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Teen pregnancy: Help your teen handle pregnancy
Teen pregnancy can have a profound impact on a teen's life. Help your teen understand the options, health risks and challenges ahead.
By Mayo Clinic staffTeen pregnancy can be one of the most difficult experiences a teen ever faces, but there are steps you can take to help your daughter deal with teen pregnancy. Understand how to support your teen as she faces the consequences of teen pregnancy.
Provide support
Teen pregnancy is often a crisis for a young girl and her family, as well as the baby's father and his family. Common reactions include anger, guilt and denial. Your teen may also experience anxiety, fear, shock and depression. Your teen needs your love, guidance and support now more than ever. Talk to your teen about what she's feeling and the choices ahead.
Discuss the options
A pregnant teen — along with her parents, the father of the baby and his parents — has a few options to consider:
- Keep the baby. Many pregnant teens keep their babies. Some marry the baby's father and raise the baby together. Others rely on family support to raise the baby. Finishing school and getting a good job can be difficult for a teen parent. If your daughter is thinking about keeping the baby, make sure she truly understands the challenges and responsibilities involved.
- Give the baby up for adoption. Some pregnant teens continue their pregnancies and give their babies up for adoption. If your daughter is considering adoption, help her explore the different types of adoption available. Also discuss the emotional consequences of giving a baby up for adoption.
- End the pregnancy. Some pregnant teens choose to end their pregnancies. If your daughter is considering abortion, make sure she understands the risks and the emotional consequences. Keep in mind that some states require parental notification for a legal abortion.
Encourage your pregnant teen to talk to her health care provider or an expert in pregnancy counseling about all of the options.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Chacko MR. Pregnancy in adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2009.
- Teen pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. http://www.stayteen.org/get-informed/default.aspx. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- Teen pregnancy. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. http://www.4parents.gov/sexrisky/teen_preg/teen_preg.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- Especially for teens: Having a baby. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp103.cfm. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- When children have children. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=When+Children+Have+Children§ion=Facts+for+Families. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- One in three: The case for wanted and welcomed pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/pdf/CaseStatement.pdf. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- Consequences of unplanned pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/FactSheet-Consequences.pdf. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- Teenage pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1159.asp. Accessed Aug. 6, 2009.
- Hollman D, et al. Fatherhood in adolescence. Pediatrics in Review. 2008;29:364.
- Committee to Reexamine IOM Pregnancy Weight Guidelines, Food and Nutrition Board, and Board on Children, Youth and Families. Weight gain during pregnancy: Reexamining the guidelines. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. http://www.nap.edu. Accessed Aug. 7, 2009.
