Unfortunately, there are too many negative consequences when a child is growing up too fast. One of the most serious is unexpected teen pregnancy. Girls often hurry to grow up. They try on their mothers’ shoes and dresses, rouge and stare at the respectable men. More than 1 million girls a year gets pregnant before celebrating the 18th birthday and only 15% of them give birth.
The results of the sexual revolution of the 1960s are quite unpleasant – starting from that time, the number of teen pregnancies in the USA and Europe was only increasing. At the beginning of the XXI century, through joint efforts of psychologists, doctors and teachers, the number of teenage pregnancies was reduced. In the US, 30 out of 1,000 girls give birth before they turn 18. Annually, more than 40,000 girls under the age of 17 have an abortion. According to statistics, approximately 40% of senior school students at the age of 15 are sexually active and only 15% of them use contraceptives.
Frequently, early birth among girls who are 14-17 years old is a consequence of ignorance and carelessness of youth. According to US sociologists, 22% percent of pregnancies occur during the first month of sexual activity. Girls under the age of 14 often get pregnant as a result of being raped or seduced by an adult, in most cases it is somebody from relatives or neighbors.
Teen pregnancy cannot be compared with a regular pregnancy, since it has its own characteristics and specific problems. Young girls are more fertile than older women, their reproductive system is not damaged, conception occurs rapidly, sometimes the egg is released before the first menstrual period. A 17-18 year-old mother, whose menarche began at the age of 10, and the conception occurred during the first months of sexual activity, will most likely give birth to a healthy and strong baby. Especially, if she eats healthy food, eliminates alcohol and nicotine.
In the meantime, the body of a teenager is not quite ready for pregnancy – pelvic bones are still insufficiently expanded, hormones are not stabilized, growth of the body has not been completed. Young mothers at high risk of miscarriage, toxemia, maternal and infant mortality – among girls younger than 15 years, the probability of dying during pregnancy or childbirth is twice higher than in adults. Anemia, inadequate weight gain, premature birth, low weight, hypoxia and birth trauma are the less dangerous complications.
Teenage mothers often have a very irresponsible attitude to their own health, they do not take vitamins, do not pass inspections, drink alcohol, smoke or eat unhealthy food. Teen pregnancy also causes a lot of problems with studying process. Most probably, young mother will be studying at home or attend evening classes few years after. Financial problems are also worth being mentioned.
In such cases, abortion is not a solution, since it leads to more serious consequences. Among the possible complications – bleeding, perforation of the uterus, ovaries and adhesions in the tubes, infertility and blood poisoning. The psychological effects of early abortion, especially against the wishes of young mothers, last for a lifetime. However, if a young mother got pregnant as a result of incest or being raped, continuation of the pregnancy can lead to serious mental illness or suicide.
All possible factors should be taken into account while making the decision whether to give birth or make an abortion, whether to keep the child or give it for adoption. It is necessary to consult with a gynecologist, a psychologist, and a social worker. Special attention should be paid to the opinion of a young mother, forcing her to give birth or abort the pregnancy may cause a lot of psychological traumas. Abortion should be done as early as possible in the best medical institution, that the family can afford. Artificial birth at later stages is extremely dangerous for the health and psyche.
It is sad, but the pregnancy of a teenage girl is the responsibility of her parents. They will have to control everything, from food and taking vitamins to doctor visits. Young mother needs a lot of support from her parents and relatives, heart-to-heart talks, joint trips and gatherings.
Yet, teen pregnancy is one of those issues, that is much easier to prevent than to solve. Even the most rigorous upbringing cannot keep a small lady from fatal mistakes, so it is necessary to talk not only about chastity and reasonable behavior, but also about contraception. All parents want to think, that their daughter is not yet matured, but, alas, from the beginning of puberty, no one is safe from unpleasant surprises.