Among the current hot topics is sex. It is floundered on the media like never before. Families are also becoming more open about sexual conversations. That is, sex has been normalized.

Teen pregnancies involve pregnant girls below the age of 19. Girls can become pregnant when she engages in vaginal sex with man at any point after she begins her menstruation. As a result of such pregnancies, young mothers may develop preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Preeclampsia could lead to kidney problems for the mother and her unborn child. Complications might also arise during the pregnancy. These increase the risk for premature birth and low body weight for the new baby.

Prevalence

New Zealand used to lead in teen pregnancy among high income OECD countries. Recent statistics however show that the rate of teen births in the country is declining significantly. For instance, between 2008 and 2016, teen pregnancies for girls aged 15-19 years old dropped from 16 births per 1000 females to 2 births per 1000 females. Despite this positive trajectory, teen pregnancy in New Zealand surpasses Australia. This is a problem that should be addressed to secure the future of our generation.

Causes 

There are numerous causes of teenage pregnancy that young people should watch out for. The main reason is unprotected sex as young people engage in sexual intercourse without using condoms. Most teens engage in sex as a result of peer pressure. They allow their friends to influence their decisions more than their parents and adults that care about them. Peer pressure clouds rational reasoning.

Families that offer no guidance on sex also expose their teens to teen pregnancies. Such families have parents that avoid talking about regulated sex. As a results, their children get false information from their friends.

Pregnancy has also been glamorized in the media – not to say that pregnancy is bad. However, TV shows that normalizes reckless teen sexual behavior misguide young people. For example, MTV’s Teen Moms presents unrealistic expectations of teen mothers.

Unfortunately, some teen pregnancies result from bad behaviors such as drug abuse and rape. When under the influence of a chemical substance, like alcohol, young people are not able to control their impulses. More so, they fail to make rational decisions. That may lead to unprotected sex. Rape may also result in the process. Most teen pregnancies result from sexual abuse. Girls who are susceptible to rape have low self-esteem and promiscuous.

Low socioeconomic status may also expose young girls to perverts. Studies have shown that children living in poor neighborhoods and households are at a higher risk of drug and substance abuse, domestic abuse, and teen pregnancy.

Barriers to contraception may also be a cause of teen pregnancy.

Warning signs

Here are some of the warning signs for teen pregnancy. The main sign is missing or skipping regular periods, even when it is a very light period. It is imperative that you do not assume there is no pregnancy. According to the Elea Carey and Jill Seladi-Schulman article reviewed by Holly Ernst, light bleeding is common during the first stages of a pregnancy. In addition, you should assess for the tenderness of your breasts as tender breasts are a sign of teen pregnancy. Commonly, nausea and morning sickness accompany the onset of a pregnancy. Some people vomit, feel lightheadedness, exhaustion, or even pass out. Generally, weight gain is common, which is accompanied by the obvious sign of the swelling of the abdomen.

There are several interrelated risks associated with teenage pregnancies that expose the warning signs of this health issues. That means there are dreams that are going to be differed. As such, teens with pregnancy are likely to consider quitting school upon finding that they are pregnant. The main reason is to avoid the feeling of embarrassment and shame that accompany early pregnancies. In addition, they may consider deferring their studies because of the challenges of keeping up with school while raising a baby. Therefore, most of teens with pregnancies may suddenly become absent in the classroom and school, and even consider dropping out of school altogether. For example, in the MTV reality show, 16 and Pregnant presents numerous challenges that are red flags for teen pregnancy.

Unfortunately, teen mothers are likely to end up becoming harsh and resentful parents towards their children. Evidence shows that teen parents engage in harsh parenting methods such as spanking and yelling at their children. Apparently, this occurs because of their few coping and parenting skills and experience compared to older parents. Dealing with the frustration and irritability of having a baby might also elicit anger. As such, among the signs of teen pregnancy is irritability. Even so, it is imperative to state that hormonal imbalances may also contribute to mood changes, famously known as mood swings. Therefore, it is important to look for signs of anger and resentment about life in general.

Treatment

Teen pregnancy can be managed or prevented. Upon the onset of the pregnancy warning signs, it is imperative to perform a pregnancy test. This can be done at home or in a hospital. Apparently, most drugstores and supermarkets have pregnancy test kits that test for pregnancy hormones in the urine. In the event that the test result turn out negative, one should wait for a week to take another confirmation test.

Sex education can be used as a preventing and management measure. Evidence shows that formal sex education on abstinence and contraception contributes to responsible sexual behavior. Young people should not only be educated on abstinence and contraception to prevent a pregnancy, but also be equipped with the skills to initiate positive conversation on managing teen pregnancy. Teenagers could do well with educational and social programs and resources for sex education in addition to encouraging pregnant teens and teen mothers to stay in school.

Parents and other adults around teens should unconditionally support and walk with these young people. Therapy sessions can also be used to deal with feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, and emotional changes accompanying teen pregnancies.

In addition, during and after birth, teen mothers have other socioeconomic and health issues that confronts them. Dealing with parents who have just discovered their teenager is pregnant can be problematic. IT may be received with anger and rage, further affecting the mental health of the pregnant teen. Families that end up with pregnant teens are mostly from low socioeconomic status. As such, access to quality and affordable pre- and post-natal care may become a problem to them.  Offering financial support might turn out as greater than treatment and medication as a child comes with many responsibilities. Financial assistance requires the input of a community rather than an individual teenager. Therefore, seeking financial assistance from established social welfare services can be a great way of reaching out to poor pregnant teens.

Where to Seek Help in NZ

If you suspect that a friend or yourself is has a pregnancy, don’t waste time. CALL 911 FOR HELP.  You can also contact other agencies available to offer support for people with teen pregnancies and related symptoms. One can contact OUTLine NZ via 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) to receive confidential telephone support. Lifeline also offers assistance for mental health related issues on 0800 543 354. Healthline can also offer assistance via 0800 611 116. Other organizations, such as Samaritans and Youthline can also be reached via 0800 726 666 and 0800 376 633, respectively.

The Ministry of Health also encourages teenagers to test for pregnancy when they had unprotected sex to for early detection. Test kits can be purchased for between $10 and $20 at any supermarket or pharmacy. Moreover, the ministry offers free Family Planning services for mothers below the age of 22 years in Family Planning Clinics and Sexual Health Clinics. These services include but are not limited to midwives and general practices. Manatū Hauora further offers information on other organizations that can offer help for pregnant teenagers. They include PlunketLine which offers parenting advice via their line 0800 933 922.

One may also choose the organization that will provide their maternity care. To be able to do that, the Find Your Midwife website can assist with the selection of the appropriate and affordable midwife.​ Remember, do not suffer alone. Share what you are going through.