NEW YORK — Bristol Palin says that if girls knew how tough it was to be a mom, they’d think twice about having sex.

The 19-year-old daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she has chosen to practice abstinence herself, until marriage.

Bristol Palin, who once said it was unrealistic to ask young people to abstain from sex, said in an interview with The Associated Press that it’s realistic for her personally.

“I know it’s realistic to ask myself that, because I know I’m not going to until I’m married,” she said.

Bristol Palin gave birth to a son, Tripp, in December 2008.

“I don’t think anyone realizes how difficult it really is until you actually have a screaming baby in your arms and you’re up all night,” said Bristol Palin.

Birthrates for teen mothers dropped 2 percent in 2008 according to a numbers released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Palin hopes to help the decline continue by educating her peers. Last year, she was named an ambassador for The Candie’s Foundation, which has been raising awareness about teen pregnancy since 2001.