The Negative Effects of Teen Pregnancy

Parenting at any age can be challenging but particularly difficult for adolescent parents. Aside from being difficult for adolescent parents there are a lot of negatives effects with bearing a child at a young age. The long-term consequences of adolescent childbearing for parents and their children compared to a standard age of childbearing are extensive. The negatives outcomes to adolescent childbearing are often poor for the parent and the child. Adolescent females often have diets low in calcium and iron. An increased requirement during pregnancy further increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia that has been reported with a prevalence of between 11% and 16% (2). Breastfeeding may also further deplete iron stores in those already at risk for iron deficiency anemia.

There are long term negative effects on the teen parent which carries over long after the baby is born. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school than their peers who are not mothers (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Adolescent parents are often poor relying on social services and many times as adults they are unemployed or underemployed (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). The families who are affected by this social issue take on the responsibilities to try to overcome the negatives. However the families are now dealing

In recent years, teenage pregnancy has been labeled a major issue amongst teens that it can be known as an “Epidemic.” Is teenage pregnancy directly responsible for a host of society’s ills? Increasing teenage pregnancy rate translates directly into increasing rates of “school failure,” early behavioral problems, drug abuse, child abuse, depression, and crimes. Many social problems can be directly attributed to the poor choices of teenage girls.

When a baby is born, it is a priority that said baby is healthy and happy. It is also important that the mother takes care of herself and the baby before it arrives, including taking vitamins, going to checkups, and eating healthy. It’s not easy, but teenage pregnancy is much more risky than adult pregnancy. Pregnant teens and their babies are at a higher risk than adult mothers and their babies, risks including high blood pressure, preeclampsia, premature birth, postpartum depression, and low birth weights (Teenage Pregnancy: Medical). However, this is not always the case. “...not every baby born to a teen mother will have health problems -- but the risks are definitely higher.” (Beirne, Dr.) Medical risks such as the ones listed can be very dangerous, to both the mother and the child. Children born to teenage mothers are not only at risk for medical reasons, but for educational reasons. These children are, more often than not, usually less ready for school than children born to older mothers, lacking childhood development skills such as social,

For many years teen pregnancy has been a national social problem. Views have changed over the years as society has started to adapt to the thought of teen pregnancy. “Growing evidence suggests that pre-existing academic and economic hardships play a role in the continuing struggles of teen mothers. While 85% of young women who delay having their first child until at least twenty or twenty – one obtain a high school diploma or GED, only 63% of mothers who give birth by age seventeen do so” (Crosson- Tower p255)

The majority of the people sees teen mothers as a bad example in the society because teenage mothers put their children at risk to become propensity to commit the same errors. Moreover; society thinks that the teen mothers put at risk the future education of the children. According to Teen Pregnancy Statistics online article, Stereotypes of Teen Moms, March of Dimes, United States nonprofit organization, describe how people believe in the stereotype of “teen moms are the bad moms” by expressing “The babies of teen mothers are often considered to be at higher risk of neglect. This is because young teen mothers may not know how to care for their children. Of course, many new mothers learn as they go no matter what their age.”

Married couples that have a baby think it is a gift from God, but it can be the exact opposite for a teen. Statistics show that almost 750,000 U.S teens become pregnant and 79% are unmarried each year (Facts On American Teens) Teens don’t think of the conflicts that come with raising a baby, they just imagine themselves being parents. Having a baby as a teenage mother is very difficult. It affects with your education, work.

a : Teen pregnancy can affect the moms education, the mom and child’s well being, and the family’s financial stability.

Teenagers have been told countless times that if they got pregnant too soon, their lives are as good as done. Once the “burden” of becoming a teen parent is set in stone, a successful future becomes further out of reach or almost impossible. It is true, that if someone becomes a parent at a young age, they do have to grow up faster and become responsible not just for themselves but now, a baby. However, the stereotype is created when other people put their interpretations and comments in on a situations like these. Most of the time their thoughts are that these teens will quit school, never make it to college, and will eventually live a poor quality of life. Due to having to take care of a baby so young, “there is no time for college.” They

Teen Pregnancy and the Link to Poverty in the U.S. with A Focus on Western Ma Especially Holyoke and Springfield Mass

Teenage pregnancies have been looked down upon in society throughout the years, and when races become a factor, society tends to perceive them in a much more harsh manner. The movie Juno portrays the pregnancy of a teenage white girl and how society treats her. With her choice to continue her pregnancy, and give the child up for adoption, allows Juno to discover the girl that she is. This movie is seen as Juno’s coming of age story, which doesn't necessarily have to mean puberty, this is more of how she transforms into adulthood. Her pregnancy takes her on a journey of self-discovery.

Summary: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy wrote the article called, “Teen Pregnancy Is a Serious Problem,” stating that teen pregnancy is an issue in todays’ world. There are many negative effects of being a teen mom. In the United States, teen pregnancy is seen as being “ok” because it is normal in today’s world. Adolescents don't know how quickly a pregnancy can happen. When they asked the girls why they became pregnant they said, “It just kinda happened.” Also, many teen moms have more than one child before the age 24. A recent study

In the article “Teenage Births: Outcomes for Young Parents and their Children “the Schuyler Center touches on many important topics concerning teenage pregnancy and parenting. The foundation speaks on how teenage pregnancy is a global issue and explains why teens often get pregnant along with the hardships that come with it. Although, according to them “teen pregnancy rates are at the lowest level in 20 years. . . ” (page 3) it is very apparent that being a young mother will defiantly effect your education and your child future.

By having all these new problems to deal with without a fully developed maturity the mother can also suffer from emotional and mental stagnation. Her peers may reject her as society deems teenage pregnancy unacceptable. She may feel humiliated and ashamed after her pregnancy begins to show, so then she refuses to finish school and as a result she lessens her ability to effectively raise her child. When teenage mother are pregnant, they are the least likely of all maternal age groups to get early and regular prenatal care. There are many teen mothers who receive late or no prenatal care at all. After giving birth, the majority of girls drop out of school in order to care of the baby. If there is no one else to share the endless amount of work, she must assume full responsibility. She may be forced to pursue employment with a minimal of earning potential due to her lack of education. This scenario tends to breed an unstable and financially insecure parent, and the child may also suffer from neglect by the constantly working mother.

Like Amy and Loeber (2009), when it comes to the ecological paradigm of teenage pregnancy, Corcoran, Franklin, and Bennett (2000) also believe one’s socioeconomic status is a huge factor that contributes to this problem. A person’s socioeconomic status a lot of times determines “education, expanded family size, single-parent household structure, and lessened resources in terms of employment and income.” These three authors claim that educational performance and goals “dictate the potential costs of child bearing at a young age.” Their studies have also shown that teenage girls’ relationships with the school setting and poorer performance in school serve a greater risk for adolescent pregnancy.