Anchorage Daily News

Bristol Palin, the unwed teenage daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, recently became a mother, but says teenagers should avoid pregnancy.

But abstinence is "not realistic at all," the 18-year-old said in a two-part interview on Fox News Channel's "On the Record.

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

She said that her son brings her so much joy, she doesn't regret having him at all. She's engaged to the baby's father, Levi Johnston.

The governor also made an appearance in the interview, which took place Saturday at a hotel in Fairbanks. Palin walked in with Tripp following an initial solo talk between Bristol Palin and Fox host Greta Van Susteren.

Bristol said she told her mother only on Friday that she was doing the interview and it was her idea to talk about the issue of teen pregnancy. Sarah Palin agreed she had just learned about the interview.

"And I'm proud of her, too, 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," Palin said. "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."

The family was in Fairbanks to watch Sarah Palin's husband cross the finish line of the 2,000-mile Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race. Todd Palin, whose team came in sixth, is a four-time winner of the world's longest snowmobile race.

Part one of the interview aired Monday night and the second part was scheduled to air tonight.

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