1. Adolescent or Unintended Pregnancy
8th Grade

2. Health Consequences
Teen moms less likely to receive early and regular prenatal care than an older mother
Premature birth
Low birth weight
Premature/difficult labor
Anemia
High blood pressure
The March of Dimes has a Teenage Pregnancy Fact Sheet, contains detail information about the health consequences of teen pregnancy.
Premature births: Teen mothers (14.5%) are more likely than mothers over the age of 20 (11.9%) to give birth prematurely.
Low birth weight: There is a higher percentage low birthweight babies born to teen mothers. Babies who are born premature have a lower birth weight.
Babies who are premature and low birthweight may have organs that are not fully developed. This can lead to breathing problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome, bleeding in the brain, vision loss, and serious intestinal problems.
Teenage mothers is at a greater risk than women over the age of 20 for pregnancy complications, such as premature labor, anemia, and high blood pressure. These risks are even greater for teens under the age of 15.
Smoking during pregnancy: Teens are more likely than women over the age of 25 to smoke during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at an increased risk for premature birth, low birthweight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Women who smoke during pregnancy also have an increased risk for pregnancy complications, such as placental problems.

3. Legal Consequences Legal age of consent (issue of statutory rape)
Questions about paternity
Child support
Child custody

4. Reality Check
Only 41% of teenage mothers complete high school, making it less likely they will qualify for a well-paying job.
More likely to abuse/neglect their child
Nearly 80% of teen fathers of children born to teen mothers do not marry the mothers.
Teen fathers pay less than $800 child support for the lifetime of the child.

5. Reality Check II More likely to . . .
Require assistance from family and government
Have conflict with family and father over parenting the child
Lose friends due to child/family responsibilities

6. How Much??
How much do you think it costs to provide for a baby in the first year?
Write this amount on your handout.
Your job is to research the cost of providing for a baby for the first year.

7. Taking Care of a Baby [24/7 Responsibilities]
Things I would have to do if I had a baby:
Amount of time it would take:
Feed baby every 2-3 hours
25 minutes, at least 8 times a day
Make baby’s formula
20 minutes per day
Change diapers every time the baby is fed and when needed
5-20 minutes, 8-10 times per day
Give the baby a bath
30 minutes each day
Do the laundry
1 hour each day
Go grocery shopping
1 hour every Saturday
Play with baby
30 minutes, 4 times a day
Work part-time to help support the baby
4 hours every Saturday
Pay bills