Younger The Teenage Mother example essay topic

Although the rate of teenage pregnancy in the United States has declined greatly within the past few years, it is still an enormous problem that needs to be addressed. There are some 900,000 Americans younger than twenty becoming pregnant every year, and the U.S. teenage pregnancy rate is one of the highest in the world. There is just no logical reason for teenagers to become mothers at an age under twenty. Most teens live with their parents and are not ready to have a child. Now who's to say any of these teenagers intended to become pregnant, but that's even more of a reason for parents to take more action.

Teenagers should not become pregnant due to the following risks or consequences: limited social contacts, educational and financial problems, and health risks. Teen mothers may have limited social contacts and friendships because they do not have time for anything other than their baby. Lack of a social life and time for herself may cause the teenage mother to become depressed or have severe mental anxiety. Depression may become worse for a teenage mother because she usually does not know much about child development or about how to care for their children. If a teen mother is depressed she may not give her baby the right amount of attention he / she needs. In return, teens may not have good parenting skills, or have the social support systems to help them deal with the stress of raising an infant.

A teen mother leaves school because she cannot manage the task of caring for a baby and studying, and a teen father. Because of this, teen mothers generally are poor and are dependent on government support. The welfare system is usually the only support a teen parent will receive. Welfare benefits are higher for families with absent fathers or dependent children.

In some cases, teen mothers may also receive help like Medicaid, Food Stamps, and "Aid to Families with Dependent Children" (AFDC). Besides educational and financial problems, teenage mothers can face a great deal of emotional strain and may become very stressed. Teenage pregnancy comes with not only a child, but also many health risks. Teen mothers face greater health risks than older mothers, such as anemia, pregnancy induced hypertension, toxemia, premature delivery, cervical trauma, and even death.

Many of these health risks are due to inadequate prenatal care and support, rather than physical immaturity. The teenage mother is more likely to be undernourished and suffer premature and prolonged labor. The death rates from pregnancy complications are much higher among girls who give birth under age fifteen. Poor eating habits, smoking, alcohol and drugs increase the risk of having a baby with health problems. The younger the teenage mother is, the higher the chances are that she and her baby will have health problems.

This is mainly due to late prenatal care and poor nutrition. An adolescent mother and her baby may not get enough nutrients, and because the mother's body is not fully mature, she may have many complications throughout the duration of the pregnancy. There are the explanations of why teenagers should not become pregnant with the risks of limited social contacts, educational and financial problems, and health risks. Yes, some teens do not expect to get pregnant, but if they would use protection or contraceptive then it would prevent them from becoming pregnant.

Also, teenage pregnancy has declined in the U.S., but we are still the nation with the highest count of teen pregnancies. If a little more information went out to the younger generations maybe there would be a steady decline in teenage pregnancies. There won't be a time where there are no teen pregnancies, but maybe the U.S. could have a lower count than other nations.