Bristol Palin Talks
About Motherhood

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Governor and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is speaking out about life as a young mother.

Bristol Palin, 18, sat down for an interview with FOX's Greta Van Susteren, which aired Monday. Her pregnancy made headlines last summer.

In the interview, Bristol said she stays up late with the baby most nights, but she loves being a mom. She gave birth to the baby boy, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, on December 27. She admits that being a mom is hard, but she doesn't regret her decision.

"He just brings so much joy. I don't regret it at all," said Bristol. "I just wish it would have happened in 10 years instead of right now."

• TO WATCH CLIPS FROM THE INTERVIEW, FOLLOW THIS LINK

Bristol is in the process of completing her high school diploma. The baby's father, Levi Johnston, is studying to become an electrician. Bristol says eventually the two would like to get married, but they have no immediate plans and are currently focused on finishing school and starting their careers.

During the interview with FOX, Bristol Palin made it clear that her mother's political views didn't play a role in how she chose to handle her pregnancy. She also said telling her parents about the baby was "harder than labor," adding that Johnston and her best friend were both there to break the news.

"It was my choice to have the baby," Bristol told Van Susteren.

"It doesn't matter what my mom's views are on it. It was my decision, and I wish people would realize that," she added.

Her mother also appeared at the interview, bringing her grandson onto the interview set during one segment. Sarah Palin told FOX that expecting abstinence from all teens was "not realistic"—despite having backed an abstinence-only sex education program during her 2006 campaign for governor of Alaska.

"You get beyond that— that ideal of, yeah, abstinence," Governor Palin said. "Hey, don't get pregnant. Well, get beyond that when it happens, and then you deal with it. Life happens. Life happens, and you deal with it, and Bristol's dealing with it wonderfully."

The governor said while her daughter's pregnancy was a shock, but she's proud of the way Bristol is handling it.

Part two of the interview airs Tuesday night at 10 p.m. on FOX.