Initially after having heard that a teenager is bearing a child or has gotten another teen pregnant, the family may have mixed reactions. Generally, these range from the mildly upset and disappointed down to more serious, angry reactions that may result in a gap between the parent and the teenager. For teenage boys, the complications may not be as serious as those for teenage girls but for the parents, it is generally the same rollercoaster ride of emotions.
The link between family pressure and teenage pregnancy problems are easily established when analyzing what usually happens in a family upon hearing the news of the teen pregnancy.
Initial Reactions
Upon hearing that your teen is pregnant, you may be experiencing a variety of emotions. Feeling that you have not done your part or have not done enough to prevent the problem is common as well as feelings of grief, disappointment, shock and denial. After accepting the situation, it is important to keep a level head to be able to support your child.
Consequences of the Pregnancy
Being the parent, your teen needs your guidance now more than ever. There are consequences related to family pressure and teenage pregnancy. Medical complications such as low birth weight and premature babies are also common in teen pregnancies. Without an open line to you, your teen may put her and her baby at risk because she has no one to turn to.
How to Help
The consequences of family pressure and teenage pregnancy may be avoided. It is important that you are there to support your child physically and emotionally. Without your advice, your child may not be aware of proper practices that are important for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant teens are more susceptible to complications, so your role is vital in ensuring that she is emotionally and physically equipped to handle it.

With continuously evolving technology, teens are subjected to so many confusing signals regarding their health and well-being. Teenage pregnancy is a controversial issue that is now on the rise due to misleading media signals and bad celebrity role models.
Although parents are caught in the crossfire between new media and its influence on their children, one good place to start researching about how to deal with the problem is from available publications or ending teenage pregnancy magazine articles.
Why They Think it is “Cool”
The problem now is not just the practice of unsafe or unprotected sex. The problem is that some children actually want to become teenage mothers and they decide on their own to have babies at a very young age. Because of movies such as “Knocked Up” and “Juno”, as well as teen mothers such as Nickelodeon’s Jamie Lynn Spears, misguided teens start thinking that being a young single mother is the “in” thing.
Positive Uses of Media
While media may send confusing signals, it may also be used to do some good. Ending teenage pregnancy magazine articles may help the family find out the causes, various effects and solutions to a steadily rising problem. Reliable websites may also lead towards an accredited organization which helps families deal with these sensitive topics.
Be Your Child’s Basis
Overall, it is important for the parents to be able to be the first source of information for their children. They should be the basis for acceptable sexual and social behavior. Moral values are always important to be passed on to the younger generation. That being said, researching about the trends and current issues surrounding the topic is always an asset for parents. Ending teenage pregnancy magazine articles which come from reliable publications such as the TIME magazine are a good source of information.

All studies show that teen pregnancies are not beneficial to any of the parties involved. There are many consequences of teenage pregnancy and it is important to inform children beforehand in order for them to make a responsible choice.
Effects on the Mother
Subjecting a young body to the demands of pregnancy may result in a number of health complications to both the mother and the new baby. Pregnant teens are more prone to suffering high blood pressure, which may lead to a condition called “pre-eclampsia” or pregnancy induced hypertension. This is a serious condition which may lead to pregnancy complications.
How it Affects the Baby
The consequences of teenage pregnancy also include the baby’s well-being. The babies born to teenage mothers are prone to being born prematurely. They are also more likely to be born underweight. Both of these conditions increase the chances that they will need special medical attention.
Financial Consequences on the Family
Both present and future financial costs are affected by teenage pregnancies. Both the child and the young mother are more likely to have health complications as a result of the pregnancy, these costs may be significantly higher when compared to planned adult pregnancies.
Two out of three pregnant teens drop out of high school and 80% of them rely on welfare as consequences of teenage pregnancy. Teen births are often causes for lower annual incomes for both the teen mother and the father. Teen fathers are also more prone to substance abuse and excessive alcohol intake due to the added pressure of providing for their young family.
Due to the fact that only a small fraction of teen mothers are actually married to the baby’s father, her family will have to deal with the additional costs of providing for both her and the new baby.

Being exposed to new forms of media, modern teens are growing up faster than ever before. There are a number of reasons why teenage pregnancies are more rampant now but one of the most prominent reasons is that parents are not yet well equipped to guide their teens on how to make well informed decisions.
Peer Pressure
Peers are still among the top causes of teen pregnancies. Reports say that three out of four girls initially agree to having sex because their boyfriends ask them to. It may be because they are not fully aware of the cause and effect of teenage pregnancies, however, there are also cases wherein the teenagers themselves want to have children because of “pregnancy pacts” with their friends.
Media and its Effect on Teenagers
Stars such as Jamie Lynn Spears, star of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 show, makes teen pregnancies look glamorous and ideal. Reports show that because of the media exposure, teen pregnancies seem more acceptable to young girls. This makes them think that it is alright to get pregnant without really knowing the cause and effect of teenage pregnancies.
Starting in the Home
Studies show that children of teenage mothers are more likely to be teenage parents themselves. By not making children aware of the cause and effect of teenage pregnancies, they are more likely to make impulsive choices with regards to their health and well-being.
By not keeping an open line between parents and their teenage children, issues such as “Sexting” (which means sending sexually suggestive text messages, videos or photos to peers) may influence the child to make uninformed choices. Information regarding acceptable norms in a child’s sexual well-being should first come from the home. Studies show that parents are still a child’s preference and primary source of reliable relationship and sexual information.

There are many reasons why teenage pregnancy is getting quite commonplace in today’s society. Many talk shows and magazines feature teenage stars getting pregnant or having pregnancy scares of their own. Movies such as Juno and Knocked Up give teens an idea  that being a single mother is a good thing without showing them the reality and gravity of the situation. Trends in teenage pregnancies show that one out of a total of ten mothers are, in fact, only in their teens.
A Look at the Trends
Trends in teenage pregnancies speak a lot about the society. In a million teens between 15 to 19 years of age, three quarters become pregnant every year. Within this, two out of three teens are 18 to 19 years of age when they bear a child. The number of teen mothers actually amount to 11% of the total number of births in the United States.
Black teens account for 134 per 1,000 pregnancies. Hispanic women account for 131 per 1,000 and non-Hispanic white girls amount to 48 per 1,000 pregnancies.
Causes for Concern
The trends in teenage pregnancies are no doubt a cause for concern. While there are a few teens who are exceptions to the rule, most are still at risk. No studies indicate that it is ever healthy for a teen to be subjected to the demands of child bearing at an early age. Pregnant teens are more likely to drop out of school and babies from teen mothers are also more likely to require special care due to the nutrition they receive while they are in the womb.
Parental Support Matters
Parents play an essential role in lessening the occurrences of teen pregnancies. Studies show that teens are still more likely to turn to their parents for reliable information than to their peers.

The effects of teenage pregnancy does not stop with the family members of the teen mother. One of the most important things to be aware of is the effects of teenage pregnancy on the new baby.
Medical Consequences
Adolescent mothers are still developing themselves. By subjecting their bodies to bearing another life inside of them, there is higher risk for low birth weight and premature birth. Pregnant teens are also more likely to suffer nutritional deficiencies due to common adolescent eating habits, resulting in poor nutrition for the baby while inside the mother’s womb or pregnancy complications.
Teen mothers are also less likely to go for prenatal care. Because of this, their children are often more likely to be hospitalized or suffer a number of health issues. If they do succumb to health concerns, teens are less likely to have the means for high quality medical care.
Behavioral Effects on the Baby
The effects of teenage pregnancy also encompass the baby’s emotional development. Behavioral issues and developmental problems are more likely to occur in children who are born to teenage mothers. Studies show that teen mothers are more likely to forego mental and emotional stimulation exercises such as smiling, touching and verbal communication. The teen mothers are also less likely to be sensitive to the specific needs of the child.
Another study found that adult females who receive more social support than teens are less likely to show anger towards their child.
Educational Disadvantages
The effects of teenage pregnancy also matter in terms of the child’s brain development. Children born to teenage mothers are more prone to poor academic performance. Many of them fail to finish secondary school. They are likely to get low scores on standardized exams and be held back a school year than those who are born to adult parents.

It may not be a subject that parents are well aware of, but there is an alarming rise in “pregnancy pacts” among teens. Girls are now deciding to get pregnant on their own instead of avoiding it. This may be due to how glamorous pregnancy is portrayed by movies or teen stars like Nickelodeon’s Jamie Lynn Spears. These young girls may not be aware about the impact their choice may have on all the members of the family.
Younger Brothers
The effect of teenage pregnancy on family is not always easy to see. However, it is able to affect even younger siblings of the teen mother or father. For siblings who are in their preteens (or younger), they are more likely to resent their older sister or the new baby due to the amount of attention they are receiving.
One study showed that younger brothers of the teen mother are more tolerant of early and non-marital pregnancies. They are also more likely to exhibit high risk behaviors.
Younger Sisters
For younger sisters of those who became teen mothers, studies show that they too are less likely to put importance on their education or employment. They were more likely to accept early parenthood, marriage and premarital sex. Those who have spent babysitting their nephews or nieces at an early age were found to be more susceptible to getting pregnant at an early age themselves. The effect of teenage pregnancy on family starts a very problematic trend for all those involved.
Parents
The parents are usually the ones who feel overwhelmed when they find out their teen is pregnant or has gotten someone pregnant. The effect of teenage pregnancy on family is the top concern, however, parents must also be able to get past the negative feelings in order to effectively support the family at this critical time.

The problem is prominent in all parts of the United States, however, each and every state has a different way of dealing with the rising problem. Teens in Columbus Ohio have several options when it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancies as well as getting help for them and their new baby.
The Problem in Numbers
Taking into account the teenage pregnancy Columbus Ohio will give an idea regarding the state of the country in terms of the occurrence of teenage pregnancy. The Ohio Department of Health reports that there is a 3% increase in teen pregnancies from 2005 to 2006. This declined in 2007 but it rose again in the year 2008.
Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio CEO Lisa Perks has confirmed that the financial support for these teenage pregnancy programs has declined dramatically in recent years.
Programs That May Help
Teenage pregnancy Columbus Ohio is taken seriously by the state and has resulted in the launch of programs such as the Ohio Prevention First Act. The act makes sure that insurance companies which cover prescriptions also apply that to birth control prescriptions.
It is a means to end, or keep to a minimum, the vicious cycle of child welfare. One out of three welfare cases involving children stemmed from teen pregnancies. These children usually find themselves in foster care and are more likely to be teen parents themselves.
The Coalition for Family Health ranked Ohio as the 48th in terms of reproductive health service accessibility.
Organizations to Turn To
Agencies such as the Huckleberry House may be the lifeline of those who fall under teenage pregnancy Columbus Ohio. The agency mainly provides a place for runaways but also ended up caring for runaway mothers. A total of 16 out of the 24 kids in their transitional program are actually single parents.

To be able to determine just how society affects the younger generation, it is important to analyze the statistics related to common teen issues. One such important and controversial topic is the rise in teen pregnancy. In 2006, the Guttmacher Institute has conducted a study which includes the statistics of teenage pregnancies.
What the Numbers Say
One in ten births that occur in the United States actually involve a teen mother. Three out of four million teens aged 15 to 19 years old become pregnant every year. This collectively results in 11% of the total number of births in the whole country.
Black teens are the most likely to get pregnant when compared to those of a Hispanic descent and non-Hispanic white females.
Overall, the statistics of teenage pregnancies in the US has twice the number of teen pregnancies when compared to Canada, England or Wales. It is eight times higher when compared to Japan or the Netherlands.
Complications and Abortion
Because of the nature of the teen mothers, the statistics of teenage pregnancies related to medical issues are different from those based on older pregnant females. Considering teen pregnancies as a whole, 57% of these end in birth. Due to the quality of health care received during this critical period, 14% of the pregnancies result in a miscarriage.
Because of it being unplanned, nearly one third (29%) of these teens resort to abortion.
Education for the Teen Mother
In the past, teens are less likely to finish high school once they become pregnant. With the help of government programs and organizations, more teen mothers are able to attend high school or earn a GED at present, however, they are still less likely to get a college diploma than those who do not get pregnant, opting to work or take care of their child instead.

Talking to your children about sex and pregnancy is often a very awkward subject. However, it is important that parents are the first sources of information. This will equip teens with the necessary know how to be able to make responsible and informed decisions in order to be able to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
Know How to Listen
Be involved in your teen’s life. Preventing teenage pregnancy is all about knowing what your teen needs to be able to make a responsible, informed decision. Ask them how their day was and be a good listener. Be approachable so that they come to you when they are having problems. Get involved in your teen’s interests and establish an open line between them.
Set Reasonable Boundaries
Only 12% of teens say that friends are more reliable when it comes to sex and birth control. You have the power to set boundaries for preventing teenage pregnancy.
Encourage sports and other worthwhile hobbies in order to lessen the focus on early serious dating. Give them a reason to abstain. Most girls refrain from having sex because of the moral values that were taught to them.
Tell them why it is important to use protection if they do decide to have sex. Give them a reasonable curfew and a fair set of rules.
Dare to Dream
Preventing teenage pregnancy is a two way street. You will also have to show responsibility in handling your own relationships so that your child has a good basis on what acceptable behavior is.
Build your child’s confidence and encourage them to dream. Find out what they want to achieve in their lives and show them support. Give them an idea of how good life can be if they make the responsible choice today instead of being a teen parent.