Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy is a growing problem in America. Many teenage mothers have not been educated about sex prior to becoming pregnant, due to the lack of communication between the teenager and her parents. There are major health concerns to be faced for teenage mothers and their unborn child. There are options available to teen moms when making decisions on parenthood; being a teenage mother is one of the most difficult experiences a young person might ever face.

There are many causes for teenage pregnancy. First, teenagers take unwanted risks due to lack of knowledge and education on teenage pregnancy. Many parents feel uncomfortable about discussing sex with their children. "Most people evade their children from talking about sex. In some cases, they provide false information regarding sex and discourage their children to participate in any informative discussion about sex." Giving your child false information is not smart! Talking to your children at an early age and answering any questions they have directly and honestly can be a step closer towards preventing teenage pregnancy. That's why it is very important as parents to educate our children before it's too late. (What are the Causes of Teenage Pregnancy)

Lack of knowledge for safe sex is considered to be another cause of teen pregnancy. Teens between the puberty ages of 12 to 15 years old are exposed to the subject of sex. Because both boys and girls are curious about the changes in their bodies, they act in unprotected sexual ways, primarily due to lack of knowledge. Teenagers want to talk to their parents about sex, but finding the right time is never easy; resulting in the risk of unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases (What are the Causes of Teenage Pregnancy)

Some parents feel their children are too young to learn about sex; they feel the sex education classes at school give their children sexual ideas. "Sex education is designed to teach children about the human body, pregnancy, and consequences of unprotected sex." Students are required to have parental consent in writing before attending the class, making it hard for some teens to get the proper knowledge of sex education. Teenagers who are involved in sexual relationships do not consider the risks involved. It is very easy to become pregnant without protection. There are effective birth controls a teenager can use to prevent unwanted pregnancies, such as birth control pills, condoms, diaphragm, or etc. But, they are not 100% effective. The only 100% contraception is abstinence. (Sex Education: Abstinence vs. Intercourse Safety)

In today's society, a majority of teenagers fall into the peer pressure trap. Peer pressure is a very real issue that affects many teenagers. Peer pressure is known as the stress one feels from friends and classmates to act, think, behave or look a certain way to be accepted by a group of people. Society offers many misleading advertisements that seem to lead teens in the wrong directions, resulting in unintended teenage pregnancy. It is known for males to be pressure more from their peers into having sex than females are. (Agadoni) (Fox)

Sexual abuse and rape is one of the most embarrassing causes of teenage pregnancy. "A high percentage of girls who have sex before the age of 15 have been victims or incest of other sexual abuse." (Christensen) Also a majority of the time one finds younger women with older men, which ends up in teenage pregnancies. "Today, few men are prosecuted for having sexual relations with a minor, even though it is still against the law." (Christensen)

"Pregnancy is a natural process for women, and while most mature woman can handle a pregnancy with minimal complications, a variety of risk factors are associated with teen pregnancy. These are based on the maturity of the mother physically, mentally, and emotionally. Teenage pregnancy is difficult for the mother and baby in many ways, and special circumstances are often needed for young mothers and their babies to thrive." (Mennell)

Pregnancy for a teenager can be very hard because their bodies are not mature enough to handle childbearing. "Teenagers have an even more difficult time recovering from the physical stress of pregnancy and the physical complications that may arise and be devastating to the mother and her child." It is commonly known for smaller built teenagers to be at risk of having a cesarean section, because the baby may be too large to have it natural. (Mennell)

Low-birth-weight baby from premature birth are another health risk in teen pregnancy. Premature labor can begin when the mother or baby's health is at risk resulting in the mother having to be delivered early. "The earlier a baby is born, the more risk there is of respiratory, digestive, vision, cognitive, and other problems. In part, that's because they have less time in the womb to grow." Premature babies will need help with breathing after birth so they are put on a ventilator in the neonatal care unit until they are able to breathe independently. (Nihira)

"For teens that have sex during pregnancy, STD's such as chlamydia and HIV are a major concern. Using a latex condom during intercourse helps prevent getting an STD--which is especially critical during pregnancy. It's critical because STD's can rise up through the cervix and infect the uterus and growing baby." (Nihira)

The majority of teen pregnancies are not planned, making it hard for teenage mothers to receive the prenatal care and support needed for pregnancy. Prenatal care is critical, especially in the first months of pregnancy. "Not getting the prenatal care increases the risks if nutrition-related problems with the baby, such as birth defects from lack of folic acid and other essential nutrients, according to WomensHealth.gov. Without proper monitoring of the mother and baby's health, certain conditions, like gestational diabetes and hypertension may go untreated." (Mayne)

Pregnant teenagers are at risk of developing preeclampsia. Preeclampsia occurs mainly doing the last trimester of pregnancy, but can happen at any time during pregnancy. "This condition is also called pregnancy-induced hypertension or high blood pressure. Mothers with preeclampsia suffer with severe swelling, decreased urine flow and sudden weight gain." It also happens with women over the age of 35, that's why they are consided to be high risk. The only treatment is delivery of the baby. (Ince)

Anemia is another risk in teen pregnancy. The body needs iron to make hemoglobin, which is a key component of red blood cells. When pregnant, the body is busy making more blood for mother and baby. So, if the mother doesn't have enough iron in her diet