The Problem of Underage Motherhood - Essay Example

The Problem of Underage Motherhood Teenage parenthood is a problem at home and the increasing media avenues has lead to a rise in the number of teenage parents. Teenage parents are the primal victim in the setting, and in addition, fellow siblings, the parent of the teenage parent and peers are also affected. Teenage parents, particularly mothers, have borne the brunt of the society as they face unwarranted stigma from the members of the public. A teenage pregnant girl and a teenage parent are vulnerable to harsh criticisms treatment from the rest of the society. There are a number of risks associated with teenage pregnancy and motherhood. This is because of several physical, emotional, financial and mental needs the teenager is not prepared to be burdened with. A teenager at such a tender age has not matured to accommodate certain roles that accompany pregnancy and motherhood. A conservative home driven by religious fundamentalism can be a hot place for a girl who has become pregnant or who is a mother. For a person who is 17 years of age, or even lower, and is either expecting or has delivered, the experience can be overwhelming. This is a problem at home, and it is often ignored and frequently overlooked, yet affects a large number of homes. This paper explores the effects of problem of teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood. Teenage pregnant girls have high chances of developing medical complications, more than pregnant adults. Pregnancy at such age is generally against societal norms and as such the victims often hide from parental view and they do not visit appropriate medical facilities to seek prenatal and postnatal care. The resulting consequence is a teenage pregnant girl or teenage mother who lacks vital nutrients and vitamins. Moreover, anemia, a condition associated with low levels of blood in the body may become a common feature. The teenage pregnant girl or the mother is still a child and is still in the process of growth other emotionally and physically, and hence can be affected by the physical and psychological trauma associated with any of the processes. The experience is tasking and constraining, particularly if one is in an environment where they are misunderstood (Booth, the American fiction writer, 177). There are certain bodily components that do not achieve full physical growth until one reaches certain age. For instance in girls, the pelvic bones do not achieve their maximum size till about 18. For a teenage girl who is pregnant, the delivery process must be complicated as the pelvic bones have not grown to allow for normal delivery. Secondly the teenage mother is also at risk of developing weight, which may lead to obesity. Victim and certain mineral deficiency can arise, and as the teenage girl is just but a girl, the food intake must incorporate her growth and that o the unborn child. A relaxed parentage has been cited as the leading cause teenage pregnancy. It is not uncommon for teenagers and their parents to have conflicts, in any typical American family, however, for a young mother, the situation is precarious, as any source of conflict or scorn may drive the teenage mother to more unwanted circumstances. Suicidal thoughts and threats of running away seem to preoccupy the thoughts of the young mothers throughout the stages of pregnancy and after the delivery of the baby. Teenage mothers are more likely to develop to be lone parents and be in the middle ground of a feuding family conflict. Relationship breakdown remains a common feature that adolescent mothers constantly face. Parents of young mothers, perhaps unaware of the challenges facing their daughters, out of frustration and disappointment mistreat, misunderstand and disrespect their daughters and as a consequence, this may hamper the young daughter from fulfilling their potential. In addition, the conflicts with the parents can drive the teenage mothers to mental conditions, particularly depression, stress and other related conditions. Siblings are in most cases the source of great comfort to the young parents; however, the teenage parents might endure a period of backlash and untold criticisms from fellow brother and sisters. These are upsetting situations as the pregnant girl becomes a special needs child. Sibling rivalry is more common being sisters rather than from a brother and a sister. Teenage motherhood places a strain on the normal family life. At their age the adolescents are expected to be engaging in school work activities and obviously not in activities that puts them in the maternal road. In a hypothetical situation, an adolescent girl, who is at school going is likely to interfere with family finances or even scholarships. Funds that had been set aside to cater for her educational needs will instead be redirected to cater to her pregnancy and the needs child. Typically unprepared for the motherhood experience, teenage pregnancy and motherhood are indeed trying periods for the young mothers. The occurrence of the pregnancy is normally accidental and catastrophic. Young adolescent mothers are often confronted with the possibility of verbal abuse by strangers and as a consequence, they are left isolated and desolate. The victimization transcends to their fight to remain active participants in activities at home. Motherhood is an important step in human life cycle, but when procured before the right age it becomes a strain to the teenagers to remain relevant and straight to their beliefs. The attention generated by the teenage mothers on the streets leaves a lot to be desired from the members of the public. A case in point, young teenager month endured horrible comments when a stranger on the streets referred to as disgusting. The situation is appalling as the young parents face the fear of random judgment and abuse from strangers when they are going on with their business (Arai, a British lecturer and author of books, 24). As a matter of fact, most experts attribute discrimination melted out on adolescent parents stem from the misconception that teenage pregnancy among immigrants to the United States is much higher than is it actually thought to be. Parents place great expectations on their children, and in general, they are expected to goes to school and build wonderful careers. Pregnancy at a tender age hinders a girl from reaching the pinnacles of career and the ultimate independence. Further, motherhood at such a tender age distracts a girl from concentrating on education and achieving full parental expectation. Often, a disappointed parent will unnecessary constantly fight their daughter, and the unity of the home will ensue, to the detriment of other siblings, affecting their personal push towards achieving their full academic potentials. It is easily predictable that socio economic conditions play a large role in the adolescents lure towards irresponsible behaviour, which ultimately leads to pregnancy and teenage motherhood. Adolescents battle with the need to belong and given, mostly troop to misleading groups that eventually corrupt the young minds and instead they end up with a huge burden to carry. Research has always tied poor economic status to a high chance of pregnancy and early motherhood. Poor academic performance may result from a teenage mother resuming studies under little and reliable guidance from the parents, peers and teachers. Eventually, these entire factors may negatively impact the young teenage mother’s life leading to a low self esteem and ultimately lead to a number of medical complications or even death. Adolescent stage is a tumultuous period for parents as it signals a stage of elf discovery for the teenager. Amongst other things the child at the puberty stage begins to take notice of her body in different light. With the increasing usage of different media in information dissemination, particularly the internet, the lure to fornication at the young age is increasingly high. A teenage pregnant girl and those who have been forced into the murky world of motherhood face a myriad of challenges and so is the girl’s family. All these problems at home and the high potential for stigma may result in detrimental impacts on the girl, which include; mental conditions and even death. Work cited Arai, Lisa. Teenage Pregnancy: The Making and Unmaking of a Problem. Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 2009. Print. Booth, Coe. Kendra. New York: PUSH, 2008. Print. Read More