Define Family Planning

Talk about today's decisions that will affect tomorrow.

Americans don't just buy cars or houses any more, instead they "think about purchasing a new car" or find themselves "in the market for a new home." Families today want to make sure that they are financial prepared before they get into any long term commitments.

Surprisingly, many of these same adults aren't thinking ahead when it comes to bringing new additions to the family. In August of 2009, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported that out of the 6.4 million pregnancies, roughly three million of those pregnancies were unplanned.
Unfortunately, in a struggling economy unplanned can mean financially straining, and problematic for the working woman.

Definition

The online medical dictionary defines family planning as, "A program to regulate the number and spacing of children in a family through the practice of contraception or other methods of birth control."

Theories

One theory of why Americans are practicing family planning is based on financial status, which can be supported by a review of 2009's average family income. According to the U.S. Trustee Program and Department of Justice, the average couple had an income of $57,594. Yet, families were making it and finding a way to live the American dream.

Then, home modification loans happened. Suddenly, working men and women found themselves stretched beyond their means. USA today reported that one couple, Samantha and Steve Jensen are an example of how couples lost their financial stability by going from "[a]bout $1,000 to $2,000 a month in our monthly mortgage cost." The Jensens bought their home with hopes of raising their family in it for years to come, instead, they are facing the heart breaking possibility of foreclosure.

Family planning could also be practiced for health reasons. WCBSTV.com released an article about the dangers that women face when having back to back pregnancies. Dr. LeAnn Haddock, a physician consulted by the newstation, stated that women who have close pregnancies, "[s]tart out with a lower blood count which means she is even more significantly tired, more depleted on vitamins and minerals, especially iron, so that can significantly affect the pregnancy, and growth of the baby possibly."

Types

Natural family planning according to iVillage, is now 98 percent effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies. NFP is the practice of being fully aware of the times when a woman is fertile and infertile, and having sexual intercourse only during the times of infertility. Couples that use this method do so after receiving training by a NFP specialists or trusted medical doctor.

Planned Parenthood, a global health care provider with over 90 years of existence, lists over 10 birth control options for couples to consider. They want men and women to understand that there is a method for everyone, and that an unplanned pregnancy doesn't have to be something everyone has to experience.

Benefits

Are you ready to be a parent?

Couples who have planned pregnancies often feel as if they've kept control over a central part of their home income. With as much preparation as possible, they are able to face the costs of parenting with a greater ease than couples who did not plan. Also, there's a level of excited expectancy that comes when parenthood is scheduled.

Significance

Many medical professionals and advocates of family planning base their recommendations on the future prospect of unprepared parents, on the other side of the spectrum are the babies who are born into homes where they are not wanted.

Planned Parenthood records that "more than one out of three women in the U.S. have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old." They also point out that those who are born but are placed in adoption are not guaranteed to find a loving home, despite the seemingly high number of couples seeking adoption.

References

• Medical-Dictionary: Family Planning
• National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: Unplanned Pregnancy as it Relates to Women, Men, Children and Society
• USA Today: Many Mortgage modifications push payments higher
• U.S. Trustee Program: Census Bureau Median Family Income By Family Size
• WCBSTV.com: HealthWatch, Dangers of Back to Back Pregnancies