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Updated: 7:52 PM Mar 3, 2010
Students Try on Pregnancy for a Day
Sex education and pregnancy prevention are integral parts of all high school health classes. But, in some classes, the lesson is going well beyond the textbook.
Posted: 7:44 PM Mar 3, 2010Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
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13 Comments 
WAYNE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Teen pregnancy rates in West Virginia are on the rise for the first time in eight years.
It's a sign to public health officials that the battle isn't over. Sex education and pregnancy prevention are integral parts of all high school health classes. But, in some classes, the lesson is going well beyond the textbook.
Aaron Thompson was carrying a little extra weight Wednesday as he learned what it might feel like to be pregnant.
"It's very heavy," he said. "I've been getting a lot of laughs and comments."
It's part of a parenting class at Wayne High School. Each student, boys included, get to try on pregnancy for one day. It's called the "empathy belly" or a pregnancy suit.
"There are breasts and then several weights in the bell of the suit," Aaron explained.
Teacher Angie Mills said, "We want them to see what it’s like and experience the discomfort of pregnancy."
Several students already have been pregnant for a day. The general sentiments were the same -- this was no joke.
“It was very heavy, and I was exhausted at the end of the day," student Jacob Harless said.
"Students kept bumping into me in the halls," student Staci Smith said. "They didn’t care that I was pregnant. They would just run right into me."
Fellow student Mikayla Hunter said, "I kept bumping my belly."
Tabytha Bills, another student, said, "It was so inconvenient. It was such an inconvenience on my day."
Mills said, "We want students to realize the consequences of their choices when made at the improper times."
Student Carrie Thompson said, "I'm glad I made the decision not to have a teen pregnancy. It would just be way too much work and responsibility right now."
Mills' parenting class also talks about the joys of pregnancy when achieved at the right time in life -- when a woman is ready for all of the responsibility that comes along with it.
Latest Comments
Why don't they make them "pay" for these babies like we have to with welfare for one day. I don't see how walking around like you're pregnant is helping.
Just feed all of the girls birthcontrol.. Putting a big belly on them isn't going to stop them. Birthcontrol really needs to start becoming more avaliable for students at a very young age.
I think being pregnant was the easy part. The feedings every 2 hours, diaper changing, crying, fevers, ER visits at 3 a.m. and being sleep deprived were WAY worse than being pregnant. They should send a realistic doll with programmable "real" baby sounds and everything. They'll definitely want to abstain from sex after that.
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