In this episode of What The Friday, Bailey Grace sits down with Tina and Lizzie, sexual health engagement professionals from Locala, to explore the realities of teenage pregnancy and parenthood. They unpack the physical, emotional and social effects of becoming a young parent, including the impact on education, friendships, finances and mental health.

Tina and Lizzie share powerful personal experiences of being a teenage mum and living with postnatal depression, explaining how to recognise the signs, where to get help and why nobody should struggle alone. They talk honestly about parenting, abortion, and adoption as valid options, the importance of informed, non-judgmental support, and how to handle pressure from partners or family.

The conversation also covers co-parenting, bonding with your baby, financial preparation, emotional readiness and balancing your own wellbeing with caring for a child, with clear, practical advice for young people who are unsure what to do next.

For more information and support:

• Locala Sexual Health: https://www.locala.org.uk/services/sexual-health
• NHS Pregnancy and Baby: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy
• Brook (sexual health and pregnancy support for young people): https://www.brook.org.uk
• Mind (mental health and perinatal support): https://www.mind.org.uk

This episode was kindly funded by Locala https://www.locala.org.uk

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes or sign up to the Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults at www.destination.org.uk where you can find loads of useful life-benefiting content for young people.

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Special thanks to Jimi for editing and Youth Social www.youthsocial.co.uk for pulling everything together.

Finally special thanks for Paul A Jackson for the music.