The effects of teen pregnancy

As she reads the positive pregnancy test she drops to her knees. What to do? Where to go from here? Who can I tell? Am I ready? And so many more questions roll through her mind. At first it is all just a dream and then the symptoms and reality from everyone’s reactions sets in. She knows this is not only going to affect her this is going to affect so many more. How is she going to provide for a baby? How is she going to finish school? Who is going to financially support her and this child? Are the questions that go through her loved ones minds.

The effects of teenage pregnancy are not only negative on the child born, but the mother and the economy. When a child is born to a teen mother the effects of the pregnancy can have so many bad effects on the baby. Teenage girls who do not have parental support are less likely to receive prenatal care. This could be a bad effect on baby, prenatal care is crucial for any unborn baby. “ Children who are born to teenage mothers are also at risk for neglect and abuse because their mothers are not aware of their roles and can become frustrated over demands from baby” (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

” When Children Have Children”. Retrieved from http://www. aacap. org). Health Issues can also be a bad effect on the child of a teen mother. Most teens have poor appetite this includes teen mothers. This could be a bad effect on an unborn child or any child at that. They are also more likely to smoke and use drugs and alcohol due to peer pressure in which all effect a child. According to Healthy Teen Network , (para. 1). “ Children who have uneducated parents are not likely to get the support they need from parents to become educated” This is one of the worst effects on children born to teen parents.

The effects on children born to teen parents is so unbelievable. You would think proof of these outcomes would play a bigger role in preventing teen pregnancy. Becoming a teen mother does not only effect the child it can affect the mother as well. An change of hormones, body size, relationship, or just the fear of becoming a mother is frightening to any woman especially a teen mother. All of this can cause depression on any human being but more so on teen mothers. Teen pregnancy can also effect a teen mother’s education.

According to HealthyTeenNetwork. com, (para. 6). “ Some teenagers drop out of school and never return” An education is needed to get a well-paying job. With teen girls dropping out so early the chances of getting a supporting job are slim. A lot of teen girls work to shop, hang out with friends, go to prom, date, party, etc. As a teen mother it is hard to participate in these activities . All of your free time must be focused on your child. So many girls look forward to those times. When a teen pregnancy is created having teen experiences fail to exist.

All of these effects put a damper on a teen mother. In order to provide a good, healthy, and trouble free lifestyle for their child a teen mother must be ok with these effects. Teen pregnancy does not only have effects on mom and baby but it effects our economy as well. Because of the lack of education due to dropping out and the skills they need to succeed in everyday life a lot of teen moms cannot or choose not to work. So because of this effect a lot of teen mothers live off of welfare like food stamps, assistance for needy families, or government insurance.

These welfare programs effect the economy because this is what America’s tax dollars pay a portion of. Our poverty level is also effected due to teen pregnancy. A lot of teens who become mothers remain single. This also puts a damper on their financial status. This makes it hard for teen mothers who do not live with a partner or parent to pay bills, support their child, buy groceries, etc. This puts these mother in the poverty or below poverty level in which effects our economy as a whole. We all know teen pregnancy effects a teen and her baby but who knew it could have an effect on our economy to?

So all of this answers the question teen moms always ask, besides being to young, why are so many people against teen pregnancy? When teenagers make the decision to act in intercourse they do not think of the consequences it can cause. Even after the fact I do not believe that the teens take in the effect that the pregnancy and raising a child can have. If for once teenagers thought before they took action so many teen pregnancies could be prevented. I do not think any woman wants to cause any harm or be inattentive to their child but as a young mother this is unfortunately a bad effect.

“ I can still have a baby and do what teenagers do” is something an unaware teen mother would say. Teen mother’s things are only rough through pregnancy and that things will change after the baby is born. Wrong this also is a bad effect of teen pregnancy. The economy also suffers every day from poor teen decisions. Poverty levels rise, Graduation numbers drop, and the skills for employment do not exist all because of an unplanned pregnancy. The effects of teenage pregnancy are not only negative on the child born, but the mother and the economy