My sister-in-law just had a baby and visiting the brand new little chap I was reminded of things you forget about newborns.

One: they weigh about as much as a decent-sized bunch of bananas and two, how vulnerable, dependent and physically demanding they are.

People tell you that there's never a good time to have a baby, and in an ideal world it happens when you're in a committed relationship, financially stable and it's planned with a huge amount of excitement and anticipation. But life has other ideas, and sometimes babies burrow their cute little selves into your life unexpectedly. Others arrive in the world by a rationale that might seem alien to anyone outside of the situation.

Gloucester, Massachusetts is a small fishing town that recently hit the headlines because of a so-called "pregnancy pact", involving 17 teenage girls at the same school. Staff at the school's health clinic became suspicious when an inordinate number of girls began requesting pregnancy tests. Upon getting the results, some seemed disappointed when two lines failed to appear; the ones who got positives were celebrating.

Staff believe they uncovered a pact by the girls to get pregnant, and support each other by bringing up the babies collectively. One of the fathers was even found to be a 20-something homeless man.

With their whole lives ahead of them, it seems like a shocking decision. What could have motivated these young women? Various theories have been put forward from the rational to the ridiculous. Gloucester, economically speaking, is a bit of a damp squib and employment opportunities for female school leavers are scarce. Some have pointed towards films such as Juno and Knocked Up for portraying teen/unplanned pregnancy as one comic escapade after another.

To bring Hollywood into it is amazingly patronising, but then this small town, and presumably a queue of teachers and parents, want answers. Perhaps this is about a communion of spirit. Many of the girls felt that teen pregnancy was inevitable -- so why not plan it on your own terms?

By doing so, they could exert some control-- how, when and with who you have a baby -- in a small-town society that offers them little autonomy and even fewer life choices.

In a weird way, it's a declaration of intent, free will and even independence, but it's an extreme way to go about it. Caring for a baby is more time-consuming and tiring than any job on the planet. It requires far more effort than studying, getting good results and going to college. Of course, there are a gazillion positives, but parenthood is 24/7, unpaid -- and it's a job for life.

Pregnancy is the fun bit; it's what comes after that's the hard part. I'm all for choice, but playing Barbies it ain't and no one should feel it's their only life option at 17, whatever their situation.

- Sinead Gleeson