Teens Having Babies
The rate of teenage pregnancy has splurged over the past couple of years. This increase in teenage pregnancy is mainly attributable to the presence that more and more teenagers are engaging in sex without the use of contraceptives. This could be also due to the absence of sufficient education related to sexual health. Young teenagers having babies at a young age can be demeaning for both the baby as well as the mother. It has also been reported that children born to teenagers are more prone to abuse at a young age.
It is reported that approximately 60% of teenage mothers drop out of high school, which is an alarming rate since they usually need to provide for themselves as well as the babies. A lot of teenagers may even end up in poverty. The major cause behind this is the fact that young mothers have a hard time taking care of themselves and the baby. Due to this, the majority of the teen mothers find it very difficult to balance their school work and catering to the needs of their babies. Ultimately, this may also lead to emotional breakdown of the mother, when they have to sacrifice their previous carefree high school life for the sake of their newborns.
Moreover, babies who are born to teenage mothers have a high risk of being born prematurely as opposed to a woman who gives birth in her twenties or thirties. The prematurely born baby may eventually grow up to have a range of other health issues throughout the rest of their life. Some difficulties may include bleeding inside the brain or breathing problems from their very birth. Giving birth at a young age also has adverse effects on the health of the teen mother.
Parents can pay a significant role in educating their children on teenage pregnancy and its aftermath. This will allow the teenagers to make more informed decisions, regarding whether they want a baby or not. If teenagers do understand the full impact of teenage pregnancy and the affect it would have in their lives; a lot of them would certainly refrain from doing so. Schools can also play a significant role in teaching their students about safe sex and the ways to avoid pregnancy. If however, a teen does give birth to a child, they must be given appropriate counseling to be able to take good care of themselves as well as their babies. Once again, their families need to support the teen throughout the process.