Advice for Pregnant Teens

Coming from a former teen mother, the following advice is useful to those teenage girls who find themselves pregnant and make the decision to become mothers.

Tell the Father and Your Parents ASAP

Pregnant teens often wait to tell others of their pregnancy because they are afraid of how others will react. It is important to tell the father of the child and your parents right away if you find yourself pregnant. The earlier you tell, the longer they have time to get used to the idea before the baby arrives. More importantly, the earlier you confide your secret, the earlier you can begin receiving prenatal care. Prenatal care is extremely important, and even more so for teens because of extra risks involved in teen pregnancies.

Educate Yourself

Most teenagers are not well educated on pregnancy and parenting. To help you feel more comfortable about your pregnancy and upcoming parenthood, read as many pregnancy and parenting books and magazines as you can while pregnant. An excellent resource for all mothers-to-be is What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway. Subscriptions to pregnancy and parenting magazines are also helpful. Babytalk is a free magazine available to all expectant and new mothers. You can subscribe online with the link listed in the resources below.

Earn Money Now

If you are old enough to legally work, take advantage of the next few months to earn any money that you can. Once your child is here, you may not be able to work as frequently if you can work at all. So, now is the time to save as much money as possible.

Make Sure to Have a Baby Shower

Hopefully, you will be lucky enough to have a loved one throw you a shower. If not, throw yourself one. Your baby deserves to be celebrated like any other child. Plus, you will need all you can get. Try to refrain from buying baby items until after your shower.

Accept Help

All mothers need help. Do not be ashamed to accept generous offers of clothing, cash, baby items, or childcare. Surround yourself with those offering love and support, and keep your distance from anyone that is bringing you down.

Balance