An unexpected pregnancy can be scary and overwhelming at any age, but especially when you are a teenager. Instead of worrying about what to wear to the next school dance, pregnant teenagers find themselves having to make a very adult decision that will impact the rest of their lives. Choosing what to do about the pregnancy should not be undertaken impulsively or lightly. Instead, pregnant teenagers need to take the time to carefully consider all options and thoroughly examine the potential lifetime consequences of each decision.
Keep the Baby
Many factors should be considered when making the decision to keep the baby. Perhaps the most important one is determining if the teenage mother will be able to adequately provide for the baby, not only physically but financially and emotionally as well. She should analyze the type of financial, physical and emotional support she will have from the baby's father, her parents, family members and friends. She should also research the statistics about teenage mothers and consider all of the things that she will need to sacrifice in order to raise the baby. Before making the decision to keep the baby, she should be certain she is willing to make these sacrifices and will be able to put aside her own needs to meet the needs of her baby.
Adoption
Pregnant teens who determine that they would not be able or willing to raise the child themselves may consider adoption. Adoptions plans can vary greatly depending upon individual preferences, ranging from closed adoption to open adoptions. In a closed adoption, little to no information will be disclosed between the mother and baby. Open adoptions, on the other hand, often require the adoptive parents to share information as the baby grows and even give the birth mother opportunities to visit. Those interested in pursuing adoption should obtain as much information as possible about all the options available and what each entails. It is also wise for a pregnant teenager to research the adoption laws of her state to learn as much as she can about what it means to give up her legal parental rights, including what would happen if she changes her mind, and how the process for that works in her state.
Abortion
Approximately 35 percent of pregnant teenage mothers will decide to have an abortion instead of carrying the child to term, according to the National Abortion Foundation (NAF). Before making this decision, however, the pregnant teenager should analyze her own personal motives for doing so. She needs to be sure she is making the decision herself and is not being persuaded or forced into the decision by another person. Going through with an abortion because of another person's wishes may have serious emotional repercussions for the mother down the road, so it is important that she makes this decision free from outside influences. In addition, it is important to learn about the state laws regarding abortion. Some states may not allow teenage abortions without parental consent or notification, so this fact should be taken into consideration when making the decision.
