7 5 Work File

7.5 Teen Pregnancy Work File

Complete each of the activities below.
Fact: Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school and only about one-third obtain a high school diploma.
Fact: Teenage births are associated with lower annual income for the mother, 80% of whom eventually rely on welfare.
1. Read the two facts above and choose one of them. Discuss the possible ramifications for the teen parent’s future and the future of the child. (5 sentence minimum) (10 points)
There are several consequences of being a teenage mother. One large consequence is not obtaining a high school diploma which is only 1/3 of teenage mothers that actually get their diplomas. Another consequence is struggling to feed the baby and themselves. A large possibility is being a single mother. Final consequence for teenage mothers is that they lose their dream.

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2. One of the big health risks of a baby born to a teen mother is low birth weight. What are two risks associated with babies who are born with low birth weight? (10 points/5 each)
a. May have organs that are not fully developed
b. Are 40x more likely to die in their first month of life than normal weight babies
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3. In addition to increased health risks, children born to teenage mothers are more likely to experience social, emotional, and other problems. Discuss two of those risks to the baby that are unrelated to health. (10 points/5 each)
a. teen mothers lose a lot of money
b. teen pregnancies are associated with lower educational level and reduced earning potential in teen fathers
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4. The teen mother has to deal with special challenges physically, emotionally and socially. List two of the health risks. (10 points/5 each)

a. death rate from pregnancy complications is a lot higher for girls who are pregnant under the age of 15 than among older teenagers
b. Teenage mothers are at risk of getting anemia, high blood pressure, placental problems, and pregnancy induced hypertension.

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5. Teen fathers tend to differ in certain ways from their non-parenting counterparts. Profile the teen father. (9 points/3 points each)
a. Despite the stereotypes, there is increasing evidence that teen fathers want to be (and are) involved with their children, though this involvement may not always include financial support.
b. Teen fatherhood appears to be associated with negative consequences, both for the father and child, that are similar to those observed among teen mothers
c. Young fathers are more likely to have economic and employment challenges and are more often economically disadvantaged than adult fathers
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6. The future for teen moms can be compromised due to the demands of parenting. What are two of those consequences? (12 points/6 points each)

a. Often don’t hold great promises for the baby
b. the teenager due to the amount of dedication involved with raising a child

7a. Discuss with your parents and guardians some of the challenges they have faced with parenting. List three challenges.

Your Parent’s Challenges: (9 points/3 points each)
a. graduating high school while pregnant
b. getting kicked out of the house
c. finding a house to live in

7b. *Do you think a teenager is ready for those challenges? Why or why not? (10 points)
I think teenagers aren’t ready for those challenges because they are still childish, aren’t fully developed, they don’t know the struggles of the world, they haven’t experienced life yet, and they are too fast.

8. After completing your research on teen pregnancy, compare your life now with how it might be if you became a teen father or mother.

Include how having a child might affect your education. (5 points)
My life now is way different if I had a baby because I would need money for the clothes, and diapers. I would have stretch marks with and huge belly, and probably I would have to miss school.

How would you handle the financial responsibilities that come with being a parent? (5 points)
I would ask my family and get a good paying job or if the baby’s father is in the child’s life I would have him help and buying things for the babies.

9. How would becoming a parent help or hinder you from reaching your mission statement and goals for your life? (10 points)
Becoming a parent would hinder from reaching my mission by graduating high school and my goals of life which are getting a good successful job, helping my parents out when they are older, and being able to take care of myself on my own and become a strong independent women.