| The teenage years can be particularly trying | | | | Babies born from teenage pregnancies are at |
| for parents, as children become aware of | | | | risk for the following reasons: |
| their sexuality for the first time in their | | | | |
| lives. Raging hormones and a newfound sense | | | | • Babies born to teenage mothers |
| of independence may induce teens to act in | | | | invariably have low birth weights and suffer |
| ways that are irresponsible. The worst | | | | health problems. |
| repercussion of this could be a teenage | | | | |
| pregnancy. | | | | • Studies show that babies of teen |
| | | | mothers receive less care and medical |
| Here are some facts about teenage pregnancy: | | | | treatment. |
| | | | |
| • There are estimated to be around | | | | • Babies of teen parents also suffer |
| 750,000 teenage pregnancies in the U.S. per | | | | from inadequate parenting. Studies show that |
| year. | | | | children of teen mothers generally do badly |
| | | | in school. |
| • Teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. | | | | |
| are amongst the highest in the developed | | | | As a dad, there are things you can do to |
| world-higher than in other countries such as | | | | guard against teenage pregnancy: |
| Great Britain, France, or Germany. | | | | |
| | | | • Talk. Uncomfortable as it may |
| • A study estimates that up to 31% of | | | | initially be, talk to your teen about safe |
| teenage girls become pregnant before they | | | | sex. |
| reach the age of 20. | | | | |
| | | | • Teach. Help your child to develop a |
| Teenage pregnancies harm the mother in the | | | | healthy attitude toward sex. |
| following ways: | | | | |
| | | | • Supervise. Always allow your child to |
| • Teenage mothers suffer from poor | | | | have healthy interactions with the opposite |
| weight gain, hypertension, anemia, and | | | | sex. At the same time, experts recommend that |
| sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Guilt, | | | | you discourage single dating, or 'going |
| anxiety, and depression also commonly affect | | | | steady', until your child is at least 16 |
| them. | | | | years old. |
| | | | |
| • Most teenage mothers often drop out | | | | • Protect. Ensure that your teen stays |
| of school or college early. | | | | away from drugs or alcohol. |
| | | | |
| • Studies show a strong link between | | | | • Encourage. Cultivate frankness in |
| teenage pregnancy, single parenthood, and | | | | your children and encourage them to talk with |
| poverty. | | | | you about all their problems. |
| | | | |