Teenage Mums Article: Fears of Becoming a Teenage Parent

By: Melissa McGregor

You've just taken a pregnancy test and it's positive. You have a thousand thoughts running through your mind, "I'm too young to have a baby", "I can barely look after myself let alone a baby," "I won't have a life anymore"...

How do you get used to the idea that you are pregnant? Many teenage mums (and also dads) have many fears when they find out they are going to become a parent. Some fears may include: how they will cope having a baby to look after, what their parents and friends will think, what the future will hold for them after having the baby and whether or not they should keep the baby, put it up for adoption or have an abortion. Many teenage girls delay telling people that they are pregnant due to the fears they have and the fear of what people will think of them once they know.

If the teenage girl is still at school or has just taken on a traineeship/apprenticeship the fears may be even greater. Should she leave school or her job? And once she has had the baby should she choose to keep it, should she return to work? Many teenagers have ideas and dreams on what they plan to do with their future and sadly to say, most of those dreams don't have babies in them.

Some other fears that teenage parents-to-be may have include:

• Their partner leaving - if they are not in a very stable relationship or if the pregnancy was unplanned, this may cause a lot of problems and stress between the couple. Being a single parent is a lot of hard work, and when you are only a teenager, it can be even harder.
• Money - how will you be able to afford everything that a baby needs when you only have an after school job? Or what if you don't have a job at all? How will you deal with the cost of raising a baby?
• Housing - do you keep living with your parents or do you find your own place to live? If you decide to find your own place how will you cope with the money issues? You need to decide where it would be better for you and your baby to live for the time being. If you choose to stay at home with your parents, you can always move out when you feel ready to.
• Labour and the birthing process - just the thought of giving birth can freak some people out. What if something goes wrong while you are giving birth? What will your baby look like?

These are some of the many thoughts than may run through people's minds.

Overall, teenage mums-to-be have many fears on the fact they are going to have a baby. Once you come to terms with the fact you are going to be a mum, the next step is to tell your parents and friends...

I am in the process of writing a collection of articles on teenage parenting for the Mum Zone Teenage Mums & Mums to Be Resource Section. Some of the issues to be discussed include:

• How to tell your parents and friends that you are pregnant
• Inside the mind of a teenage dad
• Dealing with the thoughts and comments from people in society
• Groups and organisations for teenage parents
• And many more issues

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