Disadvantages for Teen Mothers
Pregnancy is life-changing, no matter how old a woman is when it happens. Most teenage girls don't plan on becoming mothers so soon, but even planned pregnancy at a young age holds many disadvantages and risks for teenage mothers.
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Loss of Education
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Teen mothers are often forced to drop out of high school because of the pressure of caring for a newborn child while being a full-time student. Only one-third of girls who become pregnant during high school stay in school and receive a high school diploma.
Medical Issues
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Pregnant teenagers have a higher risk of going into premature labor, which is when a woman goes into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Teen mothers are also more likely to give birth to low-weight babies. This can result in serious medical problems, such as underdeveloped organs that may lead to life-long complications.
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Lower Income
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A teenage mother's income potential is very low, given the likelihood that she has few child-care options. The factors above (low education, high medical expenses and children who require extra care) may also contribute to a poor economic outlook.
Negative Effects on Children of Teenage Mothers
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According to a 1996 study on adolescent childbearing by R.A. Maynerd, children of teenage mothers are more likely to perform poorly once they start school. Also, children of teenage mothers are at a higher risk of neglect and abuse, due to the unstable environments in which they frequently grow up.
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References
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