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Each year, almost 1 million teenage women – 10% of all women aged 15-19 and 19% of those who have had sexual intercourse – become pregnant.
No form of birth control is 100% effective. Waiting to have sex is the only sure way to avoid becoming pregnant.
Missed a period? Think you might be pregnant?
Statistics on Teen Pregnancy
- 78% of teen pregnancies are unplanned, accounting for about ¼ of all accidental pregnancies annually.
- 6 in 10 teen pregnancies occur among 18-19 year-olds.
- Teen pregnancy rates are much higher in the United States than in many other developed countries – twice as high as in England and Wales or Canada, and nine time as high as in the Netherlands or Japan.
- 1/4 of teenage mothers have a second child within 2 years of their first. Statistics on Teen Mothers and Their Children (Provided by The Alan Guttmacher Institute)
- 7 in 10 teen mothers complete high school, but they are less likely than women who delay childbearing to go on to college.
- 1/3 of pregnant teens receive inadequate prenatal care; babies born to young mothers are more likely to be low-birth-weight, to have childhood health problems, and to be hospitalized than are those born to older mothers.
Here are ten reasons given by girls and guys who are teen parents why you don’t want to become a mom or dad right now.
- You’ll Have Choices About Your Future
- Do you want to be a doctor, mechanic, lawyer or hairdresser? It will be easier to pursue these careers if you wait to become a parent.
- You will have time to travel, go to college or technical school, and decide where you want to live and what you want to do with your life if you wait to have sex.
- You can finish school
- If you have a baby now you may have to drop out of school. Your child is likely to finish high school before you do.
- Less than half the girls who have a baby before they turn 18 will finish high school by the age of 30.
- Only 39% of teen fathers finish high school.
- You and Your Baby will be Healthier
- Mothers who wait until they are older are more likely to have a healthy baby.
- Even if your body is ready to make a baby, you may not be emotionally ready to be a parent.
- Your Parents
- How will your parents feel when they find out you are pregnant?
- How will you tell your parents that you are about to be a parent?
- Will your parents help you raise the baby? Would you want them to? Would they want to?
- You’ll have more money
- Girls who have their first child in their teen years earn half as much money in their lifetime as those who do not.
- Only 42% of all guys ages 20 - 25 earn enough money to take care of themselves, their wife/girlfriend and baby.
- Teen moms and dads and their children have a very good chance of living in poverty.
- More than 80% of single mothers under age 18 end up on public welfare.
- Guys who father a child in their teen years will pay child support until that child is 18 even if they do not marry the child’s mother.
- You can buy that Car, Stereo or CD
- If you have a child, his or her needs will have to come first.
- If you wait to have a child you will be able to buy the things you want (car, CDs, electronic equipment) instead of formula and diapers.
- You don’t want to have a child with Mr. or Mrs. Wrong
- You may have found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, but what if you haven’t - do you want to be bonded to this person through a child for the rest of your life?
- Mr or Mrs Right may be just around the corner - how will they feel raising someone else’s child.
- At least 60% of all teen marriages end in divorce within the first five years.
- Babies Require A Lot of Time and Energy
- Babies need constant attention - feed, diapered, rocked, cuddled.
- Are you ready for the terrible twos?
- Are you ready to stay up all night with a sick child, miss school and work?
- You will make the best parent when you’re ready to give 100% to your child.
- You’ll Have a Life of Your Own
- You can turn the stereo up without waking a sleeping baby.
- You can go out with your friends without finding and paying for a babysitter.
- You can make decisions about what you want and where you want to go.
- You’ll Have Time to Be a Teen
- Teen Parents are forced to grow up very quickly and take on adult responsibilities.
- You will only get to live your teen years once - live them as a teen free from the responsibilities and commitments of parenthood.
Having a child of your own is a great experience - at the right time. Take time now to enjoy the teen years and to become the adult that can best raise the children you hope to have one day.
Missed a period? Think you might be pregnant?
For a free pregnancy test kit, confidential counseling, material assistance, and certified childbirth education classes, call:
Heartbeat Community Services, Inc.
Millerstown, PA 17062
(Just past Greenwood Schools on the left)
(717) 589-7208
Heartbeat is a pregnancy resource center for women and their families.
Common Signs of Pregnancy
- A missed or light period – about 2 weeks after fertilization a missed period might indicate pregnancy, although its not an absolute sign (can also be caused by illness, stress, bereavement, surgery, or jet lag)
- Frequent urination – even though in small quantities
- Fatique – feeling the need for more sleep
- Breast Change – the nipples might become sensitive, even sore to the touch and deepen in color
- Sense of Smell – it might become more acute and common odors might cause nausea
- Headaches
- Change in Appetite
DON’T PANIC! – How to tell your parents
It’s not easy to tell your parents that you are pregnant. You are probably afraid of the way they might respond - although, we often imagine the worst. The news of your pregnancy will probably hurt your parents. But they will survive. It might now always be evident, but most parents do love their children and want to be there when they are hurting.
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DON’T PUT IT OFF!: Unless your parents are capable of physical abuse, it is best to tell them as soon as possible. More than likely, they are going to find out (and they might even suspect now) and they would rather hear the news from you than from someone else.
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Plan Your Approach: You know your parents, their way of dealing with problems, and the "right" time to speak with them. You may want to wait till they are the most relaxed and easiest to talk to. Maybe it would be best if you were not around when they received the news. It is difficult to think when you are nervous, but it is time not to consider the best way to approach them.
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How Exactly Should You Tell Them?: If the thought of telling your parents in person frightens you, consider other ways such as writing a letter or a card or making a phone call to them. Communicate your love along with your sorrow for the pain you may have caused them. You might say something simple and straight-forward like this: "Dear Mom/Dad, I love you but I’m afraid I have really blown it. I’m sorry to have to tell you this but I’m pregnant." You not only have to think of yourself now, but also your parents and the little life growing inside you. It’s time to be strong, act wisely, and do the right thing.
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Remember: Every family is different. If your parents have a hard time expressing their love, you may need to turn to other family members or friends for support. Also consider the school nurse, guidance counselor, or your doctor.
Resources: Contact These Places for Help
Statistics on Teen Pregnancy Provided by The Alan Guttmacher Institute
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