The Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on the Young Mother and Child

Teenage pregnancy is something that occurs everyday. Television shows, such as 16 and Pregnant , Teen Mom and many others expose the harsh reality of being a child and also trying to raise one. Coming from a mother who was pregnant at sixteen and living in a single parent home, I know firsthand on how long lasting the effects are of the parents mistakes are on the child.

Everyone knows how it happens. It may be an accident, but it also may be because of ignorance. Teenage pregnancy does not only affect the lives of the parents, but it also affects the child.When a young girl becomes pregnant, it does not only alter her life, but it also alters the life of the unborn child. When someone so young carries a child, it may cause problems for both the mother and the baby.

Throughout the pregnancy and even after birth, many face problems such as delivery complications, malnourished, and mental illnesses such as, anxiety and depression. All women are not made the same, so delivery can be different for each individual. Some can give birth perfectly fine, however, others may have complications and have to go through an emergency c-section. When age becomes a factor, most doctors become very concerned. Also the doctors begin monitoring the baby real close to make sure there are no signs of poor health.When someone so young and not yet fully developed, conceives a child the chances of a perfect, healthy baby are very slim. Malnourished becomes a big problem for most teenage mothers infants. It is very important for the mother to be healthy so in return, a healthy baby is produced. Into the life of a child from toddler up to teens, some find that the child has a mental illness. Depression, bipolar disorder to anxiety and much more have been recorded.

They do not have many life experiences to fall back on when trying to teach their own children. People expect teen moms to do it all, yet often aren’t able or willing to help out or offer a hand.