I was afraid, admits Palin

2009-01-02 22:40

Washington - Alaska Governor and former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin welcomed her first grandchild on Tuesday and admitted she felt fear and despair when she first learned her teenage daughter Bristol was expecting.

"We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby," Palin said in a statement dated December 31 and posted on Friday on the website of the governor of Alaska.

Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston was born to Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston on December 27.

"The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy," the statement by the newborn's governor-grandmother said.

Bristol Palin's teen pregnancy was revealed shortly after her mother was confirmed as John McCain's running mate in August, and quickly became a campaign talking point.

Sarah Palin, a devout Christian who is vehemently opposed to abortion, always put a positive spin on her daughter's pregnancy, but in the statement issued this week, she admitted to feeling fear and despair on learning that she was to become a grandmother.

"When Bristol and Levi first told us the shocking news that she was pregnant, to be honest, we all at first looked at the situation with some fear and a bit of despair," Palin said in the statement.

"Isn't it just like God to turn those circumstances into such an amazing, joyful blessing when you ask Him to help you through?" she said.

'Teens need to prevent pregnancy'

In the same statement, Bristol said becoming a teen mother was "not ideal" and spoke out against teen pregnancy.

"Teenagers need to prevent pregnancy to begin with - this isn't ideal," she said, adding that she has set aside "plans she previously made for herself" in order to devote herself to her son.

Sarah Palin had delayed making public comment about her grandson's birth to respect the wishes of the baby's parents for the event to remain private, according to the governor's office.

"The high volume of press inquiries, along with some erroneous information that was published, prompted the governor to make a statement," said Bill McAllister, communications director for the Alaska governor's office.

US media have reported that Levi Johnston has dropped out of high school.

But the statement issued by Palin's office said he was continuing his studies online while also working as an electrician's apprentice.

Bristol, now 18, will return to high school next week to earn the final credit that she needs to graduate, according to the statement. It was unclear if she intended to pursue a higher education on completing high school.

- AFP