| When a teenage girl becomes pregnant, both she | | | | more about those options. |
| and her male partner will need an exceptional amount | | | | A call to your state's Medicaid office or Prenatal Care |
| of support from their parents and friends. However, | | | | Assistance Program (PCAP) will let you know if your |
| a teen pregnancy puts so much stress on family | | | | teenage friend will be eligible for financial assistance |
| relationships that those closest to the expecting | | | | from these agencies. It will also help to find out how |
| couple could find it difficult to know how to help. | | | | much financial assistance the father of the baby will |
| Even though the rate of teen pregnancy is dropping | | | | be required to provide. If the pregnancy was |
| in the United States because of the increased | | | | unintentional, as most teen pregnancies are, the |
| availability of contraception, as many as 750,000 | | | | young woman may be reluctant to ask the baby's |
| young women under the age of 18 could become | | | | father for assistance. However, the state will |
| pregnant this year. If you happen to know one of | | | | probably have strict rules about parental support that |
| these girls or her partner, you may be in a position to | | | | cannot be ignored. |
| offer the guidance and assistance that they need. | | | | If your teenage friend is considering other options, |
| The following suggestions may help: | | | | such as terminating the pregnancy or giving the child |
| - Remain Nonjudgmental. | | | | up for adoption, you will be able to find information |
| If you are a close family member, the pregnancy | | | | from the Planned Parenthood office near you, or |
| may affect your life so much that it's hard to remain | | | | from a local adoption agency. These are very |
| nonjudgmental. However, try to remember that most | | | | emotional decisions for any couple to make, so your |
| teenage couples do not intend to become pregnant. | | | | loving support and guidance will be truly appreciated. |
| Teens are fully aware of the social stigmas and | | | | - Suggest counseling. |
| financial problems that the pregnancy will cause, and | | | | No matter how carefully you attempt to stay |
| they know they need to make choices that could | | | | non-judgmental when talking to the pregnant teen |
| affect them for many years. Both the girl and her | | | | and her partner, and no matter how much research |
| boyfriend will need help to sort out the possible | | | | you do to stay informed about any options they |
| options, so they can consider all available alternatives | | | | may choose, it is still a good idea to suggest |
| with an open mind. | | | | counseling. A good counselor will be able to hear all |
| Historically, girls married soon after puberty - in biblical | | | | the young couple's concerns from a completely |
| times a girl would be married when she was 12 years | | | | objective point of view, and will be well-versed in all |
| old or soon thereafter. Marriage (and pregnancy) are | | | | available local resources. |
| now discouraged before a young woman has finished | | | | The parents of both the young woman and her |
| her education and begun her career. Our society's | | | | partner should also consider counseling, since the |
| expectations have changed because of the financial | | | | pregnancy could have a huge impact on their lives. |
| costs of becoming a parent too soon. | | | | A counselor is specially trained to help teens make |
| Most teens are deeply concerned about how their | | | | the best possible choices for their future. Laws |
| families will react, whether or not they will still be | | | | protect the privacy of the client if the counselor is |
| accepted by their family and friends, whether or not | | | | licensed as a social worker, counselor or psychologist, |
| their boyfriends will stick around, and whether or not | | | | so the teen will be free to speak her mind. The |
| they'll be able to afford to raise their child if their | | | | counselor will be one more person who cares about |
| education is cut short. | | | | the teenager at a time when she needs all the |
| Since the father will also be expected to assist in the | | | | support she can get. Unless the counselor is |
| financial support of the child, he will have natural fears | | | | associated with a church or association with its own |
| about his future. If he clearly understands all his | | | | specific agenda, the expectant mother will be |
| options, he will be better able to make a responsible | | | | encouraged to take an objective look at all |
| decision. You can help by remaining objective and | | | | ramifications of her situation. The counselor will help |
| letting him talk about his fears and concerns without | | | | the young couple decide if they're ready to be |
| judgment. | | | | parents, and point the couple to all available |
| - Get informed. | | | | resources. Teens can find counselors through their |
| If the teenager you know is considering all the | | | | school, or by calling their local Planned Parenthood |
| options to her pregnancy, you can help by learning | | | | office. |