Teen pregnancy rates have recently been on the rise across the nation despite measures by the government medical professionals and community interest groups to lower these levels. No one is entirely certain why this is happening, but whether a teen becomes pregnant by choice or by chance it is obvious that (s)he needs information to help him/her decide about the future. This basic overview of frequently asked questions about teenage pregnancy should give any interested teen a background on the topic, but it should not be considered a comprehensive list of answers or resources. Parents, GPs, guidance counsellors, teachers, clergy and other adults and organisations should also be consulted by any teen facing a pregnancy and uncertain of the future.
What is a Teenage Pregnancy?
A teen pregnancy is technically a pregnancy experienced by a young woman or couple in the teenaged years, between 13 and 19 years of age. For statistical purposes there may be a division made between the pregnancies of under-16 year olds and under-19 years old, and sometimes pregnancies experienced by those as young as 11 year olds are considered teenage pregnancies.
How Do Teenage Pregnancies Occur?
Teenage pregnancies occur the same way that any other pregnancies occur as the result of sexual intercourse. Some teens may intend to get pregnant, but research suggests that the vast majority of teen pregnancies are accidental and unplanned. Broken condoms, contraceptive pills taken incorrectly, “withdrawing” too late and completely unprotected sex are often the culprits of unplanned pregnancies.
What Options Exist for Pregnant Teens?
Pregnant teens in the nation face most of the same options as any other expectant mothers or couples. The most common options include giving birth and raising a child, giving birth and putting the child up for adoption or having an abortion to terminate the pregnancy. Abortions are not available in some places, and a young woman under the age of 16 may only have an abortion without parental consent if her doctors determine that she meets the Fraser Guidelines:
· She understands the medical professional's advice.
· She can not be persuaded to inform her parents.
· She is competent to give consent to the treatment.
· It is in her best interest not to inform her parents of the procedure.
Teen pregnancies can be traumatic for everyone involved, not the least because few teens, their parents, relatives or friends know what kind of support is available for teen pregnancies and teen parents. If you or someone you know is facing a teen pregnancy, research the support available in your area as well as nationally with items such as housing, food, clothing and education, but most of all be there to provide emotional support regardless of the chosen outcome. Of course, the first step to seeking and finding support is telling others of a teen pregnancy, so be bold and share your secret or urge others to share theirs.
Disadvantages
§ Low self-esteem.
§ Feelings of regret & heartbreak (not always).
§ Financial & emotional burdens.
§ Sudden increase in major responsibilities.
§ No University education after high school, in the long run you miss out on a lot of things like graduating with all your friends etc...
§ Father not wanting to care for baby, thinking he’s not the only one.
§ Making your parents care for a child that isn't theirs to care for getting a bad reputation.
§ Getting gossiped about.
§ Your body is not ready for it.
§ People start giving the cold shoulder, not knowing who the father might be
§ People calling you names.
§ People saying the child was born out of wedlock.
§ Giving the baby an Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) if you had one
§ Not being able to enjoy their childhood
§ No experience with kids
§ While your friends are out at the movies you are breast-feeding
§ Your body is still growing while you are a teen, so if your body needs to distribute nutrients to a child and yourself at the same time it's bad for you and the baby's health.
§ Baby may not develop completely and may end up weaker at birth than most baby's require a lot of time, care, and money (food, clothes). they are a huge responsibility and as a teenager it is a much harder responsibility to fulfill.
§ Father might get scared and leave.
§ Parents might not except the baby and you will be stuck living on the system.
.jpeg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment