Teen Pregnancy – A Growing Problem In The United States

Teen pregnancy is on the rise in America. Linda Lowen, in her article “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Pregnant Teenagers in America”, states that “615,000 teenage girls became pregnant between 15 and 19 years old in 2014.” Texas had 33.144 teen moms in 2015. In Texas, there were 33,144 teenage mothers in 2015. In addition, the child’s health may be negatively affected by her mother’s early years. Elizabeth Eden asserts that “special risks” are present to babies whose mothers are not mature enough. Teenagers are typically not financially, emotionally or physically ready for caring for a baby. This means that their babies are likely to be very thin at birth and susceptible to various illnesses.

Teen pregnancy can be a major problem in a woman’s life. Teen pregnancy can pose many health hazards. Eden stated that teenage mothers are more likely to have medical complications than mothers of older age. Teenage mothers are more likely to have pre-eclampsia. Their blood pressure is very low because they are young. The maximum strength and size of a young woman’s pelvis is not attained until she is eighteen. Vaginal delivery can be complicated for a female under eighteen. Teenage mothers have higher rates of C-sections. Because she is mentally and physically mature, a woman of thirty years old would have a higher chance of having her baby vaginally delivered. A fifteen-year old would likely have problems if she had a baby. She hasn’t fully developed. She just finished puberty. Her body had many years to grow, both mentally and physically. To ensure her survival and that of her baby, she would need a C-section.

Teenage pregnancy is extremely dangerous for both the mother and the baby. A lot of young girls hide their pregnancy when they become pregnant. Young girls often hide their pregnancy because they are abused in their homes. These girls are often verbally, mental, and/or physically abused. Another possibility is that the person comes from a home where abortion is not an option. Mothers who fear their families will reject them may verbally abuse, hit, or even kill them. The mother may decide to have an abortion. An abortion can have serious consequences. An anonymous author has written an article titled Abortion Risks Dangers & Abortion Complication. The article states that abortion results in many side effects. Suicidal thoughts and feelings, shame and regret are just some of the side effects. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders.

Mothers will sometimes even run to another country to get an illegal abortion. Because they fear their family might hurt or divorce them, they feel compelled to do so. Mexico is the place where this illegal procedure is performed. Doing this can lead to serious health problems for the young teenager. The individual may become sterile. The individual will be unable have children. There are also risks of a pelvic infection or a torn or cut cervix. If an abortion is performed, these medical risks can be very serious. Death is the most serious risk. Most girls die from an infection. To let teenage mothers know that they’re not alone, it is important to have more conversations.

Prenatal care is not provided to teens mothers, so babies born to them are at high risk of dying within their first year. The problem is that many of them don’t receive the proper nutrition. This is why “babies born in teenage years have low birthweights.” Low-birthweight babies have less developed lungs. This can lead to brain damage, respiratory distress syndromes, and intestinal problems. Babies weighing less than three-and-a-half pounds are 100 times more likely to die. Babies between four and five pound are five times more likely than those who weigh normal.

Research has shown that more than 60% of unmarried young mothers live in poverty. Within three years of their child’s birth, one in four young mother will apply for a welfare benefits program. Teen mothers are more likely to be in poverty than their children and to not finish high school or go to college. This is a major disadvantage. Statistics show that fifty percent drop out of highschool to care for their child. Unknown author says, “
When it comes to finding a job, this puts them at an advantage. This is evident. The median income for college graduates has increased nineteen percent over the past 20 decades while that of high school dropouts has fallen by twenty eight percent.

While the mother is most often a single mother, this doesn’t mean that she created this child. Every child has a father. A father is a man who leaves his child when the boy is older than he was. Eight in ten teenage fathers abandon their child and mother. Teen mothers are most likely to end up in poverty because of this. Teen fathers don’t contribute.” Only one in five teen fathers will marry their children’s mothers. Child support is vital to ensure stability in the household. Teen fathers typically pay child support in the range of $800 to $800 each year, but this is because they aren’t able to find a steady job and provide financial support for their children’s families. Teenage fathers who decide to stay on tend to drop out of school. They feel pressured by their partner to look after their child. Employers can judge teenage fathers based on their actions. He is often viewed as a liar by employers. This makes it more likely that the father of a teenage child will have to struggle financially. While people tend to place more emphasis on teenage mothers and their child, they forget that teenage fathers also need advice and support.

Teen pregnancy is an increasing problem in America. As a nation, we give little or no resources to our teens at risk and our teenage mothers. Dutch culture has their own language and talks to their children about sex. Their relationships with their family are better, as it is well-documented. America doesn’t speak to its children, and our at-risk teenagers. Teenagers often flee their home to seek illegal procedures in other states. This is where most of us make mistakes. The Dutch culture can be a model for us and we can adapt to it. We need to speak more and provide the resources our young teens require. This will improve our relationships with our children and reduce the number of teenage pregnancy rates.