Teen Pregnancy

Something that I have been interested in learning more about has been the consequences of teenage pregnancy. I remember when I was about twelve years old, my grandmother once said, "Young women are getting pregnant and can't take of their children because they are babies having babies." I really didn't understand what she meant at the time because I wasn't into boys, nor was I thinking about having sex.

Lately the issue has caught my eye again. I know that many people feel teenagers who get pregnant are at risk for complications such as premature labor and other consequences they might suffer. From what I've heard teen pregnancy is associated with lower annual income for the parents and eighty percent of teen mothers must rely on welfare at some point. Also teenage mothers are more likely to drop out school, and only about one-third of teen parent obtain a high school diploma. Also, teen pregnancies are associated with substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential in teen fathers.

One thing that I know for sure about teenage girls is the effects of their pregnancy is not just pointed towards the health of the mother and the baby. Teens with babies are more likely to end up poor because they can't work to support themselves. I've studied my share on teen pregnancy. For example, this is a research project I’m studying from my English class, also from my knowledge and articles I have read. I believe these are all facts and the consequences young women suffer once they become parents. Personally, it's funny to me because it relates to my life when I was pregnant. I noticed myself going through changes, but I never gave up on my education because not only was I doing it for myself, but I was alwo doing it for my son so I can teach him something in life. Without a diploma, there's no way to succeed in life.

Teen pregnancy is an important topic to me because this was a struggle I experienced at the age of fifteen. I was a single mother and didn’t get any help from my son's father. I tried my best I could to become the best parent I could be. It’s not easy because once you become a parent at a young age, your whole life is set aside and you can't do the things that teens should be doing. Pregnant teens can have many different emotional reactions, such as depression. This is very common with pregnant teens. Some may not want their baby or may keep the baby to keep their child's father around. Sometimes it can also result in anger and guilt issues, especially if the mother is alone with no help.

Being that I didn't have a lot of background information on teenage pregnancy, I chose to do some research on the topic. As I searched for blogs and news articles on Google, I came across this one article called, "When Children Have Children." This article provided a lot of information and opinions on teen pregnancies. There were many facts in this article that I agree with: "Adolescents who become pregnant may not seek proper medical care during pregnancy leading to an increased risk for medical complications. Pregnant teens also require understanding,
medical care and education. They also need to learn using tobacco can damage the developing fetus." This statement didn’t really surprise me that much, but it did make me feel sorry for children who are born to unfit parents and really don’t want to do for their child. I feel they only have kids to get benefits and help from the government.

In another article there was one statement that made me nod my head in agreement with the writer. It was: "Teenage pregnancy rates remains high and approximately one million girls become pregnant each year in the United States. About 13% of U.S births involve teen mothers and about 25% of teenage girls who give birth have a second baby within two years." I believe that every teen girl who has a baby often ends up pregnant with another one. I also agree with the percentage rate of teen pregnancy each year. I also realize young girls who have children do not set good examples, not only for themselves but for the child.

All of this makes me think that many teenagers who have children at a young age suffer many problems and go through a depression stage after they have their children. I also learned many young women may view the creation of their child as an achievement, but don't take full responsibilities as a parent. They also have high percentage of pregnancies each year, something I never knew until I read these articles. I really enjoyed doing this research project on teenage pregnancy because this was a topic important to me, and I've learned a lot from it.

Works Cited

Aacap.org (2004) When Children Have Children | American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. [online] Available at: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/when_children_have_children [Accessed: 30 April 2012].

Nuble, Charlene J. Healthguidance.org (1991) Problems Associated With Teen Pregnancy. [online] Available at: http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/4592/1/Problems-Associated-With-Teen... [Accessed: 30 April 2012].