Teen Mom

While the teen pregnancy rate has been declining, our country still has a higher percentage of teen moms than most other developed nations. In the United States, about 11% of babies are born to mothers ages 15 to 19. However, the majority of these mothers are 18 and 19 years old.

Of course, not all teens who become pregnant will give birth. Some will miscarry, while others will choose to have an abortion. About 860,000 teen girls become pregnant, but only 425,000 give birth give birth each year.

Babies born to teen moms face a number of challenges. Since teenage girls are more likely to smoke and less likely to seek prenatal care, babies face a higher risk of prematurity and/or low-birth weight. Physical and mental disabilities are also a concern.

As a young mom, research shows that you are more likely to drop out of school than a girl who waits to have her first child. One 1997 study found that 41% of teen moms graduated from high school, compared to 61% of girls from similar backgrounds who did not give birth.

Raising a baby can be very expensive. Paying for diapers, food, formula, clothes, and other child care necessities can be a strain on any paycheck. And, as a working mother, you’re much less likely to find a job that offers steady wages and adequate benefits. Research has shown that within five years of giving birth, 75% of teen moms must rely on government assistance programs to make ends meet. And, a child born to a teenage girl who has dropped out of high school is 10 times more likely to be living in poverty by his/her 8th birthday.

Even if you have younger siblings or have done babysitting for couples in your neighborhood, raising an infant can be a challenging task. As a teen mom, you may not have the parenting skills that an older woman would have. If your baby’s father isn’t in the picture and your parents are not supportive of your pregnancy, it can be difficult to deal with the responsibility of caring for a newborn entirely on your own.

For many women, becoming a teen mom has lasting consequences. Although the stigma of unplanned teenage pregnancy has eased in recent years, many women say they continue to be perceived as immature and irresponsible by older mothers. Once your baby starts school, you may find it hard to make friends with mothers who are 10 to 15 years older than you.

There is also evidence that teenage mothers are less likely to marry than women who wait to have children. Although many pregnant teenage girls want to marry their partners, only 20% of teen moms will walk down the aisle with the father of their child. The rest of these girls often find it difficult to juggle dating and life as a single parent.

If you’re interested in learning more about teen pregnancy, check out the following helpful websites:

• TeenPregnancy.org
• TeenBreaks.com
• TeenSource.org
• TeenPregnancy.com
• TeenParents.org

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