Teenage Pregnancy

The Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

Few people would argue with the statement that one of the most precious of all of life’s events is the birth of a child. This is certainly the case for a grown adult with an education, a financial future planned, and an emotional support system in place. However when the mother to be is a teenage girl there are concerns and considerations that limit some of the joy usually felt at the news of an impending birth. Teenage pregnancy is currently on downward spiral fortunately, but these young mothers face significant challenges to their futures, their health, and the health of their babies.

Some of the negative effects of teenage pregnancy for the mother are swift and severe. Many teenage moms face an uncertain future due to not having the money, childcare support, and time to further their education. This causes a financial strain that can last the rest of the girl’s life and adversely affect the living conditions of the baby. There is a definite link between poverty and teenage pregnancy. In terms of a young mother’s health, obstacles arise during pregnancy and delivery as well as in later years. Young mothers have a higher risk of STDs, anemia, and conditions like pre eclampsia, which among other problems causes high blood pressure. Long term medical problems as a result of teenage pregnancy are life long high blood pressure and obesity.

In addition to a higher risk of poverty, teenage pregnancy causes other social ramifications. Young teenage mothers often face disapproval and discrimination in places where before the pregnancy; they were welcomed with open arms. Problems with teachers, in their churches, and being left out by friends are just a few examples of how unpleasant these young women’s lives can become. The impact of teenage pregnancy on families is enormous as well. The opportunity to mature and experience their teenage years is seriously undermined by an unplanned pregnancy.

Babies born as a result of a teenage pregnancy, sometimes have special challenges to overcome as well. Due to a lack of knowledge and maturity teenage moms sometimes ignore their own nutrition and as a result, many of these babies are born with low birth weight or ahead of schedule. After birth, because of not having adequate health care themselves, teenage mothers often have a difficult time providing good health care for their children.

The picture of teenage pregnancy looks bleak. And unfortunately, it often is. However, with good education, healthy self esteem, and solid family and social dynamics, more and more teenage girls are making the choice to wait to start families.

News About Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy on the rise in Australia 29 Aug 2010 at 2:51am
Melbourne, Aug 29: Teenage pregnancy is on the rise in Australia and the number of births to teenage mothers has increased by 10 percent after steady decline for decades, latest data has revealed.

No sex please, they're Chinese 4 Sep 2010 at 12:32pm
If all goes according to plan, this fall a girl somewhere in China's Yunnan province will tell her boyfriend she can't have sex with him. And he'll have an abstinence programme from the US to thank.

Fritz guilty on 5 counts 4 Sep 2010 at 2:11am
By STACY LANGLEYTribune Staff Writer CARO ? After nearly two hours spent deliberating Monday morning, the jury in the criminal case against the former Owendale-Gagetown softball coach Cory Fritz returned with a mixed verdict.

8 Guys Bristol Palin Should Date 2 Sep 2010 at 11:18am
Now that Levi Johnston is out of the picture, who do you think Bristol Palin should date? Win McNamee/Getty Images Bristol Palin , who will be joining the new cast of "Dancing With the Stars," first found herself in the limelight when her teenage pregnancy became public during her mother Sarah's campaign for Vice President.

Last Night on Late Night: Will Arnett's New Baby Is Connected to Rod Stewart ... 3 Sep 2010 at 2:41am
Will Arnett not only spilled the beans about his wife Amy Poehler having their newest son via C-section, he also told David Letterman that the doctors were bumping the radio during the birth and when the magic moment arrived it was a Rod Stewart song about teenage pregnancy setting the soundtrack for the joyous occasion. Up next, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow shows Jimmy Fallon how to mix up a Sazerac ...

Gluckman: It is Hard to be a Teenager 2 Sep 2010 at 10:43pm
Being an adolescent now is very different from being one just one or two generations ago and we will not understand the teenage years if we project our own experiences on to them.

LSUHSC Pediatric Weight Expert Provides Obesity Trinity Answers 3 Sep 2010 at 4:44pm
In a first person paper published in the August 27, 2010 issue of Childhood Obesity, Dr. Melinda Sothern, Director of Health Promotion and Professor of Public Health at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, provides three ways to de-program the 1950s obesity trinity underlying the current obesity epidemic in the United States and protect future generations from its health consequences." ...

Media's Impact On Teen Sexual Behaviors, Teenage Pregnancies And Sexually Tra... 31 Aug 2010 at 6:17pm
With the highest teen pregnancy rate in the Western Hemisphere and 25% of teens having had a sexually transmitted infection, we should be paying careful attention to media messages about sexuality and contraception, says a revised policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media," published in the medical journal Pediatrics. Web sites and TV ...

Crane man charged with ?sexting? 3 Sep 2010 at 5:48pm
Federal authorities have charged a Crane man who reportedly admitted to ?sexting? with a 15-year-old girl. Michael Angelo Cavazos, 28, appeared Friday before a federal magistrate in Midland on charges of coercion and enticement and transferring...

Three ways to de-program the 1950s obesity trinity underlying current obesity... 3 Sep 2010 at 6:42am
In a first person paper published in the August 27, 2010 issue of Childhood Obesity, Dr. Melinda Sothern, Director of Health Promotion and Professor of Public Health at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, provides three ways to de-program the 1950s obesity trinity underlying the current obesity epidemic in the United States and protect future generations from its health consequences.