The United States hails itself as one of the world’s strongest leaders. And many other countries look to the U.S. when trying to turn their communist or poverty-stricken countries around. Yet America fails in so many areas where you would expect a “leader” country to excel. When compared to other developed countries, the maternity benefits in the U.S. are severely lacking.
We hear the stories of bad teen moms every day. The ones that abandon their children or leave them at home alone. But where are the stories that encourage and uplift other expectant and teen mothers? If Caitlin Tiller is any indication, they’re hidden and tucked away because adults fear these stories will glorify and promote teen pregnancy.
Adoptions are meant to ensure the “best interests of the child’. But unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The story of an adopted teenage girl reminds us of just how heartbreaking some adoption stories can be.
While teen birth rates have dropped in the United States in recent years, they are still the the highest in the developed world.
Over 80% of teenage pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended; approximately one third end in abortion, one third end in spontaneous miscarriage, and one third will continue their pregnancy and keep their baby.
Teen pregnancy is a problem for a number of reasons; not only are teens and their babies at a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications, teen girls are less likely to graduate from high school or pursue a college degree than their same aged peers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, teen pregnancy rates in the US came in at a record low back in 2011: there were 31 births for every 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19.
With presidential elections just around the corner, a new study may shed some light on the possible benefits of the Affordable Care Act – a provision implemented by President Barack Obama.
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans are required to provide birth control either free or at an affordable rate.
Over the last 40 years, Foundling’s Mother/Child program has helped several young women learn how to be independent, responsible parents and adults. They are offered a place to live. A weekly allowance is given and they are taught how to budget that money. They learn important life skills, like cooking and grocery shopping. Basic infant care is also taught to the young women because they are all pregnant.
When discussing birth control options in the United States, most women automatically turn their thoughts to condoms, pills, injections and spermacides. But these aren’t considered the “best” birth control options by most OBGYN’s. In fact, the “best” options are rarely discussed by women and their doctors.
Litherland High School students as young as 14 are learning about motherhood in a whole new way; those that are taking a GCSE class in child development are learning about the benefits of breastfeeding. The tools being used – puppets and knitted breasts – may be a bit unorthodox, but it seems that the efforts really are making an impact on the mothers of tomorrow.
A recent study, conducted by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that antibiotics prescribed to adolescents have seen a decline over the last eight years, as have allergy medications, pain medications, depression medications, cough and cold medicines. Contraceptives and medications to treat symptoms associated with ADHD, however, have increased during that time.
Each year, approximately 400,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth. Teens are more likely to have complications during delivery and they are more likely to drop out of school or have lower scores academically if they continue their education. Their infants are more likely to be premature or have low birth [...]
Jenni Lake was a 16-year-old sophomore when she started experiencing migraines. Concerned, Jenni’s parents took her to see the family doctor, who recommended that Jenni go for an MRI. That one test would change all of their lives forever.
This weekend a newborn baby miraculously survived being tossed eight floors down a trash chute. He had been thrown down from one of the Fort Greene houses, but was saved and is in stable condition.
