Teen Pregnancy

Having a child is a blessing, and the moment you have them you start thinking of their future, thinking of their growth into adolescence, becoming grade A students, getting a successful career and good family or something like that. You would hardly ever think of your teenage daughter getting an unplanned pregnancy because they decided to have unprotected sex as teens. It is not likely that you would ever suspect your child to be having sex unless you discover condoms or home pregnancy kits laying in the trash can or in their rooms. You can however get a grasp of whether your children are having sex, and be able to teach them on how to prevent unplanned teen pregnancy by talking to them about it and educating them about it’s dangers. Let them know that all their future plans will be put on hold if they do happen to have an unplanned teen pregnancy. This could possibly that their high school diploma or their future careers and plans would be put on hold. Having an unplanned teen pregnancy is certain to change a young girl’s life in dramatic fashion and this could be permanent. Even the life of young men are known to change in much the same vein as they will need to be financially responsible at a very young age as they support their young wife and child. Educate your child and teach him or her that unplanned teen pregnancy is preventable and that it should be avoided at all costs.

Birth Control

When it comes to birth control there are many options available, and these can prevent unplanned teen pregnancy. To start with, there’s the shot, the UID, the condoms, the birth control pills and then there’s the morning after pill. With so many options, you would think that unplanned teen pregnancy wouldn’t be such an issue. Yet the unplanned teen pregnancy epidemic is growing exponentially. More and more young women are getting pregnant and it’s mostly from lack of education. Educate your child about these methods of birth control, teach them to make use of them and that they are always available, in case times arise that sex is unavoidable.

Make Smart Choices

Educate your child that if they are ever in the situation that will have sex, to first assess the situation and think about it before proceeding. This is not going to be easy as sexual desire can easily cloud the mind as far as rational thinking goes. But it can be done. Teach your child that they are about to engage in an activity that could result in an unplanned teen pregnancy. Don’t teach your child that sex is wrong, quite the contrary, but teach them that they should be smart about the sex they do have. Teens are going to have sex. That’s a fact. The more you educate your teen, however, and the more you discuss with them how much their lives will change with an unplanned teen pregnancy, the less likely you’ll be faced with raising a baby having a baby.

All sorts of questions arise now that you are pregnant.Now more than ever it is important to eat good foods for you and your baby.Eat right and you are doing a lot to minimize your risk of pregnancy complications.  Learning what to eat during pregnancy has never been easier than it is now.  

First, remember that once you hit the second trimester, good nutrition during pregnancy requires that you eat about 300 more calories a day.Getting the right amount of calories will give you and your baby the energy you need.Just because you need extra calories does not mean you can take over at the buffet table.You will only be getting 300 calories.There are about 100 calories in a glass of milk or one banana, and about 200 calories in a slice of whole wheat bread, and ounce of cheese and a half cup of grapes.Drop the donut you have been flirting with, eat better foods, and you will discover that you can actually eat more food that is better for you. 

At least 3 servings of protein daily are required to give your baby what she needs to grow strong.Help your baby grow strong by getting protein every day.  Protein is very easy to come by and your options are endless.To get enough calcium, you can drink 3 glasses of milk, 2 cups of yogurt and 3 ounces of cheese.

In addition, you will need at least four servings of calcium daily.  Calcium is going to help grow your baby’s bones and help protect yours.  Milk is the best way to get your fill of calcium, but you can also get your fill of calcium from cheeses,  yogurt and even ice cream. 

Aim for at least three servings of vitamin C.  Your body does not store vitamin C so you need a fresh supply of it every day.There are lots of fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C.  You also want to make sure you get three to four servings of green leafy and  yellow vegetables and fruits.  Most of these veggies and fruits will also count toward your vitamin C intake, so that is double the benefit. 

You should get in one to two servings of all other fruit and vegetables that are not known for their vitamin A and C value, but are still good for you all the same.  Apples,  banana, and onions are just a few that are in this category.   Eat six or more servings of whole grains and legumes.In addition to having good amounts of fiber, these foods also are high in vitamins B and E.   Try eating brown rice, whole wheat breads and even air popped corn to get  your servings of whole grains and legumes in. 

Perhaps one of the most important nutrients you and your body need is iron.There is no other time when your body’s demand for iron will be greater than when you are pregnant.It is important to maintain this.Getting enough iron will prevent you from getting anemia.Your doctor can prescribe an iron supplement if you feel you are not getting enough in your diet. 

A fit pregnancy gives your baby the best chance for healthy development.  And while it is always a good idea to eat well every day, when you are pregnant it is essential that you eat well every day.