Pregnant Teenager
There is little more that upsets a household than a pregnant teenager. With so many things to consider in a situation like this, it’s hard for parents to know where to begin. Options need to be explored according to the age of the teenager and the circumstances surrounding the situation. Decisions need to be made quickly, but they also need to be well thought out before committing to one.
First of all, the most important thing that a teenager who has become pregnant needs is family support. As parents, you will, of course, be upset that things have taken this kind of turn, but by the time you know you have a pregnant teenager, it’s a case of “what’s done is done.” So you will need to set aside your personal feelings and help guide your teenager in the decision making process of what is best for her. If she can depend on you for good advice and non-judgmental support, things will go a lot easier.
If both of the teen parents are young, things will need to be handled even more delicately. Considering that in today’s world, teens are becoming pregnant as young as 14 and 15 years old, marriage for your pregnant teenager may not be the best solution. Add to those statistics that the majority of teen marriages do not last very long, you may want to consider the other options.
An option that many teenagers in this situation take is adoption. These adoptions can be conducted through private attorneys, adoption agencies, or even other family members who wish to become parents. An adoption works out well as the teenager does not have to give up her life, and the baby goes to a good home. This option has been successful for many teenagers who find themselves pregnant.
Of course, your pregnant teenager may wish to keep her baby and raise it herself. This is a much harder decision to make as it will take a family effort to help her do this. Statistics show that most teenage boys do not usually retain an active part of their babies’ lives, so it falls to the teen mother and her family to take care of the baby. Many families do choose this option, however, as they cannot bear the thought of giving up a child that is part of their flesh and blood. It can work if everyone commits to helping.
There is also the option of not having the baby at all. This one may soon be outlawed, though, with conservatives trying very hard to make abortion for any reason illegal. If your pregnant teenager wants to go this route, she should be prepared for the emotional fallout later. This usually comes from guilt. There are some very legitimate reasons for abortion if the teen was assaulted, a victim of incest, or not healthy enough to go through the pregnancy. For whatever the reason, this choice needs to be thought out carefully.
