A child may be a welcome addition to your life once you get over the initial surprise of being pregnant. It's a big decision to become a parent, and a huge responsibility. Many teenagers that get pregnant each year decide to parent a child.
There are many things to consider when deciding if parenting is the right decision for you. How will having a baby affect my daily life and my plans for the future? What does it cost to have and raise a baby? A toddler? A child? A teen? Do I have support from my family? My partner? Do I feel prepared to be a parent today and if not what can I do to feel more prepared? Do I know anyone who is a teen parent that I can talk to about the realities of being a teen parent?
For information on organizations in Minnesota that can help you be a better parent see the Your Rights section of this website.
Important information for pregnant and parenting.
Health Risks Specific to Teen Pregnancy: A baby born to a teenage mother is more at risk of certain serious problems than a baby born to an older mother including low birthweight, toxemia (high-blood pressure), premature labor, miscarriage and death of mother or infant during childbirth. Additionally, 3 million teens are infected with a sexually transmitted infection. These include syphilis (which can cause infant blindness, maternal death, and death of the infant), chlamydia (which can cause infant blindness) and HIV (the virus which causes AIDS).
Education: Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school than girls who delay childbearing. Fewer than half of teenagers who have children before age 18 go on to graduate from high school.
Finances: Teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty than women who delay childbearing, and over 75% of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child.
Can you afford a baby – even for ONE YEAR?
Basic stuff = Hand-me-downs, sale items, etc.
Nicer stuff = New clothes, regularly priced items, etc.
Costs do not include any “extras” like toys, baby pictures, babysitters, movies, medications, birthday parties, or holiday gifts.
Child Support: All children are legally entitled to child support from their father or mother, even if the parents are not married or the father did not want the mother to carry the child to term. Child Support is a monthly payment, paid by the parent who does not have custody of the child.
Paternity: Unmarried fathers will want to sign a paternity form as soon as the child is born to acknowledge that they are the baby’s father. Signing a paternity form is the first step in legally establishing your relationship. Without your signature on the paternity form, you will not be able to pursue visitation and custody rights. In fact, you may lose any and all rights to be a part of your child’s life. If you choose not to sign the paternity form, a court may force you to take a blood test to prove paternity at anytime until the child is 18.
Lack of Sleep: On average, a parent sleeps 350 hours less at night over their baby’s first year of life than they did the previous year. Many parents are taken aback by how exhausted they feel during those first weeks and months. Newborns usually require constant attention – they need to eat every hour or two and have their diapers changed just about as often. Most new parents will talk about how tired they are all of the time. You will care for your child all day and all night most of the time. Your child’s needs will now have to come before your own. It’s important that you love and nurture your baby even when your baby is being difficult or you haven’t had any sleep. It is extremely important to know how to control your reactions when you feel angry or frustrated, no matter how upset or tired you feel.
Stages of Growth: Babies won’t always be babies. Within a year, your baby will be walking around. By the age of two they will be talking, by three running and by four they will be able to play catch. In five years he or she will go to kindergarten. Teens should consider how the stages of their child’s life impact their own personal goals.
Support from others: Consider the support you will have from family and friends. For example, do you think that they will be able to help you when you need sleep or extra help because you or the baby is sick and you have missed too many days of work or school? Can you talk with them about your questions or needs as a parent? Will they be able to help you with childcare while you are at work or school? If you don’t think you have the help you need from family and friends find out if there are other resources or people who you could connect with to help you.
For information on organizations in Minnesota that can help you be a better parent see the Your Rights section of this website.
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Teen Parenting |
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