Teen Pregnancy - Not Always an Accident

Teen pregnancy cases seem to be increasing; at least that's what society would have us believe. Yet, it isn't that long ago when it was actually the norm and women were old if they had their babies in their 20s. Our culture has changed in the western world and now women are expected to not just leave school, get married and raise a family. Instead they are expected to leave school and find a job.

Although there are many cases of unwanted teen pregnancy, where protection wasn't used, or failed to work, there are also many cases that have been planned. There are some girls who still want the now old fashioned scenario of staying home with their babies. The difference these days is that these girls don't necessarily need to have a partner at home to help them raise the baby.

It still comes as a shock to parents who find that their daughter is expecting. Younger girls for whom it was an accident will usually bring that baby into their existing family. This puts a stress onto the household as daughter becomes mother, and mother must step back into the grandmother role - and yet be a hands-on teacher until her child can take care of the baby herself.

There are instances however of late teens who plan for a baby. They move in with their boyfriend, or marry him, with a view to starting a family immediately. Although society says that this is too young, it is still older than many of the generations who went before, when mother of 13 and 14 were not unheard of. We hope for better for our girls today. But what we believe to be better isn't always better for them. Some girls were born to be mothers, and so for them it is inevitable. They have never had a dream of a profession, instead their dreams centered on cribs and baby clothes. For them, being a mother is a profession.

For those girls who get caught, resulting in an unwanted teen expectancy, there are many options available. Today there isn't the stigma attached to this status as there was in say the 1950s where the girls were sent away until the situation was "dealt with". Teen expectancy is on the rise, both wanted and unwanted, and society needs to learn that whilst some girls are careless or unlucky, there are those who wanted to have a child.

Also read our article about Pregnancy Yoga