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Young People - Teenage Pregnancies
Small additions mean big changesA baby can be a source of great joy and satisfaction but, babies also make great demands on a parent's time, energy and money. For teenagers having a baby can have far-reaching effects. It may mean:
- New decisions and challenges such as deciding about marriage; changing education and career plans; finding a place to live; learning to handle finances.
- Increased responsibilities such as taking care of all of a baby's physical needs - feeding, changing, bathing, dressing; providing the love and attention a baby needs to thrive; caring for a baby that's crying, fussy or sick.
Important choices
It's important for teenagers to be sexually responsible. This means preventing unwanted or unplanned pregnancies by:
- Choosing not to have sex - if you are not ready or if you don't feel its right for your relationship, say 'No' - the choice is yours. It shouldn't be based on pressure from peers or your companion.
- Taking necessary precautions. If you decide to have sex, but don't want children, preventing pregnancy is your responsibility.
Sexual responsibility involves making important choices - learn more so you can make wise decisions about your life.
The demands of parenthood
Teenage parents face some special problems and challenges. Parenthood can affect many aspects of a teenager's life. For example:
- Physical health. Complications during pregnancy are more likely among teenage girls because their bodies may not yet be physically mature even though they're able to have children. The baby's health may be affected too.
- Emotional health. Adjusting to the demands of child care can be stressful - especially for young, single parents unfamiliar with parenting skills. School and/or job responsibilities can make additional demands on time.
- Social life. Infants and young children must be cared for 24 hours a day. This can make dating, visiting friends, etc, inconvenient. It can also be expensive, if a babysitter must be paid.
- Financial matters. Many teenagers lack the education and experience needed to get adequate jobs. Even with help from human service agencies or family members, there may not be enough money to live without financial strain.
Help is available to deal with any problems that occur but, by learning about pregnancy and using contraception, or abstaining from sex, these problems can be avoided altogether.
How does pregnancy occur?
- Pregnancy results when sperm unites with the woman's ripe egg.
- During sexual intercourse, millions of microscopic sperm are released from the man's penis into the woman's vagina. Each sperm has a tail which it uses to swim.
- Once sperm are inside the vagina, they swim through the cervix into the uterus and then continue up the fallopian tubes.
- Fertilisation (conception) occurs if a sperm cell unites with a ripe egg. The fertilised egg attaches to the uterus, where a baby begins to form by cell division.
- Pregnancy is the nine-month time span during which the fertilised egg develops into a baby.
- If the egg is not fertilised, it passes out of the woman's body. With it goes the lining of the uterus that has developed to nourish a fertilised egg. This is known as menstruation, or having a period.
There are many methods of contraception available. Contraception (birth control) means taking steps to prevent pregnancy. In selecting a contraceptive, you should consider convenience, cost and effectiveness. Methods available include:
- The Pill. One must be taken by the woman every day. There are several types available, but all contain hormones that prevent conception by stopping the egg from being released or by changing the lining of the uterus so the fertilised egg can't attach.
- The IUD (Intrauterine Device). A physician inserts a plastic device (sometimes wrapped in copper) into the uterus. It may work by causing chemical changes in the uterus or by preventing fertilised eggs from lodging there - no one knows for sure.
- The Diaphragm. A thin rubber cup is inserted by the woman before having intercourse. The diaphragm fits over the cervix, blocking the opening to the uterus. A cream or jelly is used inside the cup to kill sperm.
- The Condom. A rubber sheath fits over the man's erect penis to prevent sperm from entering the vagina. They are widely available; no prescription is required and it is the most effective method after the pill and the IUD.
- The Chemical barrier. A sperm-killing foam, cream, tablet or suppository is inserted into the vagina before intercourse.
