CONNECT
SHOUT OUT BOARDS

YOUR ROOM
FIND OUT

HELP ME HEATHER

FAST FACTS

PLAY

gURL GAMES

QUIZZES

MORE PLAY
SHOW OFF

COMIX

PHOTOS

EXPLORE

BODY IMAGE

SEX

REACT

MOST POPULAR VIDEOS

SOUND CHECKS

 


 
  Dear Heather,

I'm 14 years old and I desperately want to have a baby. My boyfriend feels the same way but we want to learn all the facts before I get pregnant. Can having a baby at my age damage my body? What else should I take into consideration?



 
 
 
Hi.

You are very smart to get as much information on the topic as you can before deciding to get pregnant. Before deciding whether to have a baby, it's always a good idea to talk to a physician or gynecologist/obstetrician about pregnancy in general and about the specific issues you as an individual might face, considering your physical condition.

According to Dr. Karen Rosewater, M.D., there are certain physical risks associated with having a pregnancy at a younger age, including an increased likelihood of having a low-birth weight or premature baby, which also have a greater chance of being born with birth defects.

There are risks to young moms, too. Increased pressure on the spine and pelvic bones in a mother whose bones are still growing may cause lifelong problems. Perhaps the most severe impact on your life would be emotional, social, and educational. Having a baby is a life-changing responsibility that may prevent you from finishing your education, restrict your job opportunities, and limit your contact with friends and family members.

A great deal of support is needed to deal with a newborn, so consider what kind of support you would have among family and friends. Would the father help out? These are important things to think about before plunging into parenthood.

Your teen years are important for your own personal growth and development and looking after the growth and development of another human being can be really stressful. Many teens aren't emotionally equipped to deal with a baby.

It might help to examine why you want to have a baby so badly. Some people just want to have someone who will love them back. If you feel like this is the case, it might be better to find a way to get what you need in other ways, rather than relying on an option that may be more difficult than you imagine it to be.

Take care.



 
 
Take care,
heather

 
 
 

more other

select another topic:

 
 
 

 
ADVERTISEMENT