Who Got Debbie Pregnant in Shameless?
It was her troubled boyfriend Derek Delgado who got 15-year-old Debbie Gallagher pregnant in Season 5 of the hit show Shameless. Their story provides a gripping look at the realities of teen pregnancy.
Debbie and Derek‘s Relationship Leading to Pregnancy
Debbie and Derek began spending more time together and eventually dating in Season 4. Derek came from a broken home and struggled with anger issues and fighting at school. However, Debbie was compassionate towards Derek and believed she could help him.
As their relationship progressed, Debbie admitted to her sister Fiona that she was falling in love with Derek. While Fiona warned her not to rush into sex, Debbie insisted she was ready. Little did her siblings know, Debbie had hatched a plan to stop taking her birth control pills in order to get pregnant by Derek.
Why Debbie Wanted to Get Pregnant
Although only a freshman in high school, Debbie felt ready to become a mother. She saw a baby as someone who would love her unconditionally. With her mother Monica gone and her father Frank constantly unreliable, Debbie craved that bond. Additionally, becoming pregnant made Debbie feel like an adult who had more control over her chaotic life.
The Pregnancy Discovery
In Season 5 Episode 12, Debbie reveals to Derek that she is pregnant with his child. Derek reacts badly to the news, storming off in disbelief. He later returns to ask Debbie if she will get an abortion. Debbie angrily refuses, saying she wants to keep the baby.
Overwhelmed, Derek decides to move to Florida to live with his grandmother. He leaves a heartbroken Debbie still determined to raise their child on her own.
Teen Pregnancy Impacts
Debbie‘s pregnancy storyline reflected many harsh realities. The U.S. teen pregnancy rate remains higher than many other developed countries. Socioeconomic status dramatically impacts teen pregnancy risk, with poorer teens much more likely to become pregnant.
- Less than 50% of teen mothers finish high school (only 38% graduate)
- Children of teen parents have higher risk for incarceration and teen parenthood themselves
- Teen moms have higher rates of postpartum depression
Debbie struggles with these same challenges. She tries desperately to remain in school while pregnant, only getting her GED in Season 9. Her daughter Franny lives in poverty and faces questions about who her father is.
Reactions from the Gallaghers
Fiona is furious when she discovers Debbie is pregnant, tearfully asking “Are you trying to turn out just like me?” The Gallaghers worry about the financial and emotional burden a baby will place on their already strained family.
Lip tells Debbie she is too young and should consider adoption. Ian says she is making a mistake. Carl offers to beat up Derek for leaving her. But despite their objections, the Gallaghers rally around Debbie to support her decision to parent.
Debbie‘s Pregnancy and Motherhood Journey
Debbie struggles maintaining prenatal doctor appointments and vitamins while relying on Medicaid. She faces stigma from teachers and fellow students at school while pregnant. Her sonogram reveals health issues requiring specialist care she can barely access.
When Franny is born, Debbie works to balance school and parenting. She often misses class to care for her daughter. She fights to get Franny on subsidized daycare waiting lists. All while still processing that Derek abandoned her and Franny entirely.
Battling for Custody
Derek eventually returns in Season 7, suddenly wanting joint custody of Franny. This launches a contentious custody battle between the Gallaghers and Derek‘s family – especially his strict religious grandmother. After a kidnapping attempt, the courts rule in Debbie‘s favor, though Derek‘s family gets visitation rights.
Breaking the Cycle
In the end, Debbie shows amazing resilience raising Franny, determined to give her the love and stability she never had. She shows it‘s possible to break the cycle of teen parenthood that has plagued the Gallagher family for generations. Her powerful story reflected the struggles of so many real-life teen moms fighting for a better life.
