Teenage Pregnancies

Baby on the Way

Thousands of schoolgirls fall pregnant every year.

Being pregnant when you’re a teenager can be a difficult moment in a young girl’s life, forcing them to consider the best way forward for both themselves and their baby.

Feeling isolated, scared and wary about the huge responsibility that you now face is a natural response. Being a mother is a massive task that you need to be prepared for.

Regardless of where you live, there are a host of options open to you on how best to deal with being pregnant. There are different ways for you to deal with this situation, whether it is by seeking professional support and advice on how to deliver a healthy baby and be a good mother, or seeking other options. Whatever you decide, you will need to stand up and be accountable for your newfound circumstances.

For those living in South Africa, some of the options available to you can be found here.

Ignoring the signs that you are pregnant, such as nausea, feeling tired, putting on weight will not change the situation. Finding out whether or not you are pregnant as soon as possible will give you time to make the decision that is right for you in a safe way. Once you have established that you are pregnant, then you should see a medical professional as soon as possible to establish your status and be able to make the right choices for you and your baby’s health.

Trying to balance a pregnancy with school work is difficult, and 74% of 19-year-old pregnant learners end up dropping out of school in South Africa. One of the main reasons for this may be a lack of support. However, there is lots of information and a network of people out there that want to help. If you want to find out more, then check out the links below:

– The Parent Centre
– Young Mom Support
– LifeLine Pregnancy Support