2. Reproductive Life Planning

3. What is your plan for the future?
Educational goals?
Career goals?
Travel/mission trips?
Goals, dreams and aspirations?
Financial security?
Marriage/a committed relationship?
Becoming a parent?
Examples:
Education, career, travel, financial security, marriage and family, children….
Raise you hand if these are things that you already think about and look toward now?
What is something that could happen in your life that could get you off-track from working toward these goals? Anybody want to guess?

4. Unintended pregnancy
Let’s see what you already know about unintended pregnancy and teens in NC…
Unintended pregnancy basically means a pregnancy was not planned, it was “mis-timed”
Unintended pregnancy in your teens or, in general, before you are ready could greatly impact your goals for your future.
“Let’s see what you already know about unintended pregnancy and teens here in NC…”
Have students take pre-test; complete on their own; then go over aloud as a group, allowing students to call out what they think is the right answer.
This is usually pretty eye-opening for many students.

5. Do you want to be a parent some day, but way off in the future?
So, do YOU have a plan?
Do you want to be a parent some day, but way off in the future?
Do you not want to become a parent?
Are you making choices now that could put yourself at risk for an unplanned pregnancy?
So, do YOU have a plan?
Which of these questions fit you best? (Read questions off slide)
Have you started thinking about some of those goals we talked about a few slides back? And have you thought about when or if children will fit into the vision you have for your future?
Notes:
Students may feel like they fit into multiple categories, at different times in their lives. Some students may think that teen pregnancy/parenthood can’t happen to them, so it’s something interesting for them to consider.

6. So, let’s talk about it… Pregnancy intendedness
As we learned in the pre-test, about half of all pregnancies are unintended. This is true both nationwide and statewide.
For adolescents that number is even higher.
Among year olds the unintended pregnancy rate was just over 58% in 2011.
(OPTIONAL) Here is something to think about...surveys show that most teens and young adults agree that pregnancy should be planned, but they are not taking adequate measures to prevent pregnancy or STIs. (Abstinence or birth control/condoms)

7. Unintended pregnancies:
What’s the big deal?
Babies are more likely to:
Be born too small
Be born too early
Die before their first birthday
There are some very important reasons why unintended pregnancies are a big deal…(read slide)
Some reasons for this are that:
Young women may enter pregnancy with undiagnosed medical conditions – such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure – OR they might be taking medications that are not safe during pregnancy.
Young women may enter pregnancy with risky health behaviors – such as smoking, drinking, not taking folic acid (a B vitamin that can help prevent certain birth defects – found in multivitamins).
Young women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to get early prenatal care (the care women receive during their pregnancy). This can be because they may be afraid to tell their parents or they may want to hide their pregnancy from others. But early prenatal care is very important for the health of both the mom and baby.

8. What is a Reproductive Life Plan?
Part of an overall LIFE plan
Determining when (and if) having children fits into your life plan
Taking steps to being well (physically, emotionally, and financially) BEFORE starting a family
So, let’s talk about Reproductive Life Plans (RLPs)….what are they? (Read Slide)
All young women and men should have a RLP in some form.
And keep in mind that your Reproductive Life Plan may change over the years, simply because as you grow older and experience more things, your life goals and your perspective may change. So you should re-evaluate your RLP every year.

9. Your overall LIFE plan What are your personal goals? Education
Job/career
Romantic partnership
Friends
Life experiences
Values
To develop a RLP, you really must first think about your OVERALL LIFE PLAN.
What things do you want out of life? What goals have you set for yourself?
At your age, it’s very normal to be living in the “here and now” and not be thinking too far ahead. And not be thinking about how choices you make now can have a big impact on your future! But you have probably had at least SOME thoughts about it, even if you’ve never put them down on paper….So let’s put them down on paper now!
Activity: Have students fill out the front side of the ADOLESCENT Reproductive Life Plan.
Give them a few minutes to do this. And continue on to next slide as they are filling this out.

10. If and when… Do you want to become a parent someday?
If yes, at what age?
If yes, what other accomplishments do you want to achieve first?
If yes, what would you like to have in place first?
Read the slide as students are filling out their sheet….
You’ll notice that this sheet also asks you to think about IF and WHEN you want to become a parent (read questions from slide)
Keep in mind that teen parents are more likely to have less education and higher rates of poverty.

11. If and when…
If you want to be a parent at some point, how many children would you like to have?
How far apart would you like your children to be spaced ?
Now think about the IF and WHEN a little further….(read slide)
Notes:
Most experts recommend that there should be at least 18 months between the birth of one child and another pregnancy. Waiting 18 months decreases health risks to the mom and to the next pregnancy. However, for people planning to have more than one child, it's best to wait no more than five years between pregnancies.
So, I hope you are starting to see that Reproductive Life Planning is really about setting goals for your life, and then figuring out how, if, and when having children will fit into that vision you have for your future.
Now, let’s go one step further and actually plot your goals out a personal timeline.
15-20 year Timeline Activity:
Now ask them to reflect back on the personal goals they’ve already listed on the first sheet. Ask them to insert these goals into the timeline thinking through factors such as financial means, how long it takes to get a college or master’s degree and become established in a career (may have to work their way up). Or maybe they want to go a trade school or go into the military. Then ask them to be go back and fill in when they’d like to see themselves in a committed relationship, and when they might want to plan for having a child (or children), keeping in mind the birth spacing recommendation for more than one child.
Give them about minutes to complete their timeline. When they are finished, depending on time limits, have some or all students that WANT to stand up and share theirs. Be encouraging. Keep in mind that some of their goals may seem impractical or not feasible, but the idea is to let them figure this out on their own and as you go further in the lesson. This is something they can take home and continue to work on.
Once the students that want to have shared their timeline, say “Now, after doing this activity, ask yourself if you are living your life and making the appropriate choices NOW that would allow you to live out your goals in the way that you wish. If yes, then keep up the good work. If no, then start thinking about how you can do things differently to get to that point.”
“Just remember that delaying having children until you are ready – physically, emotionally and financially – can give your future family a healthier start.”
***Can stop here if need to divide lesson plan into 2 parts/classes

12. Being READY when the time is right!
Physically
Emotionally
Financially

13. Being Physically Healthy
Do you know your family medical history?
Do medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, obesity, or diabetes run in your family?
Do you carry the sickle cell trait?
Are YOU being treated for any medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, anxiety) or are you taking medications to manage any conditions?
First, let’s talk about physical health… (read from slide)
If you don’t know these answers, you should talk to your parents and family.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be at higher risk for health problems in the future, and this could affect the health of your future children, as well.

14. Being Physically Healthy
What was YOUR birth story?...
Were you a premature baby?
Were there complications with your birth?
Do you have biological siblings who are very close or very far apart in age?
Do you have biological siblings who were premature, have birth defects or other health problems?
Another part of physical health is knowing your own “birth story”… (read from slide)
This information will be important for your doctor to know later when you are ready to have your own kids and begin planning for a pregnancy. So, if you don’t know these answers, this is a great conversation to have with you parents.
If you were born prematurely, you are more likely to have a premature baby yourself. But of course, there are things doctors can do now to try to keep a baby from being born too early.
See Activity for writing your own birth story.

15. Being Physically Healthy
Take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day (females).
Get wellness checkups every year and regular dental checkups.
Eat healthy food, maintain a healthy weight and get/stay fit.
And here are some other ways to stay physically healthy… (read slide)
Remember, YOUR physical health now, whether you are male or female, can affect the health of your future baby.

16. Being Physically Healthy
Take any prescription drugs as directed and do not share them with others.
Don’t smoke (tobacco OR E-cigs products) and try to avoid secondhand smoke
Don’t drink alcohol.
Don’t use illegal drugs.
And some final reminders to keep you in good physical health…. (read slide)

17. Being Emotionally Healthy
Keep in mind that physical health and emotional health are very much connected…if one is good, the other is more likely to be good…if one is bad, the other is more likely to suffer, as well.
Find healthy ways to deal with stress and frustration!!
Now, let’s talk about emotional health… Read slide
Brainstorm Activity:
Part I: Using the blackboard or a flip chart – ask students “What are some things that stress you out or cause you frustration?” Write down what they say as they call things out.
Part II: Again, using the blackboard or a flip chart, ask students to brainstorm healthy ways that they COULD or that they DO deal with stress and frustration.
You may get answers like talking to a friend or an adult, journaling/writing, exercising, getting enough sleep, dancing, playing music, taking a hot shower or bath, etc.
OPTIONAL: Ask students if there are UNHEALTHY ways that they or someone they know may have dealt with stress…then you can turn it around to a healthier way to cope based on the list they just gave you.
You can also ask students to raise their hand if they have at least ONE adult in their life that they feel they could go to with ANYTHING. It could be a parent, teacher, counselor, coach, minister, etc… Hopefully all students raise their hand. Emphasize that while having friends to talk to is wonderful, it is so important to have at least ONE adult they can talk to about anything.

18. Being Emotionally Healthy
Let’s Talk About Relationships…
What are some signs of healthy relationships?
What are some signs of unhealthy relationships?
What do YOU want out of your relationships now and in the future?
Another part of good emotional health is having healthy relationships… (read slide)
Brainstorm Activity: Use the blackboard or a flip chart. Make 2 columns – one titled “Healthy” and one titled “Unhealthy”
Ask students to think about their own relationships – with friends, family, and if they are dating, think about that relationship, too. Ask them to also think about relationships they have observed around them between their parents, friends, an older brother or sister.
What are some behaviors they thought were healthy (like mutual respect, consideration, trust, good communication, etc.) and what are some behaviors they thought were unhealthy (like controlling, being possessive, teasing, criticizing, lying, etc)
Ask: “Do you think that someone can be in an unhealthy relationship and not realize it?”
After the brainstorm, ask the students if they have already started thinking about what characteristics they may want in a future mate or spouse?
And remember, an unhealthy relationship can be a source of a lot of stress and frustration!

19. Healthy Relationships
Embed video here…

20. Being Emotionally Healthy
Do you want to have a baby someday? 
How would a child affect your relationship with your partner? And the goals you both might have?
If you’re not in a relationship, are you prepared to raise a child without a partner? Who will help you?
So, let’s talk about emotional health and how it relates to reproductive life planning…
Do you want to have a baby someday? Think about what type of person you would want to start a family with. Remember you will likely be “tied” to this person forever.
How would a child affect your relationship with your partner? And the goals you both might have?
If you’re not in a relationship, are you prepared to raise a child without a partner? Who will help you?
Being a parent is a full-time job. Before you start a family, think about the emotional and lifestyle issues you will face as a parent. It’s important for you and your partner to agree on most of the major issues, or begin discussing your differences, before you bring children into the picture. Only you can decide when and if you're emotionally ready for a baby. It is not something you should ever feel pressured into.

21. Being Emotionally Healthy
How will a baby affect your education or career plans, especially if it is unplanned? Missed opportunities?
Are you ready to give up most of your free time to care for a child?
Do you think your answers to these questions might be different in another 10, 15, or even 20 years, when you are better prepared to start a family?
Brainstorm Activity: Using the blackboard or a flip chart, ask students to call out some EMOTIONAL (Personal/Social) costs of having a baby, especially if it is unplanned or if they are too young/not ready. You will likely get answers like:
Losing friends or not being able to spend time with friends
Not finishing school
Not having a social life (missing games, parties, prom, graduation…)
Not being able to just go somewhere when you want to
Not being able to spend money on yourself
No time to yourself; No privacy
Missing out on academic or sports scholarships; Missing job opportunities
Being sleep deprived; Being stressed
Right now, these things all probably seem like big sacrifices to you. But if you PLAN for your life and delay starting a family until you are ready, these things WON’T seem like big sacrifices.

22. Being Financially Ready
Babies and kids are Expensive —
Child care, food, clothing and doctor’s appointments add up!
Finally, let’s talk about financial health… (read slide)
Activity: Guess how much!
On the blackboard or flip chart, write “Basic Monthly Costs for a 6-month-old baby” at the top. List each category below one at a time and have the students GUESS the monthly cost before you write in the amount for each:
Baby formula: $296
Diapers & wipes: $110
Jar food & cereal: $ 79
Baby soap/powder/lotion: $ 20
Child care: $600
TOTAL per month: $1,105
And this list doesn’t even include things like clothes, health insurance, doctor’s visits, a crib, a car seat, books, toys….and the list goes on.
Experts estimate that it can cost over $250,000 to raise one child from birth to age 18!

23. Being Financially Ready
Do you want to be financially independent before you start a family?
Do you want to have a steady income and health insurance?
Do you want to be able to provide the type of home, transportation, food, clothes, diapers, etc. that a baby needs?
Will you be able to afford childcare?
Read through slide
Different people have different ideas about what being financially ready to start a family means. Some people would like to have purchased a home and vehicle, have years of steady employment with health insurance, and savings (retirement, college) in place. Some people like to have a “nest egg” saved, a sum of money set aside. Others are comfortable starting a family living paycheck to paycheck, perhaps even with public assistance like Medicaid or WIC (may need to explain what WIC is – Women, Infants and Children – provides food vouchers for low-income families).
Which scenario would you want most?
What things can you do now to help make sure you achieve that?

24. Remember to take care of yourself
The health and lifestyle choices you make today can affect the health of your future family.
Make a LIFE PLAN and set goals, including plans for a future family, and revisit your plan at least once a year.
Advocate for yourself, your body and your life goals.
Have at least one adult that you can talk to about ANYTHING!
Remember to take care of yourself now, before you have to think about taking care of someone else (i.e. a baby) … Read through slide
FINAL ACTIVITY: Goal-setting sheet (these are more short-term goals). Give students about 5 minutes to write in their answers, then ask a few or all of them (depending on time) to share with the class.
Encourage students to keep all their sheets (goal-setting, timeline, etc) at home somewhere that they can see them often, think about their goals, and remember what they are working toward!