Getting Pregnant in your Teen-age!!!!
when a teenager gets pregnant.....
A teenager will get pregnant if she has sexual intercourse in her teenage (13 to 19). Although it is an extremely difficult situation for a teen to deal with a teenage pregnancy, current statistics reveal that approximately 10% of girls 19 and under do get pregnant.
Causes of teenage pregnancy
There are many social and economic causes of teenage pregnancy. The most primary cause is the lack of knowledge among teenagers regarding the consequences of irresponsible sexual behavior. Most cases of teenage pregnancies are practical in the lower economic section of society where there is a lack of knowledge, awareness and facility to deal with the problem of accidental pregnancy.Lack of trust and communication between parents and kids is another important cause of unwanted teen pregnancy. Parental attitude towards their teenaged children and among themselves pressure their children’s behavior and thoughts. If parents are unable to communicate with their children regarding issues relating to sex then the kids choice to get information regarding sex through other sources which may not be reliable. These other sources are generally magazines and friends who are extremely unreliable sources of information and can mislead the children into forming incorrect ideas about sex.Lack of emotional maturity and independence to act and behave responsibly is another ending of poor communication and relationship between parents and teenagers. Many teenagers spoil in irresponsible sexual behavior due to lack of information and awareness regarding sex. Other reasons are take in pressure inability to express views and disappointment in the child as a result of no extra curricular activities. Poor knowledge or awareness regarding reproductive health, contraceptives and consequences of unintended pregnancy are most often the causes of teenage pregnancy.
Why do teenage girls want to get pregnant?
- Some girls have not been educated on right and wrong birth control methods.
- Some girls, although very rare, feel that becoming pregnant is a good way to rebel against her parents.
- Some girls are missing love and other emotional feelings because they are not getting it at home, so they look for those feelings elsewhere in order to fulfill their needs.
- Often, mistakes do happen (the condom is broken; she forgot to take her pill one day etc.) .
- Some girls feel the need to have control when they loose control everywhere else .
- Some girls feel that if they have a baby, her boyfriend will love her and stay.
- Some girls get pregnant because becoming pregnant is very important in their culture
- Some girls feel that they are not emotionally, physically, and financially ready to raise a child.
- Some girls are afraid of the pain that comes with child labor .
- Some girls are concerned about their health and the health of the baby if she were to have it.
- Some girls believe that pregnancy will destroy their future plans and goals.
- Some girls believe that they are too young.
- Some girls can't handle all of the responsibility that comes with pregnancy.
- Some girls don't want to loose their social life.
- Pregnancy disturbs the academic life of a teenager.
- Some girls are afraid that their partner will leave her and the child.
- Pregnancy is often against the regulations of religion if you are not married.
- Some girls believe it's against their values and morals.
- Some girls with STI's and HIV don't want to pass it on to their children or endanger the child's good health.
- Some girls are afraid that their parents would become highly upset and ashamed of them if they get pregnant before they finish their goals or get married
Teenagers that become pregnant need the same help that an adult woman would need. Teenage girls have the same symptoms that adult women have like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and breast tenderness.
Even though pregnant teenagers are treated the same way as adults, teenage girls need more emotional and psychological support
Teenage girls need extra help, encouragement, and guidance as they make the move from pregnancy to parenthood
Teenage girls need loved ones such as friends and family to help her set practical goals for her future and the future of her child as well as her job and school opportunities
All of these are very important and needed for future healthy lives of the child, father, and mother.
A baby inside of a woman's womb depends on its carrier greatly. A baby born to a teenage mother is more at risk than a baby born to a grown woman.
9% of teen girls have low-birth-weight babies (under 5.5 pounds). Low birth-weight babies may have organs that are not fully developed. This can lead to lung problems such as respiratory distress syndrome, or bleeding in the brain
low birth-weight babies are 40x more likely to die in their first month of life than normal weight babies. Low birth-weight babies are exposed to mental retardation, brain damage, and injury at birth .
- A teenage mother has special problems, emotionally and physically.
- The death rate from pregnancy complications is a lot higher for girls who are pregnant under the age of 15 than among older teenagers.
- Pregnant teenagers are more likely to be undernourished and suffer premature or prolonged labor.
- During the first 3 months of pregnancy; seven out of ten teenage girls do not get prenatal care, see a doctor, or go to a clinic.
- Teenage mothers are at risk of getting anemia, high blood pressure, placental problems, and pregnancy induced hypertension.
- Teenage girls with STI's or HIV can pass complications on to her baby when it is born.
- Teenage girls may also develop many emotional problems such as depression, shame, guilt, and stress.
- Teenage mothers have the risk of problems such as poor weight gain, premature labor, and other complications. *The younger the mother, the greater the chance to have complications for both the baby and the mother.
Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy
- The future of teenage girls who are pregnant often don't hold great promises for the baby and teenager due to the amount of dedication involved with raising a child, 2/3 of pregnant teenagers drop out of school
- The demands of education are high in order to find a good job, therefore leaving a problem for a teenage mother who has dropped out; leading her to go on welfare because of her deep financial problem
- If a teenage couple get married after they have a baby, it will most likely end in divorce
- A teenager cant go out with friends as much as they used to, their social life is put on hold for quite a while
- Teenage girls who are pregnant cant party (drink, smoke, and use drugs)
- Teenage girls miss out on their own childhood because they are busy taking care of another child
- Teenage girls put pressure on their parents for help on raising the child
- Children miss out on many things an older mother can give to her child
- Due to a teenagers young age, they do not have the proper parenting skills that are needed in order to raise a child well
- Staying in school can be harder due to the schools attitude, peer attitudes, and lack of day care for the baby
- Girls under 16 are five times more likely to die during or immediately after pregnancy than women 20 to 24. Their infants have a higher incidence of toxemia, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, low birth weight, and retardation than infants of older women (Black & DeBlassie, 1985).
Teen parents are also more likely to have difficulties getting appropriately paying jobs. More than one half of the money invested in Aid to Families with Dependent Children goes to families with a mother who first gave birth when she was a teenager (Black & DeBlassie, 1985).
What to do with an unwanted pregnancy
Even though many women plan their pregnancies with their mates, many women don't. Mistakes do happen because we are only human, but just because we are human does not mean we can't take responsibility. After weeks of being pregnant, it is too late to try to prevent the pregnancy. Many women keep their babies while others put them up for adoption with other parents. Other teenage girls may choose that abortion is the right choice for them. There are many places and resources where they will help pregnant teens make the right choice for the baby and the mother.
Initial Signs of pregnancy (first 3 months):
Signs and Symptoms of pregnancy are unique to every woman. Signs and symptoms of pregnancy applicable to one woman may not be applicable to another. There are some symptoms of pregnancy that are visible during the initial stages and some that are visible in the later stages.
Sometimes you don't even know you are pregnant. Although some symptoms are the same for some women, all women go through pregnancy differently. Here are some signs to look for:
- You missed your scheduled period or you had an unusual period
- Possible nausea and vomiting
- Possible hormonal changes which might lead to emotional changes (like pms)
- Fatigue -- feeling more tired than usual.
- You need to urinate more often than usual.
- Mood swings
- Breast tenderness
These symptoms most often don't occur until you have missed your period for about 2 weeks, but this varies from woman to woman, symptoms can occur earlier for some women (sometimes a week after a missed period).
Remember, the onset and degree of pregnancy symptoms will vary from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. Many women experience them within a week of conception, others take a few weeks.
The stages of Pregnancy
The fertilized egg is only a group of 13-32 cells after the third day the egg was implanted. It will soon change into an embryo and get 40 xs bigger than the size of the group of the 13-32 cells.
The brain, spinal chord, spinal nerves, and backbone will develop later from here
The heart and circulatory system are beginning to form
The first heartbeat will occur at around 21 or22 days
The foundation for bones, muscles, kidneys, and ovaries or testicles develops from the middle layer of cells .
By the end of this 3rd week, the earliest blood elements and vessels have formed in the embryo and the developing placenta.
4 weeks:The embryo has tripled in size, The brain is growing and developing, The eyes and ears are beginning to form, The opening of the mouth is formed, and The heart is starting to pump blood.
5 weeks:The brains development increases its complexity, Cavities for circulation of spinal fluid form The lenses of the eyes are forming, The middle part of the ears are continuing to develop
The arms, legs, hands, and feet are taking shape.
6 weeks:The eyelids are beginning to form, The pituitary gland is developing, The arms are growing, and the wrists and elbows are evident, The fingers are beginning to form, The ears are beginning to take shape, The heart is pumping at about 150 beats per minute.
7 weeks:The embryo's tail is disappearing, The pancreas, bile ducts, and gall bladder have formed ,The reproductive organs are starting to develop, but the external genitals have not yet begun to appear.
8 weeks:The beginning of all major body organs are formed, The bones of the skeleton are forming, The fingers have formed, the eyelids have grown, and outer ears are forming.
9-12 weeks:The embryo is now called a fetus, and will be called that until the time of birth, All of the organ systems are in place, The brain, nerves, and muscles are starting to function
The palate has completely formed, The genitals now have male or female characteristics
13-20 weeks:the eyebrows and scalp hair start to appear, the skin is covered with a white, cheesy protective coating called vernix; also, lanugo (fine Hair) covers the skin ,the kidneys are beginning to make urine,the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes have formed in the female
21-25 weeks:the lungs are beginning to develop surfactant, which covers the inner lining of the air sacs in the lungs, allowing them to expand easily.
the blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, while the blood vessels in the brain are rapidly growing in the middle regions of the brain
26-29 weeks:the eyelids can now open. the lungs are more developed, and the brain is more mature. in a male, the testicles are moving from a spot near the kidneys through the groin on their way to the scrotum,in a female, the clitoris is relatively prominent; the labia are still small and don't cover the clitoris
30-38 weeks:In a male, the testicles have moved into the scrotum. The baby is fully developed by the last few weeks .Fluid that is present in the lungs begins to be absorbed so the baby will be prepared to breathe when he or she is born. There is a surge in fetal hormones that may aid in the maintenance of blood pressure and blood sugar levels after birth .
Steps to take if you are pregnant:
- Talk to someone you can trust
- Overcome the sense of shame and guilt that you may feel because of your pregnancy
- Consider all of your options: adoption, abortion, or keeping the child
- If you decide to keep the child, get a physical exam and prenatal care immediately
Get all the information that you can, and take care of yourself: no substance abuse, eat well, exercise, and stay in school for as long as you can .
· If you decide to put the baby up for adoption:follow all of the above steps, but make an appointment with an adoption agency.
· If you decide to have an abortion:follow steps # 1-3, learn the laws about abortion from your state, talk to your doctor, and know the procedures of an abortion.
Importance of being healthy in pregnancy:
The importance of good health for pregnant women can never be overstressed. The health of the pregnant woman has a direct impact on the health of her baby.
Physical, mental and emotional well-being is very important aspects of good health. All pregnant women should bear in mind that their overall health is dependent on theses three aspects, which are all, correlated.
During pregnancy it is important to remember the importance of good nutrition and timely medical advise. Regular visits to a doctor are important for the mother –to -be to check the progress of the pregnancy. Also a nutritious diet is necessary to satisfy the growing needs of the mother and the baby in her womb. A balanced diet goes a long way in ensuring that both the mother and her baby are healthy and that there are no medical complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
Along with nutrition a little bit of exercise also plays an important role in maintaining the health of the mother-to-be. Regular exercise helps to increase the flexibility of muscles and improve the mental health of the mother-to-be. Though too much exercise or jerky movements during exercise can be harmful to the mother and the child. Hence it is necessary that the kind and amount of exercise to be done must be decided on after consulting a doctor.
Studies and research have now formed many forums, diet plans, weight-gain charts and general pregnancy progress reports for pregnant women to follow during their pregnancy. These charts, programs and plans help to guide most pregnant women during their pregnancy. There is also a lot of awareness being generated among the women by various institutes to educate women about the importance of good health for pregnant women.
It is very important to take care of yourself while you are pregnant because not only are you acting for yourself; you are also acting for your baby.
A doctor can give you special care when its needed and she/he will keep track of how both of you are doing throughout the pregnancy.
ask your doctor about exercise. Don't do any strenuous exercising, Some women find that exercise in the earl stages of pregnancy can alleviate future discomfort. your diet is of the greatest importance when you are pregnant .
Your baby must have the correct vitamins and nutrients to grow and mature healthily
Eat and drink lots of vegetables and milk. You shouldn't eat low fat when you are pregnant because your body demands for more fat
NO Caffeine. If it makes you jittery, imagine what it would do to a 3 pound fetus
Alcohol is not one of your options, don't touch it while you are pregnant, it's a danger to you and your child.
Any amount of drinking can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome which leads to retardation and face deformities.
Alcohol also causes low weight and delayed growth
Smoking is also not an option, don't touch a cigarette while you are pregnant because your baby will also become addicted to Nicotine which can lead to low birth-weight and other complications.
Many women think that being pregnant means you can eat whatever you want. This is not true. What you eat affects you, your baby, and your pregnancy.
When you are pregnant, you should try to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and peas or beans as possible.
Stay away from processed foods.
Take a vitamin/mineral pill high in iron and calcium.
Eat foods in their most natural state.
Eat lots of carbohydrates.
3/4 of your plate should be grains, fruits, vegetables, and peas or beans. Try to eat at least one grain and one fruit or vegetable in every snack
Fat, sugar, and salt intake shouldn't be eliminated totally, but reduced.
Taking folic acid (it protects the baby against birth defects of the spine and brain)
Get plenty of sleep
See your doctor regularly
Things to be avoided During Pregnancy:
· All substance abuse such as Smoking, alcohol, and drug use are dangerous
o Smoking: is a cause for birth defects
o Alcohol: is harmful towards the growth of the baby's organs and causes fetal alcohol syndrome
o Drug use: causes the baby to be addicted to the drug the mother used and causes the baby to have slow brain growth. It also causes the baby to have brain damage and prematurity or miscarriage
· Excess vitamin A
o causes an increase of birth defects rate
· X-rays (during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy)
· Accutane (cystic acne medication)
o causes birth defects such as: mental retardation, facial abnormalities, heart defects, and hydrocephaly (enlarges the fluid filled spaces of the baby's brain)
o also causes miscarriage
· Soft Cheeses (feta, brie, Roquefort, camembert, and Mexican style cheeses)
o cheeses listed above may be contaminated with bacteria called Listeria causing a disease which can kill the baby
· Raw or un-cooked foods
o make sure all the food you eat is clean, well cooked, and keep leftovers wrapped before putting them in the refrigerator
· Cat feces (cat poop)
o Cat feces have a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that carries a disease called Toxoplasmosis.
§ Sight loss infections
§ Death
§ Seizures
§ Cerebral palsy
§ Learning disabilities
§ Mental retardation
§ Hydrocephalus (increase of fluid in the brain
§ Miscarriage
§ Stillbirth (when child is born dead)
§ Enlarged liver and spleen
§ Pneumonia
§ Jaundice (liver problems that cause eyes, and skin to turn yellow and urine to turn brown)
It is an obvious fact that Teenage pregnancy and society are linked to each other. Society plays a major role in the determining the increase or decrease in the percentage of teenage pregnancies.Studies have proved the existence of a link between social status and good physical and mental health. People in the lower status group are more prejudiced and have low self-esteem and generally some history of substance abuse like drugs or alcohol. They are also more likely to suffer from physical and mental disorders.Teenagers belonging to the lower socio-economic strata are deprived of many basic health and educational facilities. This leads to lack of awareness and regarding sexual behavior knowledge amongst these teenagers. They are unaware of the consequences of sexual behavior and use of contraceptives. These teenagers also lack the motivation and self-confidence to take social and moral responsibility of their actions and therefore indulge in irresponsible sexual behavior.Teenage pregnancy has always been looked down upon by society, yet this social ostracization by society is the most important cause of rise in teenage pregnancy. Sometimes social attitudes and peer pressure also lead to children indulging in irresponsible sexual behavior substance abuse and crimes. Unwed parents or single parents who are already suffering the consequences of their ignorance and irresponsible behavior raise children who in turn fall into the same trap as their parents.This vicious circle is promoted due to lack of support from the family and society.In order to bring about significant improvement in the rate of teenage pregnancies the relation between teenage pregnancy and society needs to be given serious consideration. Odds of pregnancy among teenagers are extremely high. It is therefore important for health authorities and organizations to bring about significant changes in the society to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies worldwide. Teenagers reflect the values of their parents. Parents also need to play an important role in tackling the issue of teenage pregnancy. It is therefore the responsibility of the parents to educate their children about sex and make them aware of the benefits of postponing sexual activity till he/she is more capable of handling its consequences. At this stage, issues of independence, self-esteem, and sexual experimentation are of great importance to teenagers; therefore it is of utmost importance that teenagers be made aware of the implications of teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy poses a major risk to both the young mother- to-be and her unborn baby. The percentage of young mothers suffering from complications like premature labor, infant mortality or low birth weight of babies during childbirth is extremely high. The babies of teenagers also suffer from nutritional deficiencies leading to childhood disorders and disabilities. Babies with low birth weight are at a high risk of suffering from respiratory distress syndrome and intestinal disorders.Inculcating the ideas of responsibility, abstinence from sexual activity till marriage through correct moral values among children from a young age can prove helpful in tackling the problem of teenage pregnancy.Education, awareness and knowledge regarding family planning techniques and sexual behavior are the most important tools in fighting against the odds of pregnancy among teenagers.
The effects from teen pregnancy
The effects of teenage pregnancy can be felt both socially and economically. Teenage pregnancy has an impact on the increase in the number of people involved in substance abuse, crimes and also in the number of people affected by many health problems like mental disorders and sexually transmitted diseases. The widespread of AIDS in today’s world is also one of the results of teen pregnancy. Teenaged mothers generally face social ostracisation and drop out of school. The lack of social and family support makes them a part of the lower level in society where they cannot afford basic necessities like adequate nutrition and health care. Due to lack of support, awareness and means, these mothers are unable to take adequate care of themselves during pregnancy. This lack of care during pregnancy leads to complications in childbirth. Complications like premature labor and low birth weight of their babies are a result of teenage pregnancies. Babies of teenaged mothers may not be able to receive proper health care and nutrition. They suffer from problems related to mental and physical health. Along with the unwed mothers even teenaged fathers pose a risk to the social and economic progress of society. These single parents are unable to provide financial and social support to their babies or families. This frustration leads them to activities like dropping out of schools and colleges, doing drugs and sometimes to the extent of committing crimes. Experts believe most babies of teenaged or unwed mothers also fall into the same trap as their mothers and become teenaged or unwed mothers themselves resulting in the formation of a vicious circle.Effects of teenage pregnancy on society are easily observed as the level of education and growth is affected the productivity of the people is also affected. Governments have realized this problem and started many governmental support and welfare programs to create awareness on this issue.
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