Teen pregnancy
Around the world, every year thousands of babies are born to under-aged parents, and even though these young mothers and fathers can be just as loving towards their babies and children as adults, it can be hard on them emotionally and financially.
Young women who become pregnant may have more difficult pregnancies than older women. They are more likely to have high blood pressure, which can be dangerous to both the mother and the fetus, and they often go into labor prematurely, which leads to small babies. Underweight infants are more prone to several infant and childhood disorders and respiratory difficulties. They also have a higher risk for crib death, also known as ‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome’ (SIDS).
Teenage mothers are more likely to have poor eating habits than mature women and often do not take the recommended daily prenatal multivitamins required to maintain adequate nutrition during their pregnancy. Teens also undergo a lot of peer pressure and may have bad habits such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs, even during pregnancy. This will increase the chances for severe health problems for their baby.
It is hard to be a teenage parent, end even the teenagers involved in stable family relationships are still growing up. These adolescents may need as much attention themselves as their newborns. They also have their own needs, which they may have to put on hold in order to respond to those of their baby, something they may resent in later years.
Many young women have strong views about terminating the pregnancy and will never even consider abortion. They may opt to keep the child, or they may give the baby up for adoption, especially if the baby’s father or their own immediate family is not supporting them. Giving birth is a major life event and taking responsibility to raise the child, or not, is a difficult decision that can only be made after the baby is born and the young woman has had a chance to deal with her feelings.
As difficult as it may be, talk to your children about contraception. In the end, it is better than dealing with teen pregnancy!