Pregnancy is usually a time of happiness between throwing up and pain in your back and legs.

“In 2005 Oklahoma teenagers gave birth to 6,795 babies. 113 of those births came from 14-year-olds and younger. Now this was because almost 60% of adolescent mothers were not using birth control at the time. Over two thirds of teen births are to 18-19 years old.” Oklahoma vital Statistics said “According to the U.S teenage pregnancy statistics from the Guttmacher Institute it’s not just Oklahoma that’s hit either; almost 750,000 teenage women aged 15-19 become pregnant.

Being a pregnant teen is not only looked down upon in today’s society but can have an effect on the baby. InteliHealth posted on their website risks which include; premature labor and/or delivery, anemia, and having a baby with low birth weight. Premature labor can cause cerebral palsy or learning difficulties. Anemia could lead to premature birth weight. Having a baby with low birth weight can lead to several serious medical problems.

When people think of pregnant teens they think of two 17 year olds who weren’t responsible when they had sex, but that isn’t always the case. Darkness2light.org posted in an article about preventing teen pregnancy data from the National Survey of Children indicate that about 18 percent of women 17 and younger who had intercourse had been forced to do so at least once. The Guttmacher Institute reports that over 40 percent of mothers aged 15-17 had sexual partners three to five years older; almost one in five had partners six or more years older. With teen mothers in the 15-17 age range, 49.2 percent of the fathers were between ages 20 and 29.

There is pregnancy prevention education all around. Policyalmanac.org posted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is doing a lot to help lower teen pregnancy. The HHS programs are based on the belief that the most effective programs are the community programs and the involvement of parents and other adults in teens’ lives. HHS funds prevention programs in about 47 percent of all communities across the country. The department’s major teen pregnancy prevention promotes the postponement of sexual activity. There are many places for teens to get sexual knowledge, such as community centers and the Department of Health and Human Services website. Is it that teens want to get pregnant more or they don’t know the risks involved? Whatever the problem is we need to get out there and help.