Most teenagers don't plan to get pregnant, but many do. Teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to the mother and the baby. Often, teenagers don't receive timely prenatal care, and they have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and its complications. Risks for the baby include premature birth and a low birth weight.
Teenage Pregnancy in the
We might say that the pregnancy of these teenagers is just the mere result of the gratification of sexual urges. Yes we might say that. That pregnancy would not occur if studies had been prioritized instead of the relationship of the opposite sex. That if there were no premarital sex (PMS), there would be no pregnancy. On one simple glance, we would judge these teenagers guilty. But have we even asked ourselves if we have the right to judge? Were we there when these teens were growing up? Were we even present when these teens cried out for love when they were still kids? Were we there to witness how their concept of love metamorphoses into sex and there was no one to correct this wrong concept?
As a whole, the situation is grim for pregnant teenage girls and their babies. Forced with few options with nowhere to turn to, many girls find various ways to get rid of the fetus. In a few cases, some simply disguise their bellies and hide their pregnancy from everyone, and deal with the baby only at the time of birth.
These things often happen because of the seeming lack option for pregnant teenagers; because of the supposed shame that the pregnancy brings, many would rather deal with it on their own rather than involving their family and friends. One can just imagine the impact pregnancy would bring to a pregnant teen. Even married couples experiences fears when pregnancy arises, how much more for the young teenagers.
Pregnancy is a gift. The baby is a miracle, a great gift and treasure from God. Pregnancy is not a sin neither a crime. It is merely a result of a consummated relationship; pregnancy may not be planned by man but has long been laid out in the perfect plan of our Creator.
Pregnancy during the teenage years is a bombastic situation, one that comes unexpected. For a student facing unintended pregnancy, the physical, emotional and spiritual issues can seem overwhelming. Teenage pregnancy may have been the result of the lack of supervision from parents, though blaming is nonetheless helpful if pregnancy presents itself. What I would like to emphasize is that the pregnant teenagers need help. They need understanding and acceptance the more.
RISKS for the teen mother
Teen mothers are more disadvantaged, on average, than their same-age counterparts.
Teenage pregnancies are often associated with an increased rate of delinquent behaviors including alcohol and substance abuse.
To begin with, majority of them belong to the low income group. Teenage births are associated with lower annual income for the mother, 80 percent of who eventually rely on welfare.
With early termination of formal education come limited employment opportunities. However, they have the responsibility of having to fend for their children before they even ever planned to. In hiring, an employer may lean toward someone without a child versus someone who is already with one just because there are more chances of absences with the latter when her child becomes sick.
They also face greater financial difficulties and marital conflict. With a lower capacity for earning and less emotional maturity, relationships are under more stress for breaking.
Young unmarried mothers also face social stigmas that can have harmful psychological and social impact.
