It wasn’t supposed to happen to you, but it did and now you need to know the facts regarding adoption, parenting and abortion:
Being a teenager is supposed to be a wonderful time in your life: spending time with friends, dreaming of your prom night and going to football games.
Did you know?
- Only one third of teenage mother’s complete high school?
- Nearly 80% of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare?
- The income of teen mothers is half that of those who first gave birth in their twenties?
- The sons of teen moms are 13% more likely to end up in prison while teen daughters are 22% more likely to become teen moms themselves?
If you think you may be pregnant you are probably feeling scared, confused, and shocked. You may even think that if you just ignore this, it will go away. You must share this information with an adult you can trust. It will be really hard, but you can do it. It will probably be best to talk to your parents. Most parents are not as upset as teenagers think they will be. Remember they were teenagers once too.
If you think you may be pregnant, click here to take our on-line pregnancy indicator to learn the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and what else you need to do to take care of your body.
YOU HAVE GOT TO FACE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND GET HELP!
If you think you may be pregnant, whatever you do, if you are using drugs, tobacco or alcohol then STOP! These substances can hurt your baby. From this point on you need to take very good care of yourself so your baby will have a great chance at life. A physician or nurse can talk to you more about how to take care of yourself.
GET THE FACTS TO HELP YOU DECIDE!
Parenting
Having a baby will lead to a decrease in your social life. Fact: If
you have decided to parent your child, your social life will change!
Rather than being with your friends and going on dates, you will have
to stay home with your child. You will have to feed, bathe and care in
all ways for your child unless your parents agree to do that for you.
There will be late night feedings and times when your child is sick and
you are up all night with him/her. It is not so easy to go to school
the next day with no sleep.- You will have to depend on your parents. Fact: Most likely you have been looking forward to the time that you will be able to move out of your parent’s home and be on your own. If you decide to parent your child you will need help from your parents. This means that you will probably have to live with them and continue to follow their rules and guidelines. It will be very hard to be expected to be an adult when it comes to the care of your child but still be a teenager when it comes to following your parent’s rules. Just because you have a child does not usually relax your parent’s authority. In fact, it usually makes them stricter because they do not want to see you make another mistake.
- You will get attention from your friends. Fact: You probably will get attention from your friends. Some will look “down” on you and make you feel stupid for getting pregnant. Others will probably think you are really grown up because you are pregnant. But the fact is, they will go back to their lives of dating and having fun, after the newness of your situation has worn off and you will still be dealing with a child.
- You will remain in contact with the birth father. Who knows?: Parenting does not guarantee that the birth father will still be in your life. Unfortunately in our society, birth fathers usually still get the easy way out. If the birth father of your baby is still in your life then you are very lucky; however both of you still have a lot of growing and changing to do. There will not be time for the fun activities that you shared before the pregnancy. You will both have the new responsibilities of parenthood. In addition, there may be a strain among your families because each family is blaming the other family for the fact that you are pregnant.
Adoption
- You are giving life to your baby. Fact: This is obviously true. But it’s the best part. You are giving your child LIFE.
- You will know your baby is being taken care of. Fact: you can receive pictures and updates of your child and you will be able to see that your child is being taken care of, loved and that the child is happy.
- You can resume your childhood after the baby is placed with an adoptive family. Fact: You can finish high school, go onto college and be independent of your parents. You can continue to go to Friday night football games and to movies and dances with your friends.
Abortion
- Abortion is a quick and easy fix. Fiction: Although abortion might seem to be a quick and easy fix, the fact is, it is not. Just a few of the risks for abortion are tearing of the cervix, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility, miscarriages and premature births later in your life. The physical problems are just part of it. Those women who have had an abortion report greater incidences of depression later in life and often suffer emotionally for the rest of their life.
- You will be ending your baby’s life. Fact: This is true. Your baby is a human being and has the right to live and breathe and experience all that life has to offer. Don’t let anyone tell you that the precious life you are carrying is “just a mass of cells”. If you end your baby’s life you will never know if he or she had your nose or the birth father’s eyes. You will never see your baby grow and play and be happy. You will always wonder about these things.