Sarah Palin's daughter says abstinence is unrealistic

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter, an unwed mother, says teenagers should avoid having sex.

However, Bristol Palin acknowledges abstinence is "not realistic at all."

She commented during a two-part interview recorded for Fox News Channel's "On the Record."

Just days after the governor was named John McCain's running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, she announced her daughter was pregnant. Bristol Palin gave birth Dec. 27 to a boy named Tripp.

Bristol Palin said her son brings her so much joy that she doesn't regret having him. She's engaged to the baby's father, Levi Johnston, and said her fiancé sees their son every day.

"He's a really hands-on dad," she said. "He's just in love with him as much as I am."

She said telling her parents she was pregnant was "harder than labor." Levi and her best friend went with her to break the news.

"I was just so sick to my stomach. And so finally, my best friend just, like, blurted it out."

Bristol also said it bothered her to hear that many people thought her mother was making her have the baby when it was her own choice.

Sarah Palin appeared in the interview, recorded Saturday in Fairbanks. She said she was proud of her daughter, "wanting to take on an advocacy role and, you know, just let other girls know that this is — it's not the most ideal situation, but certainly, make the most of it."

"And Bristol is a strong and bold young woman and she is an amazing mom. And this little baby is very lucky to have her as a mama. He's going to be just fine."

Part one aired Monday night and the second part was scheduled for broadcast Tuesday night.

Information in this article, originally published February 18, 2009, was corrected February 18, 2009. A previous version of this story had an incorrect headline that stated "Sarah Palin says abstinence is unrealistic." It was Sarah Palin's daughter who made the statement.