Teen Pregnancy, Hollywood Style

**ATTENTION** Teenagers and young adults: please WAIT TO HAVE KIDS! You have your whole life ahead of you. Unless you're rich, it is hard trying to make it and become successful on your own in today's society. Please do not bring an innocent child into a life of struggle!

I am 27 with no kids. I played Division 1 basketball in college and got to travel to many, many places. I couldn't imagine having a baby in my life at such a young age. I enjoyed my teenage years tremendously!!!! And things get even better when you hit 21! Fun times man, fun times!

Teenage pregnancy effects EVERYONE. Not only you, but your family (the ones who end up paying the most), us tax payers (OH, I hope you didn't think WIC, housing, & Food Stamps fell out the sky), & of course your own child. Want more for yourself, want more out of life. WAIT, WAIT, WAAAAIITT!!!!!

Getting pregnant is not the worst thing that can happen to a teen who has sex. STD's run rampant through todays young people, but condoms and birth control DO NOT protect against all of these! At least one out of four teens have HPV and it CAN BE SPREAD even when you use a condom. Talking to your teens is crucial, but handing out condoms and birth control is not the answer. It's just like telling your teen not to drink and drive, but if you are, just drive slow. THAT IS NOT OK!

Birth control is not magic stuff either. Doctors prescribe it left and right, but the facts are that women who take birth control before having their first child are at a much higher risk for breast cancer. Young women who start taking birth control (like the article suggests) have a hard time concieving children when they are "at the right age" because their ovaries have been shut off for so long they do not remember how to work.

This article aslo points out that one third of the girls had abortions. While this may "take care" of the baby, what happens to the mother? The psychological affects of abortion on women is devistating. They have many support groups to help women heal from these traumatizing events.

How about we start talking to teens about what love really means? And that you can show someone that you love them without having sex with them. Teach your kids that sex has a place in marriage. And that building a family with the right person is important.

Thank God my father sent me to spend a month in the summer of 1968 with unwed mothers. There was a special place for teenaged pregnant girls called Caliente and he made me spend one month in the summer with them. BOY DID I LEARN ALOT. These girls told me exactly what life is like and how miserable it is. My father then took me shooping for a prom dresses, and party favors and told me if I kept up A's in school and got a scholorship to college, he would buy me a new car. I AM SOOOOOOO GLAD HE SENT ME THERE. I got the grades, the scholarship, the car, graduated from college, dodn;t get married until AFTER I had a good career, a house and my own way to take care of things. Having vigillent parents was a blessing. And they made sure I had ZERO free time to GET myself in trouble. THANK YOU LORD FOR MY PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again I hear the phrase "promote absteinstence". We have as a society, for multiple generations now, promoted absteinstence. Teens are goingt o be sexually active and educators, health professionals, anyone who works with children should be able to discuss appropriate contraception-including condoms. What's more concerning then teenage pregnancy is the spiraling increase of STD's, especially in teens. Let's get the governemnt out of our bedrooms and start having some serious conversations with out kids about sex.

Two points. For the most part it is incredibly unthoughtful for a teen age girl to get pregnant because of the load it puts on who really does most of the early child rearing - her mother. Granma gets stuck 90% of the time. Also in this day and age how incredibly stupid to get pregnan if you aren't planning one. And don't count on the sorry SOB who knocked you up to be there for you finanically or physically as in changing the diapers, taking them to the Dr., washing clothes, schoolwork for the next 18 years. And oh by the way girls, single guys don't want to marry a girl who already has a family. Hard enough raising your own without raising some other brat. That's why for the most you'll stay single, uneducated, and unemployed. Is that the life you really want? Wake girls. Live your life and prepare yourself. So when you do have kids, they are a joy not a burden.

It is not ok for a teenager to get pregnant and it is a simple thing to prevent. I started using birth control at 16 years old and never had an accidental pregnancy. It is not that hard to get pills, a shot, a patch, or at least use a condom. You can even get these things for free. If you do not have the means to support your child you should not have one. Society should not have to pay for your inability to take or use birth control. Too many girls have several children and have never worked a day in their lives. I work hard and have to see a lot of my money go toward paying for children and families that are not my own. Parents and schools should promote the use of birth control. Also, there are too many kids on here talking about marriage as teenagers. Chances are the marriage will not work out. You need to experience life and enjoy your youth before settling into that kind of commitment.

I wish you guys (media & others) stop using the term "Immaculate Conception". It is offensive to our Blessed Mother and to Catholics. Also, Ms. Kliff, by the way you use it in this article, you obviously have no idea of what it really represents. It does not mean a conception of a human without a father.

although not exactly on topic, i was wondering if the author of this article understood what the immaculate conception refers to? a common misunderstanding, the immaculate conception refers to the conception of mary, not jesus. mary was born without sin, hence the "immaculate" conception.

Today it???s becoming the norm to see teen pregnancy, and the media is supportive of this type of lifestyle.But, unlike movie stars, teens today do not have the means to actually support a child all by themselves.Many rely on family to help in these situations, but,"why should your parents or family support your choices that are now life-altering? If you thought you were adult enough to engage in such an activity, you should then be adult enough to live with the consequences of your actions?" Unfortunatly, as teens normally do, they believe their choices have no affect on anyone but themselves. But what they don't see is how it does affect the people around them. Not only the family that might have to help support them, but the child they are bringing into this world as well. Did it ever occur to you that your baby deserves a mother and a father? Those who can provide for their basic needs, not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually? I have no doubt that teen parents love there children without measure and would give their lives for their children!? And some would say, they have given their children better home lives than others, and that is wonderful, but for some teen parents, it's not as easy. As a teen, you're trying to find yourself, still learning about life and maturing. In life we are continually learning, but as an adult, you have experienced more and have hopefully become equipped with the tools necessary to have a serious relationship,start a family, and raise your children in a stable and safe enviornment. I'm sure we've known lots of families where there was only one parent in there lives, and the children grew up just fine. But why should one parent have to struggle and there children need to sacrifice a parent? I've heard it before,"teens are going to have sex, we might as well teach them how to protect themselves!" To FULLY protect our children, we'd teach them about the emotional and pyscological effects it will have on them longterm and their self-esteem. What we need to be discussing with our children is how important and sacred sex is. It's not just casual sex, you're sharing something with someone that you can never take back. It's procreating, a way of bringing life into this world, and that shouldn't be messed with. Those teen mothers out there who have children, and continued schooling, I think it's very brave of you, but not all teens make those same choices you did. Some will continue making bad choices and there children will be the ones to suffer. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but why risk your children and their futures just because your friends have had sex or your boyfriend pressures you or you THINK you love your boyfriend and you think he's the one?Give yourself time to be a teen and experience it the way it was meant to be, without a child on your hip. Learn, and grow from your mistakes and trials so you can teach your children and give them the absolute best life they deserve.

look i saw the writting on the walk when i was the teenage seeing fellow students getting pregnant, and nothing was really said or done about it, because it seems lately it's the thing to do. No Longer is AIDS, STD's, or such the biggest fear, because now the virew is we can live with it, and be famous like Magic johnson. Plus parents aren't taking the time and interest they should in their children's lives any more. Now they wanted to be liked and friends with their offspring.
Shameful behavior, but not going to change usless more TRUE Parents step up, and own the fact that it's not THe World Problem...it's is your problem as a parent. NOW BE ONE

Too late-please tell your parents. Dont do anything extreme, and you and your child will be in my prayers. I am sorry this happened to you, but there are many places to go for help. GOd will protect you if you let him. The world can be cruel, but there is more good in the world than evil. It is tough to be a young teen in today's culture, but you will get through it. Let this be a lesson learned about trusting teen boys and older men. Men are very selfish sexually, and unfortunately, society will not tell you the truth about it. But you will rebound, and there is much hope for you.

As a couple my husband and I have faced infertility for 8 years and have been waiting for a birth mom to pick us for 2 years as we have turned towards adoption to complete our familiy. Stating that adoption is traumatic event downplays all the good that can come out of it. What I find traumatic is "babies" having babies and the end result. We can only hope that pregnant teens will put their baby first and really think about what is best for their baby. The gift of a child to a family who cannot have their own can be the best storyline for all those involved.

LFamily... I like what you're saying but still you must understand just because your older with more money doesn't mean you can care for your children more and that they are better. And trust me there are lots or mothers in their 20-30-40's that need assistance. Haven't you heard the old saying "It takes a village to raise a child". And I would have to also state that no matter how old you are getting pregnant still impacts the people around you. And unfortunatly being married doesn't make everything all better... Today we have an alarming divorce rate which has a deep impact on our children. Like I stated I do tell children they need to wait until marriage but she they happen to get pregnant I won't shun them.

I am going to take a guess, but didnt this 11 year old child come onto this site asking for good advice on what to do. I dont think she came here to get a tongue lashing from anyone. Granted, she's a child and should not be having a baby. Name calling and bad advice is not going to get her or her baby anywhere. Yes, I'll repeat it again, she should not have gotten pregnant, but come on, be sensible. Maybe, just maybe the idiots out there that kill their baby and dump it in the trash can was scared or ashamed, because no one was supportive? And NO, that is not a reason to kill a child/baby. There is NO reason for doing such a horrible thing. For anyone thinking of doing that, there is the SAFE-HAVEN LAW. PLEASE use that. A baby is a blessing whether the blessing is yours or someone else's. It is an innocent human life. Anyways, onto the 11 year old, my advice for you is to first tell your parents, or grandparents. Find a support system, see a doctor/ob-gyn, eat healthy, dont use drugs or drink (yes, i know you are 11, but in this society, things like that happen all the time). You and/or your parents can seek counselor to see what options you may have. There are options. Only you and/or your parents would know what is best for you at this time. Dont see your child as a mistake. It is not his/her mistake, it is yours and the baby's father. Good luck to you and your child. I hope you dont give up. (i just want to clarify my post before people just down my throat.... I am not supporting teen sex. Definitely NOT. But I dont want her to be scared and just hiding her pregnancy and throwing the baby in the dumpster like the other people out there. And YES, i believe women who kill their child/baby should be punished. THERE IS NO REASON FOR KILLING A INNOCENT CHILD. )