The Pregnancy Project

Sidney Bloom, a resourceful young reporter, lines up the story and begins tracking a troubling spike in teen pregnancies at Gloucester High. Over the course of the eight-week wave, she aims to document who is affected and why it’s happening. Her work sets in motion a broader examination of how adults respond to the crisis.

Sidney speaks with Kim, the school nurse, who explains that she pressed for free birth control for students but was rebuffed by the administration. The policy friction becomes a key factor in the pattern of pregnancies. Kim’s perspective highlights the tension between health needs and school policy.

As Sidney talks to students, she encounters several young women who are planning or pursuing pregnancy around the same time. Karissa, Iris, and Rose are among those involved, and they actively encourage their friend Sara Dougan to join them. The sense of peer influence and shared choices underscores the complexity of the situation.

Sara makes the fateful decision to become pregnant herself in an attempt to hold onto her boyfriend Jesse. The choice quickly shapes the coming months and tests her relationships and plans for the future. This moment crystallizes the central conflict between romance and responsibility.

When news of Sara’s pregnancy spreads, Jesse leaves her, and tensions escalate at home as Sara’s father Michael and mother Lorraine clash over what the family should do. The fallout strains the entire family and deepens the emotional stakes for Sara. The community’s reactions begin to surface as well.

In a candid moment, Sidney shares a long-held secret with Sara: she became pregnant at sixteen by a school faculty member named Brady and ultimately placed the baby up for adoption. The revelation adds depth to Sidney’s empathy and to the pressures on young people. It also reframes Sidney’s reporting as coming from experience.

Meanwhile, Jesse weighs his future in college and baseball, while his father urges him to stay focused on those plans. The parental pressure and Jesse’s own ambitions become another axis of tension for the couple. The choices he makes will influence Sara’s sense of possibility.

Lorraine proposes a school council meeting to fund a daycare center, signaling a practical policy response to the pregnancy wave. Sidney publicly requests birth control access and reveals Sara’s pregnancy during the meeting, triggering a heated discussion. The moment exposes the clash between policy, ethics, and student needs.

Following the controversy, Lorraine resigns from the council, a pivotal turn in the school’s governance. The change reshapes how the school will respond to teen pregnancy going forward and sets the stage for broader reforms. The moment marks a political shift toward reform-minded leadership.

A news feature about the girls’ plan to raise their babies together captures broader attention and intensifies the public conversation on teen pregnancy and reproductive choices. The story moves beyond the school and into the community’s dialogue about guidance and support. Sidney’s reporting gains wider visibility.

Rose delivers a daughter, but the pregnancy complications arise due to her smoking habit, resulting in vaginal tearing and a NICU stay. The birth compounds the family’s challenges and darkens the image of teen motherhood. The event underscores the real-world consequences of choices made under pressure.

Sara hopes for a future with Jesse, but he rejects her again after overhearing the revelation. The rejection deepens Sara’s despair and tests her resolve about the life she wants for her child. It becomes a turning point toward self-reliance.

At a party, Karissa’s mother reveals how hard single motherhood has been and urges her daughter not to follow the same path. Sara then attempts to reconcile with Jesse, but he remains absent from her life as she grapples with her future. The scene exposes intergenerational consequences and the fragility of relationships.

In the closing months, the principal resigns, the daycare is full, and many girls have sought alternative options for care. Sara continues to raise her daughter with her parents’ support, while she and others reflect on the lessons about guidance, choice, and responsibility. The film ends with a note of resilience and cautious optimism.