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January 2010 Newletter #1 |
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Teen pregnancy is a problem faced by almost a million teenage girls a year in the United States. In fact, more than 80% of teenage pregnancies are unintended and unintentional. Pregnancy alone is a life altering experience, and to experience something as serious as this and not have any intent behind it can be even more frightening.
Teen pregnancy can be one of the most difficult and challenging experiences a young person can face. For many they feel alone, scared, and embarrassed. For some, especially those who don’t have the strongest of relationships with their parents, announcing something of this magnitude can be quite frightening. However, what some young women don’t understand, is the longer they deny or ignore the situation, the worse it is for not only the baby, but for themselves as well.
There are of course ways to prevent situations like these. The only guaranteed prevention is abstinence, completely avoiding sex period. This however, is of course easier said than done, especially if your peers are engaging in this activity, or if the person you are involved with is pressuring you to engage. If abstinence isn’t a route that seems feasible, then other options include always using condoms which are 99% effective, and using birth control methods, the most popular, birth control pills.
Another option, but is advised to carefully think about before acting on it, is abortion, the termination of the baby at an early stage, typically before three months, anything after that time could be very dangerous to the mother and baby. Abortion frees the mother and possibly the father from the burden of raising another child. Certain factors may cause the mother to feel that there is no other choice than abortion such as time, certain circumstances, finances and emotional instability. According to the statistics, many women are forced into an abortion from their partner, but again some make that decision on their own. Abortion is a very serious decision and shouldn’t be made without care planning, It could possibly be life threatening, providing even more reason to carefully think.
If you are pregnant and don’t want an abortion but still don’t feel capable of parenthood, another option is adoption. During the pregnancy, the placement of the child will occur, and in some circumstances, you can still have a relationship with the child, if allowed by the adoptive family. However, it is possible to grow attached to your baby during the pregnancy, so when it comes time to give the baby to the adoptive family, it may be harder than expected.
If you do chose to keep the child, you will be able to experience one of the most rewarding experiences taking care of another life, and raising a child. With this reward, comes a lot of responsibilities, more than many expect. To be a good parent, the child must be put first, causing you to be selfless, and sacrifice a lot of your own life. Parenting is a lifelong commitment, and the biggest question to ask yourself is are you prepared to deal with that type of responsibility.
If you think you might be pregnant here are the typical signs. If you recently had unprotected sex with no form of birth control, or a missed period, those are typically your first indicators that you may be pregnant. Also feeling nauseous, extreme fatigue, fuller and tender breasts, urinating more than often, and a change in appetite are also strong signs that you may be pregnant. Taking home pregnancy tests are usually the first step for women who suspect pregnancy, but they are not the most accurate, and are often misread. The surest way to know whether or not you are pregnant, is to go to a clinic or doctor. However if you are pregnant, it’s important to be health conscious such as eating healthy or healthier. Green vegetables, fruits, juices, grains, grilled or baked foods, milk and lots of water plus vitamins and minerals are highly recommended. If is also important to remember that you are now eating for two, so although this does mean added weight, to starve yourself isn’t healthy for you or the baby. Also of course avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Light and moderate exercise is appropriate and even recommended, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.
According to planned parenthood, 1 in 4 teens is pregnant by the age of 18, and most mothers aren’t able to take care of themselves at this age, let alone another life. Public funds cover the cost of about half the teenage births in the US reaching up to almost 7 billion dollars annually. Eighty percent of teenage mothers end up on welfare at some point, especially if the mother gets no other form of support from family and friends.
It is important to know that abstinence is ok, and to only have sex when you’re ready. Sex is the most intimate piece of yourself you can give a man, and should be done willingly and without pressure. Conversation is also key, so if you think you ever may be put in that situation, talk it over with your partner and see where you both stand on the topic.
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