Teen pregnancy is on the rise, but a show first played in 2009 showed America the lives of girls who were 16 and Pregnant.

By watching the show, viewers are exposed to the difficulties and obstacles that teen mothers face. The show ended its 2nd season in April, and season three began on October 21.

The show was created by Lauren Dolgen, a member of the MTV team and reality television executive. In her twelve years of working with MTV, she was involved with creating Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Parental Control.

On the show, every girl’s experience with teenage pregnancy is different. Some girls, like Farrah, have to go through the difficult times alone, without the father of her baby. Others, like Catelynn, put their children up for adoption, hoping they will have a better life with other parents.

By watching this show, I personally have gained  respect for these moms-to-be, even if they are looked down on by a large number of people in society.

The problems they go through are more stressful, heartbreaking and straining than I could imagine.

They almost always learn from their mistakes, and through this reality series, they can teach girls of the same age to be careful and to wait to have children.  It discourages teen pregnancy by showing instances of domestic violence, poverty and family divorce.

Many of these girls have experienced one or more of these consequences as a result of having a child. They can’t handle it all at once, because they, themselves are still children. Not only does teen pregnancy change your outlook on life, your body and your relationships, but it also poses many risks.

After season one of 16 and Pregnant, four of the teens went on to be the cast of another documentary series by Dolgen, Teen Mom. On this spin-off of 16 and Pregnant, we follow Maci, Farrah, Catelynn and Amber’s first few years of motherhood.

With both of these shows, MTV has successfully portrayed to many struggles of teenage mothers. Unlike other shows on MTV, like Jersey Shore, 16 and Pregnant actually serve a purpose: to document and educate viewers.