It has bigger effects than anyone would be able to guess. Teen births costs the government about $9.4 billion a year (Danaw, 30). It affects the babies born to teen mothers. Babies born to teens are more likely to be born premature. Teen girls are still developing, which can make it hard to carry a baby to term. Premature babies are more at risk for having undeveloped organs. Which can lead to death. It can also affect them later on. They can have problems later on with speech, emotional, and social skills. Teen girls are also less likely to receive prenatal care. If they do receive any at all it will most likely be later in the pregnancy. This can cause a magnitude deal of problems for the baby. Babies born to teens are 4 times as likely to die before turning one. (Teen Pregnancy & Health Risks to the Baby). Even after they are born, they are less likely to receive the proper nutrition. It has been shown that teens are harsher parents, and are also more likely to neglect their children. This gives them a greater chance of ending up in foster care, which can lead to a repeat of their parents actions. Children born to teens have been seen to get lower scores on measures of school readiness. They are less likely to finish school at all. After school, they are shown to have a greater chance of being incarcerated. Both the moms and their babies …show more content…
Statistics don’t define every situation. There are plenty of teenage pregnancies that don’t turn out bad. Some girls finish school, get good jobs, and are able to take care of their baby from day one. Age doesn’t always define a person’s ability to take care of a baby. It’s not like it is in the movies, or tv shows. You must want it more than any other teenager would. Once you think about what you’re working so hard for, it doesn’t make it so bad. Ultimately the decision is up to the mother, only she can decide how her and her baby’s life turn