Episode 95 - Ja' Bette's Story - Pregnant at 16: Defying the Limits Placed on Teen Moms

Episode 95 - Ja' Bette's Story - Pregnant at 16: Defying the Limits Placed on Teen Moms

From The Mama Sisterhood by Heather Evans

January 13, 2026 · 39 min · Season 3 · Episode 20

About this episode

Ja’Bette shares her inspiring journey of becoming pregnant at 16 and overcoming the challenges to achieve her dreams.

In this episode, I sit down with Ja’Bette, who shares her journey of becoming pregnant at 16 years old during her freshman year of college. She opens up about the stigma and challenges of being a pregnant teen, how it strained her family relationships — including a rift with her sister that lasted more than 25 years — and the determination it took to keep pursuing her dreams. Ja’Bette reflects on the critical role of support, such as what she received from a college mentor and a teacher who believed in her when she needed it most. Because of that encouragement and her own persistence, she went on to complete multiple degrees, build a successful career, and dedicate part of her work to supporting teen and student parents. Her story is a powerful reminder that pregnancy does not end possibility. Ja’Bette shares a message of hope for pregnant teens and young mothers everywhere: you can still follow your dreams — and achieve them. Learn more about Ja'Bette and her company, Wishful Doing, here: https://wishfuldoings.com

People in this episode

Host: Heather Evans

Guest: Ja’Bette

Topics covered

  • teen pregnancy
  • support systems
  • overcoming challenges
  • family relationships
  • education
  • hope

Keywords

  • teen mom
  • pregnancy
  • education
  • support
  • family
  • career
  • dreams

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Wishful Doing

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