a job as soon as she can. But, she talks about how the babies being in daycare isn't the best. [plus I highly doubt that she could make enough money with no education to off-set two infants in childcare.]

November, 38 weeks: She goes into labor in the middle of the night, and one of the babies is breach, causing a lot of pain. She has to have a c-sectin when the baby doesn't turn. On November 14th, Amariah Dawn is born 5 lb 9 oz with blonde hair, and Amayah Lynn is born 4 lb 14 oz with black hair. [reminds me of Leah's twins with such similar names!]

facebook.com/16andpregnant

1 day old: The babies will have to spend a few days in the NICU.

4 days old: They head home.

2 weeks old: Tony takes on more shifts, and Karley tries to keep up with schoolwork. Tony talks about buying a thousand-dollar, three-seater truck, feeling as if the money he makes for the family can be spent at his discretion. [but still, why buy a vehicle they can't all fit in??]

December, 3 weeks old: Karley asks her mom to watch the girls so she can have lunch with her friends. Tony buys the truck (for $850?), which has trouble starting, upsetting Karley. Her parents think that Tony needs to show his appreciation for the assistance he's being given. [her mom really freaked out there!] Tony realizes how big of a conflict the truck is causing, and decides to sell it.

16 & Pregnant "Aleah" (S05E07): She's 18 and lives near St. Louis with her mom & stepdad. She has Type 1 diabetes, and when she first found out, she rebelled and wound up meeting boyfriend of two years, Shawn, in a JDC. He has a son, Noah, of whom he has custody. Aleah had been on the shot and stopped doing that, leading to the pregnancy. She moves an hour away into his parents' house because it's closer to the plastic factory where Shawn works. [he doesn't seem to get a lot of hours, though.] He's got a lead foot and is constantly receiving speeding tickets that he doesn't pay on time. [and I'm already over this kid...] She is enrolled in college to become a medical assistant. His mother is more than willing to help them out with free childcare and a place to live. [she probably figures she's already watching her son's other kid anyway...]

October, 33 weeks: She meets with a labor coach to help her figure out how her diabetes will affect her delivering a healthy baby. [I can't tell how concerned Aleah is with her sugar...]

November, 35 weeks: Shawn gets another speeding ticket. Aleah is worried about the noise level in the house for a baby.

November, 37 weeks: time for the baby shower! Afterward, her blood sugar is really high, and gets higher. She heads to the ER, where she winds up delivering Peyton Reianne on December 13th, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. [um, the whole timeline is wrong if 37 weeks puts her mid-December. bad job once again, MTV!] Peyton struggles to breathe and is suffering from low blood sugar. [a common issue for babies born to diabetics.]

3 days old: Peyton stabilizes, so they're out of the NICU and head home.

2 weeks old: Shawn is working more, and things are cramped at the house.

3 weeks old: They look at apartments, which will run them $550/month, but he still owes $2500 because of court fees, speeding fines, and late fees. [I was so much more pissed than she was at him!] Aleah winds up walking out, and the next day tells him that they're breaking up if he gets one more speeding ticket.

1 month old: Shawn gets another speeding ticket, so Aleah takes Peyton and heads to her mother's. [I am shocked he doesn't try at least slightly harder. going 69 in a 50??]

16 & Pregnant: Arianna and Maurice Butt Heads

The thing that stood out to me the most about Arianna's story is that she had initially planned to work toward a PhD in Psychology but gives that dream up to become an RN. It's not every day that you meet a teenager with such a specific life plan and an understanding of what it will take to achieve, and it crushes me a little bit that she's so willing to change her career... this particular story never revealed whether the mother considered abortion or adoption as possibilities, which is interesting. It did, however, share that Arianna believed a fairy tale was in her future when she first got pregnant, that being a teen mom "just isn't fun," and that as long as Maurice acts as a father to Aiden, she'll be okay. Plus, she is still planning to start college in August. I wouldn't mind following up on this story, though I hope the teens are able to overcome their stubborn attitudes at some point to co-parent successfully. 

16 & Pregnant "Arianna" (S05E04): From Smyrna, GA, she's a creative-type senior in HS who plans to get a PhD in psychology, starting at Kennesaw State University. [I totally didn't understand what professions needed PhDs when I was in high school!] Her mother had her at 17, but is supportive as Arianna moves in with her grandmother when her mom remarried. [I kinda wish this issue was explored a little more. also, sharing a bedroom has been seen on television a lot this year, which I think is an excellent testament to the fact that four-bedroom houses are no longer the norm.] Arianna had dated Maurice for about six weeks before she got pregnant, though they have been friends since freshman year.

August, 6 months: Maurice demands a paternity test, so Arianna refuses to talk to him. [this is never brought up again, so I'm guessing the idea died out.] She's busy taking accelerated classes so she can finish her schoolwork in December before the baby is born, but does go to Homecoming with some friends. She also tries to ask Maurice for action in caring for the unborn child, but no luck. 

September, 7 months: She goes to driving school, has a sonogram, and decides to give Maurice another chance. The fellow senior still doesn't have a job, but he's working on a mix tape in a studio. [and it's not very clear whether he's still in school or not.] Arianna tells him that he needs to bring baby supplies to her house, but he says it's not necessary yet, and winds up walking away from the conversation.

October, 34 weeks: She has a baby shower. [I had mixed feelings about her happiness that gifts would mean fewer items her mother and grandmother would have to buy.]

37 weeks away: She spends some time with her family, and winds up realizing that she can't spend the next eleven years working toward a degree, so she decides to become a Registered Nurse instead. [another belly cast. what do people do with those things??] The baby is measuring big, so Arianna is induced. She's happy that Maurice comes to be with her in the hospital, and after eight hours of labor, she asks for an epidural. Four hours after that, it's time to push. Aiden Connor is born November 16th weighing 6 lb, 2 oz. [that's not "big," so I wonder what the concern was to induce her?] Maurice still doesn't think he did anything wrong, so Arianna asks him to leave. [this guy needs to learn that hormonal women are not to be messed with.] 

facebook.com/16andpregnant

December, one week old: Maurice wants to see the baby, but Arianna tells him that he needs to apologize and bring something for the newborn.

Two weeks old: Arianna is back to doing her schoolwork, and Maurice gets a job. He starts listening to what he needs to do, and brings items for Aiden. He even gets the baby a Christmas suit. [awww!] He offers to come over more and change the baby, etc. but he still doesn't own up to his past attitudes and actions. [I can't stand people who refuse to believe that they've made mistakes in the past.] He tries to make some amends, but he suggests that she'll need to change as well, to which she's resistant. [they're both pretty stubborn, which means a rough road ahead!] 

16 & Pregnant: Millina on her Own

This season doesn't seem to be covering the early parts of pregnancy at all with the teens - no discussions of how they told their families that they were expecting, no guessing about the sex before they find out, and no words-to-the-wise about morning sickness or fatigue. Of course, it's not like they've been glamorizing the situation, either, as there have been no big groups of friends hanging around, no baby showers, and no helpful fathers. This episode stood out because of how mature Millina needed to be about the situation, having few people in her life that she can trust or rely upon. It seemed that Trevor's mother was overly controlling and ultimately might have made everything worse, but perhaps there's still a bright future ahead.

http://remotecontrol.mtv.com

16 & Pregnant "Millina" (S05E03): Millina, 17, lives in Michigan, near Detroit. She and her younger brother live with their grandmother because both divorced parents have problems; Her mother is in jail on drug charges, and her dad is flaky and can't afford to care for the kids. [ouch. no wonder she has trust issues!] Millina dropped out of high school, and met her boyfriend, Trevor, at a rave. [no real discussion on why she dropped out.She didn't want to go on birth control because of the side effects, but plans on being safer after the baby is born.

October, 30 weeks: She talks to her mom on the phone from jail. Trevor's mom, Tina, is emotionally unstable, and has seizures and strokes, so Millina is worried about the woman handling the baby alone. She's also judgmental of Millina's mom. [totally believable.]

October, 33 weeks: Trevor plans to come over and help when the baby is born, but thinks they'd be better off at his house. [other than space, he doesn't seem to have reasons he believes that, though.] Millina attends her mother's court hearing, where it gets adjourned for another 30 days.

November, 36 weeks: Trevor is working at a fast food place, and is moving to a large basement with his mother the following week. [2,000 sq ft is an enormous basement!] Tina invites Millina and the baby to live with them as well, but Millina isn't comfortable doing more than occasionally staying the night there. Millina spends time with her dad, and Tina pushes Millina to live with them to keep the baby safe. Before a resolution can be reached, Millina goes into labor, and Kayden James Michael is born December 5th, weighing 7lb, 13 oz.

December, 4 days old: Trevor wants to bring the baby over to his mom's, but Millina isn't ready to go over there yet. [I don't get why Tina couldn't go to Millina's?]

2 weeks old: Millina is alone with Kayden most of the time, and Trevor gets upset that Millina doesn't promptly return Tina's calls. [this Trevor kid is getting weirder.] 

January, 4 weeks old: Millina's mom has another court date, so Millina brings Kayden along so they can meet from afar. She is sentenced to 200 more days in jail instead of in-patient treatment, and Kayden gets sick, presumably from going out in the cold to be in the courthouse. [I hadn't considered this being one of the reasons that babies would be in a courtroom.] Tina is upset that Millina took the baby out like that, but does finally get to see the infant when Trevor stops taking Millina's calls so she brings the baby over there. At least Millina is planning to earn her GED, though!

16 & Pregnant: Autumn Steps Up, Dustin Doesn't

Autumn gives it to the audience straight at the end: "So in my opinion, you should wait to have a baby, because your life is not what you're gonna think - you're gonna think you're gonna have a family, money in the house, and you're not. you're gonna be stuck at home with your mom or your dad for years. and most likely, I hate to break it to everybody, you're not gonna be with the person you have a baby with." Well, that's probably pretty spot-on advice, and I actually felt bad for the girl... she turned her life around and seemed to be trying pretty hard, but her babydaddy wasn't very interested in the selflessness required to be a father. I look forward to learning more about this young mother, whose child is currently five months old.

facebook.com/16andpregnant

16 & Pregnant "Autumn" (S05E02): She's a 16-year-old sophomore from Richmond, VA, who met babydaddy Dustin a year ago, and they spend all their time together. Her older sister, Misty, recently had a baby, but does not appear to live at home, and seemingly gets support from her child's father. [we don't actually see the infant.]

Before she got pregnant, Autumn was a partier, but she stopped while Dustin is still carefree. She didn't want to go on the pill for fear of gaining weight, and she announced her pregnancy to Dustin by showing him the test on FaceTime. [I've never heard of someone not believing home pregnancy tests!] She started homeschooling so she can finish in time. 

November, 30 weeks: Autumn is worried that Dustin won't stop partying, and he only says he won't do it as much when Drake is born. [omg.] They both plan to keep living at their respective homes, but have infant set-ups in both locations. [fair plan.] She's put on 40 pounds, and the couple and their moms have lunch to discuss how things will work when the baby is born. [very amicable conversation, though it weirds me out how casual both mothers were about the kids' lifestyles.] Dustin has bought a used crib, but otherwise isn't working toward getting things together. He admits that he's been smoking for five years but will stop smoking in the house and will not be high around the baby. [that's a start, but seriously??!?] But, he's not planning to stop smoking entirely, and he doesn't have plans to get a job, either. [how does he pay for his weed currently?] They go to a consignment store to look for more stuff, and Autumn's mom helps Dustin start looking for work. [he doesn't have very good phone etiquette.]

33 weeks: Dustin gets hired at a bike shop, and he's staying clean. His mom calls the cops on him because there is weed all over from his friends, but it blows over. Still, Autumn buys an over-the-counter drug test, and although he says he's clean, he won't take it. [ooooh.... I wonder if he just doesn't want to set a precedent of taking them?] She convinces him to try it, and he passes. He helps her do a belly mold as she has some contractions, and it turns out that it's estimated that she'll deliver in 7-10 days. But, it doesn't even take that long. She is 4cm dilated by the time she got to the hospital, so the doctor broke her water and started her on pitocin. She doesn't want future babies. [she was quite adamant about that! but I hear many people in labor get that way.] She gets an epidural to deal with the pain, and has the baby before long: Drake LeSeuer is 7lb, 5oz, born December 17th.

4 Days Old: Dustin doesn't want to help at night, but he'll hold the baby and change him during the day. [something is better than nothing, I guess?]

1 Week Old: Everything is harder than Autumn imagined, and she's struggling to keep up with her schoolwork.

2 Weeks Old: Days are going by when Autumn doesn't see Dustin, and he's not spending his paychecks on diapers or other baby supplies. [uh oh...]

1 Month Old: They owe $280 for Drake's circumcision, which is money Autumn doesn't have. Her mother suggests that Autumn ask for child support, as all Dustin has done is play with the baby and stop smoking. [he hasn't contributed financially YET?!?] She decides to give him one more chance before filing for child support, but he won't even commit to give her $40/week or even just buying a pack of diapers and a box of wipes each week. [seriously??!?] She tells him that he needs to get it together, and she's giving him a month before filing.

2 Months Old: It's Valentine's Day, and she sees a lawyer about filing for child support. She also gets a job at a restaurant. [I'm glad that she's pulling everything together. I wonder how they managed to pay that hospital bill?]

RETURNING: 16 & Pregnant: Consequences of Impulse

You want to make decisions on a whim? Spur-of-the-moment your thing? Acting on impulse makes you feel alive? Well, that sort of action is what landed Maddy in the position of being a teenage mother. There wasn't much to her story that made her an original on this returning series, as she basically just combined elements of previous mothers, from having to find alternative living arrangements to having an uninterested/unhelpful babydaddy, and having the child as a result of a one-night-stand. After the birth, she only mentions the future of her school career once, but it also appears that she doesn't have a car and isn't working, either. The reactions of the babydaddy's parents when Maddy decides not to bring the baby to live with them also seemed muted, and I'm willing to bet that they were way more disappointed that she changed her mind after such drastic renovations to their home. I don't know that I'd want her to be picked up in a Teen Mom 4 way, but the end-of-season follow-up should be interesting.

http://remotecontrol.mtv.com

16 and Pregnant "Maddy" (S05E01): Maddy, 16 from Tinley Park, IL, lives with her mom, brother, sister, and three-month-old half-sister. [no sign of a stepdad or the like.] Divorced dad lives an hour away. An athlete, Maddy got dumped part-way through her sophomore year of high school so she hooked up with a random guy she found on facebook as revenge. No condom = pregnant! [did Cody seriously try to blame it on his lack of attention during health class?]

August, 32 weeks: Her brother isn't interested in meeting Cody, and Maddy still hardly knows him herself. Her mom tells her that her life is kinda ruined, but Maddy doesn't want to accept that. [of course.] Maddy can only stay in the house a month after she has the baby, as there isn't room. She weighs the options of moving in with her dad or with Cody, and decides to opt for the latter, though it'll be awkward because they're not "together." [her reasoning was half-right - living with the babydaddy would theoretically get her some help, but turning down her dad's place simply because it's so far from her friends isn't the greatest logic.] Cody's parents come over to talk to Maddy and her mom about the living arrangements.

September, 36 weeks: school is starting, and Maddy goes on a date with Cody to get to know him, though they wind up arguing about the baby's surname, as Maddy doesn't think it should have his last name.

October, 38 weeks: Maddy is still fighting with Cody about the baby's name, but his parents show her the planned renovations to make the dining room a nursery. [I didn't necessarily follow with how the recessed shelving would be the best use of the space, but okay. also, why don't they get 2 twin beds if they're both single? 2 queen beds makes no sense!] Maddy soon goes into labor, and has to make it 6.5 hours until she can get an epidural.

Aubrey Lynn is born 8lbs 3oz on October 20th.

One day old: Cody slept through Aubrey's crying all night, and the fight over the baby's surname happens again, though Maddy prevails.

Two days old: they're discharged and head home, where Cody and his parents see the newborn.

November, 2 weeks old: Cody hasn't been by to see Aubrey.

3 weeks old: Maddy wants to do online school, and there has still been no sign of Cody, though he does call to check on the baby. [yep, that's it!]

4 weeks old: She brings the baby to meet her dad, and he still offers her to move in there. She texts Cody and tells him that she doesn't want to live with him, and moves to her father's a week later.

7 weeks old: Cody comes to see Aubrey. [I thought that this was a rather odd place to end it, but whatever. maybe it's a new thing this season to leave things more unraveled?]

16 & Pregnant: Updates from the Teen Mom 3 Rejects

Now that Teen Mom 3 is in full swing, it makes sense that MTV would give another set of updates on the other girls from the fourth season. The last update was over a year ago, and one might very well believe that this will be the final installment for those girls. Their stories vary widely, from not being able to afford rent to being well into a college degree, and the teens aren't all protected from making the same mistake again, either. Some might have been better choices to follow more closely through Teen Mom 3, while others are about as interesting as watching paint dry. Whether a new set of girls will pop up for yet another round of 16 and Pregnant episodes remains unclear, but after a year of no news, it's pretty close to say that there will be no more dreaded hours of watching immature adolescents making poor choices.

MTV

16 and Pregnant "Where are they Now? 4" (Special): 
Myranda - It has been 20 months, and Kaylee turns 2 in September. Eric works odd hours at Walmart, and they use WIC and food stamps to get by. Her mother is allowed to watch Kaylee now. [glad she's gotten her alcoholism under control.] Myranda has not gotten her GED yet, as she doesn't want to miss out on her daughter growing up. [she can't study for a couple hours a day without missing major moments??] They couple has been engaged for two years, and although they have not yet set a date, they anticipate going to the courthouse in a few months, surrounded by friends and family. [they actually went to talk to a judge about HOW it works??] Myranda does want more children, but for now she's on the shot.

Sabrina - Twenty months later, Audrey is turning two years old, and Sabrina and Iman are no longer together, as he cheated on her while pregnant. [I hate those scenarios!] She's still in Tennessee, though she wants to move back to CA and go to college. Her mother now has custody of 0/7 children, and her sister, Rebecca, is in foster care. [that's rough.] When Iman calls, Sabrina hands the phone to Audrey, but Sabrina isn't too upset, as she's living with boyfriend Bryce, whom Audrey calls "Dad." [whoa. I'm always shocked at how these teen mothers find people to support them!] She is looking for a job and wants to return to school and become a teacher. She is using condoms for protection, but is considering the shot.

Sarah - Two years later, Tinleigh is two, and is watched by Sarah's mom while Sarah works 20-30 hours/week as a service assistant at a restaurant. [interesting comment that nobody recognizes her from the show.] She couldn't afford to pay rent if she needed to, but she did graduate with her class and has finished the first year of her radiology degree. [baby steps.] Blake moved to South Carolina, partied hard, started dating someone, then moved back and got another girl pregnant. [sucks!] Because of his actions, Sarah gets Tinleigh's surname changed to match hers. She was on the pill but now isn't using birth control, as she is not planning to be sexually active for a long time.

Lindsey - 19 months after her episode, Aniyah is about to turn 2 and speaks both English and Spanish. She's a door girl at a topless bar for now, but is soon opening a hookah lounge called Puff & Pass with her business partner. [I understand that she has been working hard, but that's a substantial amount of money for someone who used to share a room AND BED with her sister...] She and Forrest are no longer together because he smokes weed and doesn't contribute financially, though he does spend time with Aniyah. She's using condoms because her body "rejects" all kinds of birth control.

Hope - 21 months later, Hope and one-night-stand-Ben are living together, with her working as a server and he short on hours because he hasn't been able to find a replacement second job. [She is actually forced to move back home because of it, while Ben lives in a tent at a campground, having been turned down by family. [and he has no friends? or he doesn't want to be a mooch?] She failed her classes and might lose her financial aid, and she can't afford birth control because she has no health insurance. It's a rough situation, but the family hopes to be able to live together again soon. [maybe in another year?]

Devon - 18 months later, little Landon is 19 months old, and Devon has finished her GED. She shares that she and Colin tried to come off as happy on camera, but things were worse than they seemed, and they eventually broke up, though Colin does see Landon on Tuesday, Thursday, and every other weekend. [what a complicated schedule!] He also supplies diapers and wipes as needed. [I guess that's good.] She moved back in with her mother and is planning to start college soon, though she continues to have anxiety attacks on a daily basis. She's been dating Eric for six months. 

Jordan - After 22 months, Chase is 2, and he and Jordan have moved in with Tyler after a few months of issues. Her mother visits weekly, and she is planning to start college when Chase begins preschool. She never leaves the house on her own and misses her friends. [did anyone else throw up a major red flag here? I found it very odd that she isn't interested in going places on her own.] Chase has had surgery for stomach issues. She does her schoolwork from home, and wants to go to college when Chase is in preschool. Jordan has using implanon, but Tyler wants another child sooner rather than later. [oooh. wonder how that will go...]

Kristina - 19 months later, Lukas is 22 months old, and she tries not to think about Todd too much. She married TJ after six months of dating, and they had an oopsy-baby, Tommy Joseph, now six months old. [both kids wear the same size diaper?] Lukas is over-sensitive, so he sees an occupational therapist twice a month and Early Childhood Intervention four times a month, and is starting speech therapy, too. [haha, recommending the pill, the condom, AND pulling out.] Things aren't all coming up roses, however, as she cheated on him and suspects he cheated on her, so they've been separated for a month and he plans to file for divorce and custody of Joseph. She has her GED and is planning on college in the future, but for now is job-hunting and getting about $600/month in food stamps. She still hasn't watched her episode, as it is too sad. [awww. this would have been a trainwreck to follow on Teen Mom 3...]

16 & Pregnant: Season 4 Wrap-Up

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

The biggest thing to stand out to me about this special would be that they didn't showcase all of the girls from this season. As mentioned at the end of the special, Sabrina, Jordan, Hope, and Devon are all left off, with their stories only being available online. If the program was already 90 minutes, what would have been the big deal to have it go 120? I could live without seeing Jordan (who is now engaged), but Sabrina (the one with the close sister) and Hope (the party girl) were fairly interesting. And the teaser bit about Devon's birth control having been recalled was worth airing, in my opinion. But, it was still nice to get a little closure. I still don't understand why they don't give the girls more time to ask one another questions, but what's done is done. I don't know which girls they'll be following in Teen Mom 3, but let's hope that Lindsey, Brianna, Sarah, and Kristina aren't on there... I'm tired of them. Who do you hope that they continue to follow?

16 and Pregnant "Life After Labor 5" (Special):
Brianna graduated high school a year early. Her babydaddy still isn't a big help, so she talks about the biggest sacrifice being not able to act in a carefree manner and the hardest part is parenting alone. She has no friends, feels alone, and wonders what Devoin does that he can't come see the baby. Well, apparently it's a 45-minute drive, but it doesn't seem to matter anyway - he can't handle caring for the child for an hour. [eep!] He's not giving her diapers or formula - he's getting tattoos and a new phone. [you know, like the carefree kids do.] Dr. Drew tells them that they should do something as a family, like go to the zoo, and they should also have Devoin take care of the baby for an entire day. [not sure how that would go!]

Lindsey is back with Forrest. She explains the story of how they got pregnant - they had stopped using condoms because not using one once didn't result in a pregnancy, so they thought the two of them weren't reproductively compatible. [WAY ridiculous!] She wants to get her daughter on birth control as soon as she gets her period, not ifs, ands, or buts. [you know, the epitome of no trust.] His mom still keeps him from working to allow him to focus on school, and she still wants to be a cagefighter. [he's STILL not working?!?] 

Mackenzie - Josh is still riding broncos and getting concussions, and she's back to tumbling. She's unhappy and not planning to go to college. They're not using birth control now, either, even though they don't want to have another baby. [for the hundredth time, I just don't understand this mindset.] She doesn't like birth control and he's allergic to latex. [really? she's still afraid she'll "get fat" from it? or she just can't remember to take it?] Neither have jobs so their parents help them individually. Her mom wants her on birth control, but also doesn't agree with unmarried people having sex, and things are also complicated by Mackenzie's Type 1 Diabetes. [yeah, I could see how this is getting muddy.] Her mom focuses a bit on how she doesn't want them to have sex at all. [I thought that Dr. Drew did a good job of dealing with her mother's beliefs while emphasizing that the kids need to be practicing safe sex.]

Sarah says the worst part of being a teenage mother is going it alone, but she's very thankful for her family. Blake hasn't been back and has sent about $200 (though he claims it's more like $300-400). She's graduating high school with good grades, though she has experienced some depression. [par for the course.] Blake announces that he has ambitions of buying a boat this year, despite the fact that Sarah and her mother believe that it's more important to live near your child and make less money, so Blake says that he regrets his choices and would move back. [I don't know about you, but I'm pretty skeptical...]

Kristina says that therapy has helped her a lot (she lost her fiance while she was pregnant). [she looks WAY better with blonde hair!!] She has a new fiance who acts as a father. [whoa. already?? And I thought that her first engagement was fast!!] Daniel and Dottie are very critical of Kristina's choices, so they're not there for her so much anymore, though her mother is closer now. Antibiotics canceled out her birth control the first time, then she tried the shot, but now she's planning to get an IUD. [am I freakishly careful when I'm on antibiotics or something? Because I feel like I've heard five dozen stories of girls who forgot/didn't know/didn't worry about antibiotics rendering the pill inactive.]

Alex talks about how Matt shouldn't get to see his daughter if he's using drugs, and that he uses behind everyone's backs. She wants full custody. Matt joins via phone, as he's on probation and can't leave the state. [hahaha.] He's in AA and goes twice a week... Dr. Drew suggests he go twice a day and get well. [yeah, I definitely agree that twice a week is low for that kid.] Dr. Drew then talks to Alex about how Matt's handicapped during his illness... and then we find out that they hooked-up about 10 days ago. [all these kids have no respect for themselves.]

Myranda still can't trust her mom, though she's been sober for a few months. She's engaged now, and he used the baby in the proposal. [cute story, but troublesome... sounded like a choking hazard to me!] They had condoms but she didn't want to use them as she was on birth control. [hahaha.] Eric's grandmother comes out and he tells her how great she is and how much she's appreciated. Myranda is on the same page.

Katie and Joey live together on their own now. He's in the mines and she's in school. She has an IUD and uses condoms, so they're pretty safe. Socially, she's lost her friends. [cut and dried story.]


Hope asks Sarah, Brianna, and Kristina about being single moms - Brianna says that she was raised to do it herself, Kristina says it's hard but she has family to help if she needs it, and Sarah says that she has family, too.

16 & Pregnant: Kristina's Complicated Pregnancy

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

You know how MTV usually captions the people on their shows who are difficult to understand? Like Corey, from Teen Mom 2? Well, they really should have captioned Kristina. She's hard to understand sometimes, especially when she's crying. Her story is a bit more unlikely than most, but still has plenty of merit. Dealing with an absent father who couldn't be there if he wanted to is rough. Dealing with loss is rough. Going into pre-term labor at 30 weeks is bad, but having to stay in the hospital rather than home on bedrest is awful. Not wanting your mother around when you're in labor is something I completely recognize, but it might be a new perspective to many who watch this show. And, I would have liked to hear more of the reasoning behind delivering at 34 weeks instead of 36 (which was the original intention), as I don't know that spending three weeks in the NICU was the best thing, either. At least everything seems to be going okay in the end.

Kristina is the final teen mother in this season, so look for the wrap-ups with Dr. Drew coming soon.

16 and Pregnant "Kristina" (S04E12): Kristina, 16,  is from Dayberry, TX, near Louisiana. She lived with her mom, grandma, sister, and brother before moving in with her local aunt and her family instead. Aunt Dotty's husband is Daniel, and Daniel's brother is Todd, who is the BabyDaddy. they started dating "a year ago" and got engaged pretty quickly. [whoa. who gets engaged before they're 18??] However, they were swimming in Galveston when a riptide got both of them. Kristina was knocked unconscious but was saved by a lifeguard. Todd drowned. Her mom was on the beach when it happened, and can't seem to let it go. 

26 Weeks: Kristina's mom wants her to move back home, but she's worried about whether she'll go back to school in the fall. She also reminisces about Todd with her friend, Tressie.

28 Weeks: she wants to name the baby Lukas, as that's a name that Todd liked. Her aunt helps her paint and gets a crib and plans a shower.

29 Weeks: She's decided to get a GED, but might finish high school at the college campus instead. [but that's the last we see of this.]

September, 30 Weeks Pregnant: Kristina ignores her mother, even though they had agreed to talk about cakes. [137 people invited to the baby shower?? It's not a wedding!!] Her mom doesn't feel included. [her mom just keeps bringing up the accident! STOP!] Kristina has some pains and is worried, and it turns out that she's in early labor. A sonogram reveals that the baby is growth-restricted and there's low fluid. 14 hours later, the contractions get worse, even though they're trying to stop the labor (administering magnesium). Kristina has to stay in the hospital until her due date - over two months away. [why is she at a hospital an hour away?]

31 Weeks: it looks like she'll be in the hospital for six more weeks, and she wants to be alone, which her mother doesn't want. She also misses Todd.

September, 33 Weeks: She was supposed to have her baby shower, so a few friends come to visit her in the hospital to do her hair and makeup. They dress her up and wheel her to a conference room to have her shower. [awww!]

34 Weeks: The baby is developed enough that they stop the medication and go for a c-section. She wants to go through it alone, though her mother cries and she agrees to let her be in the room if she stays quiet and doesn't hover. Lukas Todd is born September 26th at 3lbs, 3 oz.

One Day Old: Lukas is in intensive care.

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Three Days Old: They take out Kristina's staples and she goes home, but Lukas must stay in the hospital for a few weeks to continue developing. 

One Week Old: She's been driving out there to visit him everyday. [of course.]

October, 3 Weeks Old: Lukas can come home! Her aunt helps her bathe him for the first time. They co-sleep and he's getting bottles. She's denying outside help, as she wants Todd or nothing. [rough.]

November, 6 Weeks Old: Kristina sees a therapist because she doesn't know what else to do. [hope it helps.] She still feels "numb." She tries to get out of the house more. She wants to go to school like Todd would have wanted, though we don't hear what her plans are.

16 & Pregnant: Devon & Colin Have No Space

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

This is one of those 16 & Pregnant episodes where I really wonder just what makes these kids decide they're ready to have sex. If you have a sister just a year older than you who has a child, and you've only known a guy for a couple of months, what in the world makes you think that the two of you should copulate? Frustrating as that was, I can only imagine how cramped a house must be with 8-9 people living there! I can understand Devon not wanting Colin to deploy for any period of time, but it's good that she was gaining perspective regarding what would be best for Landon.

16 & Pregnant "Devon" (S04E11): 16 years old from Richmond, VA, Devon lives with her older brother, two older sisters, her sister's child, and several dogs. BabyDaddy Colin also lives there. He's four years older and they met when he returned from Iraq. Devon's parents are divorced but get along. [and it seems that they're counting him as "living there" even though they said he is only in town sometimes.] She suspects she got pregnant when she switched from the pill to the ring. [interesting theory.]

August, 28 Weeks: They started dating in September and found out she was pregnant in May. [they later say she was about four months along when she realized... her friends thought she was getting fat, LoL!]
September, 30 Weeks: Colin [which sounds more like "Kyle" the way the family says it.] wants to be able to provide for the baby and not live paycheck to paycheck.
September, 32 Weeks: Colin's on reserved duty for a few days. She starts her senior year, and she's not thrilled that people stare and talk. [duh.] 
September, 33 Weeks: They're running out of space in their room. [she wears some BIG earrings.] Devon doesn't want to move out and be broke, but Colin wants to have more space and privacy. [both valid points.]
October, 36 Weeks: Colin wants to buy a house. [renting an apartment isn't good enough for them?] They have a baby shower. She tells her friends she doesn't want to feel anything during the delivery.
October, 37 Weeks: Colin is at a warehouse full-time, while Devon is trying to focus on school. She's thinking of dropping out and getting a GED at home. Colin talks about re-enlisting in the military, but Devon doesn't want him to go away. [the boy is trying!]
November, 40 Weeks: She feels like she's leaking and having contractions, so she talks to her mom and then they head to the hospital. [I have that "Maroon Effect" t-shirt!] Two hours in, she's 3cm dilated, and they're going to use pitocin to get things moving. Six hours in, she trembles and is uncomfortable. Nine hours in, she cries and is only 4cm. She gets an epidural. 12 hours in, it's time to push, and Landon Levy is born November 4th at 6 lbs, 10 oz. [in three hours she dilates 6cm while on an epidural? impressive.]
November, 2 Days Old: She's in pain as they drive home. She has no problem cursing up a storm next to her newborn baby. [makes me want to cry for that new baby's ears!]
3 Days Old: Colin is going back to work the next day, so he goes to sleep and leaves Devon to care for the baby. Even when she asks him for help, he rolls over. [but it doesn't seem it's like that every night.] Devon is trying to keep up with her GED, and is lucky that her mother and sisters help.
3 Weeks Old: Devon decides that they do need to consider trying to move into a two-bedroom place. [IMO, a one-bedroom somewhere else would be an improvement.] But Colin points out that his whole paycheck will go to the house, so they won't be able to do anything else. [he's on both sides of the fence, LoL.]
December, 1 Month Old: They meet with a broker and find that their credit pre-approves them for up to $127,000. They start looking at houses and love one that's $139K. Devon also goes rollerskating with her friends.
6 Weeks Old: Colin gets laid off, so he feels like he's failing. [ha! they set this up, I totally knew as soon as he walked in the door that he had lost his job. good thing they didn't buy that house immediately, tho!]
December, 2 Months Old: [as Landon won't be two months old until January 4th, they pushed this one a little bit.] Colin's been looking for jobs for two weeks now - he's hoping for warehouses or security. He's also thinking of going to school, but then they can't get a house if that's the case. He suggests working and going to school, but she points out that he'll never be home. She asks him to do something fast, and he says that he could get deployed to get money. [if she's going to pressure him, that's where I'd turn, too.] The episode closes with Devon saying that she misses being able to just be a teenager.

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16 & Pregnant: Sarah is Solo; Sabrina's Choice

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Two teenage girls again this week. One has the father around until the baby is born, then he splits move on to other things. The other's father doesn't commit to making things work until after the baby is born, but he comes through in the end. Unfortunately, it wrecks her homelife and relationship with her sister, so essentially, she chose her babydaddy over her sibling. Luckily, both girls have support from their mothers, though both will have to struggle to finish their high school educations. This episode also explores a tiny bit about what complications mothers might face - like pre-eclampsia, babies in the NICU, and having to be induced. Not my favorite episode, but worth watching to get those "scarier" looks at the consequences of sex before you're ready.

16 and Pregnant "Sarah" (S04E09): Sarah is 16 and lives in Chickamunga, GA, near Chattanooga. She lives with her mom and two brothers, and resents the fact that she grew up without her dad around. She and her boyfriend, Blake, have been dating on and off for five years. He dropped out of high school and works at a grocery store part-time, though he plans to get into the shrimping industry. [whose mother does their hair and makeup EVERY DAY?? speaking of her mom... she looks REALLY young... was she a teen mom, too?]

May, 34 Weeks: They think they'll make it as parents, and Blake has moved in to be there for the baby. [like the Forrest Gump reference on the boat!] Blake doesn't like the rules of the house, though, and tends to object to taking out the trash or saving $10/week for baby needs. [that's next to nothing! I can't believe that's all he was required to set aside!]

June, 35 Weeks: Blake wants to move elsewhere so he could make more money, but Sarah doesn't want him leaving when the baby is so young. [...though it's not actually born yet, so couldn't he go for a month and return?]

June, 36 Weeks: Her mom tells her that she better not move without plenty of notice. [agreed.] Blake doesn't even know where the hospital is. [oh goodness!] She plans to go back to school online when the next school year comes. Blake is supposed to help Sarah get a crib from her aunt, but he goes out with his friends instead. [this is an attitude I'll never understand... why can't you take an hour to make sure your offspring has a proper place to sleep?? Especially if it's free!] Sarah then gives him a to-do list that includes getting tape off a mirror and washing the car seat, stroller, and "bouncy thing," which she reads to him over the phone. He says that it might take a few days, but it'll get done. He tells a friend that sometimes he'd rather just pay child support than have to live around Sarah's mom. [eep!]

June, 38 Weeks: Blake still haven't picked up the crib, so Sarah's mother goes to get it. Some fighting between Blake and Sarah's mom leads Sarah to suggest that he should move if that's what he really wants to do. When he comes back the next night, he apologizes, brings her half a bag of chips, and go to the Lookout Mountain train. [I guess the chips were an inside joke? it is a cool place, I went to a wedding on Lookout Mountain.] The next week, she's only one centimeter dilated, though almost all effaced. They want to talk induction if she doesn't deliver within the week, so she and her friend try a bunch of things to get things moving, and soon she has pain and nausea. She winds up having a c-section because the baby's head was too far to the side, and on June 18th, Tinleigh Louise is born at 6 lbs, 14 oz. 

June, 3 Days Old: Sarah is in a lot of pain on the way home. Blake is now full-time at the grocery store, but it's the night shift, which only leads to him ignoring the baby crying when he's home. [things like this just break my heart. Poor Sarah just wants to catch a few winks and he won't even answer the monitor.]

July, 2 Weeks Old: Sarah says that, if she had it to do over, she wouldn't have kids. [well, when you're sixteen or seventeen years old, what do you really know about what there is to having kids?!]

July, 3 Weeks Old: she's out of savings and has no diapers, but Blake is spending his money and not giving it to her regularly, either. When Sarah's mom confronts him about his finances, he leaves, heading for a shrimping boat. He doesn't even say goodbye, coming into the house at night and retrieving his things. [that's harsh!] Sarah struggles to keep up with her schoolwork online. [is she still finishing the previous year?] He calls and they argue about his going now instead of before, and how she wanted Tinleigh to have a good relationship with her father.

July, 1 Month Old: She talks about not having time to put into anything besides motherhood. [TRUTH.]

16 and Pregnant "Sabrina" (S04E10): Sabrina is 17 from Los Angeles. Her parents split when she was young and she'd lived with her dad for ten years when she decides to move to Franklin, TN after her junior year of HS to be near her mom. Her mom, however, has her hands full with three little kids of her own, so Sabrina and her sister, Rebecca, live nearby with their grandparents. Sabrina's boyfriend, Iman, is thinking of moving to TN.

July, 33 Weeks: She wants her baby to have both parents. August 26th is her due date. As soon as they graduate, she wants to get an apartment, but her grandmother suggests that they won't have enough money to do that. Iman keeps telling her that he has no money. [we don't know what he does for a living, so perhaps it's a part-time gig at a restaurant or something?]

August, 36 Weeks: She's worried about Iman not getting there before the baby is born, and she won't be able to handle school without his help. The school has daycare, and she hopes to get a tutor, too, to stay on-track. [I guess she's laying some groundwork for making things work out...]

August, 37 Weeks: Sabrina, her mom, and her sister go shopping for baby stuff, and Sabrina mentions that she'd like to name her baby "Audrey," which her mother doesn't like. Her mom also questions Iman's surname being on the birth certificate. That's not the only strike against Iman, though, as Rebecca is concerned that Sabrina will ignore her once Iman arrives. They talk about getting an IUD after the delivery. She wants her mom and sister in the delivery room.

August, 38 Weeks: Iman calls, saying that he bought a plane ticket to leave in a week. The next morning, Sabrina's foot is swollen and she's not feeling well, so she goes to the hospital. With signs of pre-eclampsia, they decide to deliver. She receives pitocin to get things going, and five hours into labor, she gets an epidural. Thirteen hours in, she's ready to push, and Audrey Animi is born August 21st at 7lbs, 9oz. Audrey is suspected to have an infection, though, and is taken to the NICU, sending Sabrina into shock. [I don't think that Sabrina's mom was helping anything with her comments...]

One Day Old: Sabrina can go home, but Audrey is staying a few more days. Sabrina Skypes Iman, but neither seem very excited. [SO.WEIRD. why were neither gushing about their new, darling daughter?] It seems that he hasn't actually bought his ticket yet after all. [I can't believe it! such scum!]

Four Days Old: They take home Audrey and Sabrina breastfeeds. Her teachers send her work home, but it's hard for her to stay on top of it, though Rebecca helps by watching the baby for a few hours at night. Iman keeps texting that he's working on making it there.

September, 1 Month Old: The school doesn't have a spot for the baby in daycare until January, so it looks like Sabrina may need to ask her grandparents for free labor. Iman arrives by surprise, and jumps right in feeding and changing Audrey. [where did he get a Titans hoodie?] Sabrina goes to school while Rebecca stays home and unenrolls, planning to move back with her mom. [I question whether Iman had JUST arrived, as the story makes it seem, or if there was time for an incident to take place to make Rebecca want to leave...] Sabrina cries and cries, saying that the only reason she stayed in TN was to be with Rebecca, and can't believe that she left her so easily. She wants to go to cosmetology school after she graduates. Her grandparents tell her that Iman babysitting is great, but he needs to go look for a job, too. [if he does, you'll be watching the baby, gram & gramps...]

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