Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

There are many challenges that come with teenage pregnancy. From putting your plans and goals on hold to not having enough money to support a child and much more, teenage pregnancy can bring many issues and challenges.

Adoption is one of your options that answers many of the questions and challenges that come with your pregnancy.

Call 1-800-ADOPTION to get immediate support or fill out our form to learn more about the challenges of teenage pregnancy and how adoption can help.

What Are the Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy?

There are likely many more challenges of teenage pregnancy than you realize. Here’s a look at the different issues and challenges teenage pregnancy can bring when deciding what is best for you:

Emotional Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

Figuring out how you feel about your situation is a challenge of teenage pregnancy. From feelings of shock and stress to being excited and hopeful, any emotions you feel are completely normal and valid.

In terms of the emotional challenges of teenage pregnancy, you will need to sort through your feelings to decide what comes next. With the spectrum of emotions you may feel varying widely, talking to a pregnancy counselor can get you unbiased support to help you determine how you feel.

Knowing how you truly feel about your pregnancy can help lead you in the direction you want to go. At the end of the day, what you do with your pregnancy is your choice. Only you can know what’s best for your situation.

Financial Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

When it comes to teenage pregnancy issues and challenges, finances are a challenge of teenage pregnancy because most teens don’t yet support themselves.

As a teen, if you’re not yet financially independent yourself, adding a baby into the equation can make life much more difficult to support yourself and your baby.

Of your three options for your pregnancy, adoption is always free for you but abortion and parenting come with cost.

Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, it can be anywhere from $500-$2,000 because of the various medical factors that play a part in determining total cost. 

Parenting is by far the most expensive choice of the three. To raise a child through the age of 18, the average cost from the most recent report from the United States Department of Agriculture was $233,610.

If finances are an issue for you, call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak to someone immediately. You can also reach out to us online to learn more about dealing with the various challenges of teenage pregnancy.

Social Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy impacts every aspect of your life and social challenges will arise.

Some stigmas come with teenage pregnancy. Acquaintances, friends, family and even your partner may have various opinions about it and even your situation.

Although what you decide to do is ultimately your choice to make, having a strong support system, from your close circle to healthcare professionals, is important. They will be there for you and whatever you decide is best for your situation.

Another social challenge of teenage pregnancy has to do with your social life. Relationships are important and when it comes to the relationships you have, they will be affected by your pregnancy as time goes on and the choices you make.

Teen pregnancy can bring many changes, ranging from fatigue and mood swings, to impacting what you can or cannot do depending on how far along you are.

Physical Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

Depending on the choice you make, your physical health will be impacted during and after the pregnancy. Here’s a look at common physical challenges of teenage pregnancy:

First Trimester

• Breasts may become larger and more tender

• Needing to urinate more often

• Feeling very tired

• Feeling nauseous

• Having heartburn or indigestion

• Gaining or losing a few pounds

• And much more

Second Trimester

• Your abdomen beginning to expand

• Feeling the fetus move

• The skin on your abdomen stretches

• Your abdomen may ache on one side or the other

• Your feet and ankles may swell

• And much more

Third Trimester

• Feeling the fetus's movements strongly

• Possibly being short of breath

• Needing to urinate more often as the fetus drops and puts extra pressure on your bladder

• Protruding navel

• Contractions that signal false or real labor

• And much more

In addition to the physical challenges of teenage pregnancy you’ll experience in the three trimesters, there are also health risks with pregnancy and childbirth at a young age. Those risks include:

• Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

• Anemia

• Gestational hypertension

Consulting with a medical professional as soon as you learn about your pregnancy can help you learn more about these risks and how to mitigate them.

Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy at School

Being a teenager in high school is a journey in itself. You are growing into adulthood and navigating through life. The challenges of teenage pregnancy in high school can also impact your future.

Keeping up with your school work is hard enough, let alone adding parenting a newborn into that situation. If you have personal and professional aspirations, like going to college or starting a career, those will need to take a back seat to raising your child.

Parenting is a huge responsibility and requires constant time, effort and attention.

Learn more about what the challenges of teenage pregnancy are, and your options moving forward, by filling out this form.

Your Teenage Pregnancy Options in Iowa

If you want to avoid the challenges of teenage pregnancy, you have options. Those options are:  

Parenting

Becoming a parent is a big responsibility. Your parents cannot make you become a parent and no one else can decide for you.

Parenting means putting your own goals and interests on hold to raise your baby, keeping them safe and doing everything with their well-being in mind while giving them all the opportunities possible for them to be successful. Although parenting becomes easier as your baby gets older, you will always feel that responsibility.

If you understand what goes into being a parent, like the financial challenges of teenage pregnancy, and want to keep the baby, then parenting is an option for you. If you’re not ready to be a parent, that’s OK too.

Abortion

Abortion is an option for your pregnancy if you are not ready to parent or do not want the baby. But as a minor in Iowa, the challenges of teenage pregnancy and abortion include:

• Needing to be under 21 weeks, 6 days pregnant to be able to get an abortion

• Notifying a legal parent or guardian if you’re under the age of 18 to get an abortion

• Getting a judicial bypass if notifying a parent or guardian isn’t possible

Adoption

Adoption is always an option no matter what your circumstances are. Choosing adoption means:

• A brighter future for you and your baby

• Help with rent and bills

• A loving family for your baby

Although the challenges of teenage pregnancy can seem like a lot, choosing to give up your baby for adoption means you are putting the best interests of your baby first. It’s a brave, selfless decision.

And while “giving up” is commonly used when talking about adoption, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Adoption for your baby means:

• A safe and supportive environment

• A lasting connection through open adoption

• The opportunity to receive the education you want for them

• The ability to pursue their dreams

• A life full of love

• And much more

Choosing adoption with us puts you in charge of the entire operation. You’ll make all the calls while we do the heavy lifting for you.

As a full-service, national adoption agency, we can help you find the perfect family for your baby with all the services you need to complete an adoption under one roof.

Contact us online to get more free information now about how we can give you the support you deserve. If you need immediate help, call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak to someone. 

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