:-)

Created in the Polyvore iPhone app. http://www.polyvore.com/iPhone

--The Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one third of girls in the United States will get pregnant before the age of 20. Although sexual behavior among teens in the United States is similar to that of teens in other developed countries, teens in the U.S. are less likely to use effective forms of contraception. The result is that the U.S. has the second highest teen birth rate among 46 countries in the developed world. Since the early 1990s, more consistent condom use, increased use of hormonal contraceptives, and abstinence have helped to reduce the birth rate among teenagers some 34%. However, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 2006 was the first year in more than a decade to see an increase in teenage pregnancies, suggesting that the downward trend may be reversing.
 
--The Risks
Findings from ACOG show that one third of teen pregnancies end in abortion. Meanwhile, a teen who chooses to carry her pregnancy to term runs the risk of experiencing complications, usually because she fails to obtain proper prenatal care. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a pregnant teen is less likely to gain the appropriate amount of weight and is more likely to smoke during her pregnancy. Because of this, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unintended Pregnancy, babies born to teen mothers are more likely to be premature, and almost 10% have a low birth weight. In addition, children born to teenage mothers have significantly lower cognitive test scores at age two, compared to children born of intended pregnancy.
Health problems to the fetus aren't the only risks a pregnant teen faces. According to ACOG, most teens (90%) who carry their pregnancy to term decide to raise their child themselves. Very few teens look to adoption as an option. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school or get married, and are more likely to live in poverty, reducing their ability to properly care and provide for their children. Their low or nonexistent income makes it more likely that they will seek public assistance and depend on welfare. Teen fathers are also less likely to finish high school, and the jobs they hold will most likely be lower paying then those of men who wait to have children. ACOG has found that the daughters of teen mothers are more likely to become teen mothers themselves, while the sons of teen mothers have a higher chance of being incarcerated than children with older parents.
 
--My Story
My name is Bailey if you didn't already know and I am a pregnant teen. Because of my pregnancy I have left school and do online schooling nut I only do the work when I have the time so i'll probably end up dropping out by the time I have the baby. I'm almost five months along and the father is still with me but the future isn't promised and we are just kids ourselves. This baby isn't a mistake by any means but I wouldn't suggest it for any teen. Taking care of a child requires so much and its better if you are stable with a job and married. Take my advice, wait. Having a baby when you're not ready isn't any good for you or the baby. Luckily I have a family who supports me but that isn't the case for everyone. I hope this helps. And if there are any other teen mothers or pregnant teens out there, I hope the best for you.
 
Thank you for reading my first 'tip' if you want to call it that. I might do others, maybe even make a separate account for things like this. Let me know what you think, please don't judge.
xoxo, Bailey ♥