Teen Pregnancy: Not Just a Statistic

Many reports are produced regarding teen pregnancy rates that cover statistics, health complications, and rates of access to prenatal care. It’s easy to find out that every year around 750,000 teenagers get pregnant. That number includes live births, induced abortions, and fetal deaths of at least 20 weeks gestation. According to the Department of Health in Washington D.C., the teenage pregnancy rate for Washington D.C in 2007 was 58.6 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19. Facts about teen pregnancy are easily accessible, but these teens are not just numbers on a chart. They are real girls and young women with stories to tell. As a part of my internship with the National Network for Youth, I recently sat down with a group of pregnant teens at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC). My co-facilitator and I wanted to learn more about what it means to be a pregnant teen in DC, not just by reading the numbers and statistics, but by hearing the real stories behind the lives of the young women facing parenthood. My co-facilitator and I developed a list of questions that we posed to the young women in our focus group. The quotes below come from the teens themselves. After spending time with these young women, we believe their voices should be heard by service providers to assure that they are responding to the needs of this population. Their voices can also be used as words of advice to others experiencing a pregnancy. Question 1: What is the hardest part about being pregnant? - “Not being able to sleep on your stomach.” - “Carrying the baby and gaining weight. The emotional roller coaster. If you are not prepared mentally or physically or financially.” - “I gain a lot of weight.” - “The changes that your body goes through. “ Question 2: What is the best part about being pregnant?” - “Starting my family.” - “The way you feel when your baby moves.” - “You have someone to love.” - “Watching your stomach grow.” Question 3: Is the MTV show 16 and Pregnant a realistic depiction of teen pregnancy? - “It is a good show but it does not address every issue a teen mother-to-be is going through. The family is not always as supportive and the baby’s father is not always as supportive either.” Question 4: What are words of advice that you found encouraging or that you want to give? - “Remain focused, stay in school.” - “Work on ways to bond with the child during pregnancy.” - “Make wise decisions because the outcomes of the bad decisions you will not be prepared for.” - “Think about what you are going to do to care for this baby in a step-by-step process.” - “If you do not feel prepared to raise your child there are many organizations that can help.” After conducting this focus group, I noticed there were gaps in the services provided to this population. Several of the participants reported hiding the pregnancy from their family for several months. Some of them were either unaware or unsure of the exact dietary needs and restrictions during a pregnancy. One of the participants mentioned she was not sure which exercises and movements were safe during pregnancy. A debate over the eligibility for government assistance programs also arose. Information of this sort is crucial for a healthy pregnancy, for both the mothers and their babies. No matter the age of the mothers-to-be, every woman deserves a comprehensive knowledge of how to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, medical screenings, eligibility requirements for financial, medical, and other assistance programs, and emotional support should all be addressed as a part of prenatal care services. It is the responsibility of clinics, family practitioners, street outreach programs, school systems, and other service providers to assure that their services are truly comprehensive, teen-friendly, and meet the needs of the young people served. As an intern for an organization whose mission is to champion the needs of today’s youth, I believe policies need to first address comprehensive approaches to preventing unwanted pregnancies, while also providing age appropriate, comprehensive prenatal care for young women who are pregnant. These services will contribute to a healthy and productive future for our youth.