FROM SCHOOLGIRL PACTS TO SERIAL SURROGATE MOMS

- U.S. premiere documentaries on the more bizarre aspects of pregnancy today -

The wonder of pregnancy is taken to extremes in two BBC AMERICA Reveals documentaries, 18 Pregnant Schoolgirls and Addicted to Surrogacy. The films examine the very different paths women of all ages can take toward pregnancy, whether their decisions are inspired by love, peer pressure or monetary gain. 18 Pregnant Schoolgirls premieres Sunday, July 5, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, Addicted to Surrogacy premieres Sunday, July 12, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

18 Pregnant Schoolgirls covers the story of what happened when an unusually large number of teenage girls in Gloucester, Massachusetts turned up for pregnancy tests at a school clinic. When they were disappointed to find out they weren't pregnant, the school began to suspect something was up. Officials announced that they would be investigating an apparent teenage "pregnancy pact" responsible for the fact that at least 17 girls in the high school were expecting babies, four times more than the previous year. It was reported that none of the girls was older than 16 years of age.

The initial report of a pregnancy pact was based on supposed remarks to Time magazine by the school's principal, Joseph Sullivan. The resulting story, published a year ago, sparked a media frenzy as the news travelled round the world. But was there really a pact? What was really going on in Gloucester?

Approximately one thousand surrogate babies have been born in the UK over the past two decades. In recent years, half of them have been born to serial surrogates: women who've been surrogates more than once. The truth behind what drives these women is far more complex than simply money or altruism. Addicted to Surrogacy follows the stories of the women who are addicted to giving babies away.

Jill Hawkins is Britain's most prolific childless surrogate. She's never had a long-term relationship and given away seven surrogate babies over the past 18 years. Now she's trying for her final child, baby number eight. Janie and Peter have been trying for a baby through a surrogate for three years. They've finally had success with Tammy Lynn, from Cheney, Kansas who's carrying twins for them. They want her to be the godmother but will she want that much contact considering this will be her sixth and seventh baby and she wants more.

28-year old Amanda is a first-time surrogate and an independent single mum of three. Her experiences � and clashes - with the couple show the emotional journey that's involved in surrogacy. Carole Horlock is the world's most prolific surrogate with 12 babies to her name and two daughters of her own. She tells the story of her career-low: discovering a baby she'd given birth to was accidentally conceived with her own partner. What did she decide to do with it? And has she ever regretted that decision?

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies and life-changing makeovers. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 64 million homes.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

18 Pregnant Schoolgirls is produced by October Films for BBC.

Directed by James Quinn

Addicted to Surrogacy is produced by True North Productions for Channel 4.

Produced and directed by Lucy Leveugle