Well, obviously it is not the ideal. But then we do not live in an ideal world so teen pregnancies are going to happen and that's a fact. Teen Moms are usually at a stage in their lives when they are still undergoing their education be it high school, college or tertiary education. Alternately, they are just starting their careers, travel adventures, etc. Motherhood puts a stop to all this, be it permanently or temporarily - it depends on the teen mum, her determination and also her support team. A teen mom has few options - adoption, abortion or keeping the baby and none of these are easy. Some people feel that abortion is not an option. As for adoption, although it affords the child the opportunity of a financially stable home - it is possible for the adoptive parents to split and the child to end up with a single parent anyway. Imagine wondering the rest of your life how your child is doing? And sometimes keeping the child is not an option either if the teen has no support system in place, no financial support or otherwise. It's a tricky situation and being a teen mom requires an enormous amount of support hopefully from the teens own parents..

I wish the U.S had a better sex-ed system. We can't tell kids "don't have premarital sex because it's wrong" when they don't all have the religion- or devoutness- to back it up. I wish girls were taught to have better self esteem. If he won't stay with you unless you let him in your pants, then it's not that you aren't pretty or whatever, it's that he doesn't deserve you. Pregnancy by anyone who isn't emotionally/mentally/physically/financially prepared to have a child is awful, whether the person is 15 or 30.

Well, I am 19 & am expecting my second Baby in the next few days so have a strong opinion on this subject. I believe teen parents are very stereotyped & although I realise that a high percentage of them aren't financially or emotionally prepared for a Baby, some are. Both my children are to my fiance, we support ourselves financially, we are both very mature, he works full time & I am a stay at home mum because I believe that's what my children need, I will go to work part-time once they both attend school & we both have excellent high school grades & fully intend on continuing our education in order to achieve our chosen careers. Our children are our priority & my son has a stable routine & is happy & healthy. I don't think parents should be judged on their age - I know 40 year old mother's who are doing a lot worse for their kids than I am. I am not so naive as to say that getting pregnant at 16 is a great idea but if you put the effort in, you can make it work & I actually feel that my life will pan out better this way because I will be able t concentrate on my career once I start it without interrupting it 5 years down the line to have kids.

I feel like its a tradgedy that could be avoided by better education.

I dont think teens should have kids and I feel they need to use birth control. However I cant judge as I was a teen dad and spent most of my teen years raising my daughter. I was just 13 when she was born and within two years my parents got custody of her from her mother and we have raised her ever since. I am now 18 and my daughter is now 5 and I recently moved into my own apartment and she lives with me and were happy. Her mother has limited rights to her which I may be revoking soon due to her being a drug addict. But since I was a teen parent I dont judge and I support teen moms and dads who get pregnant and I feel for them and wish them the best.

I don't think age has anything to do with whether or not someone is capable of raising a child/going through the birthing and pregnancy process. Maturity, financial stability, strength in the relationship you are in, and willingness to take responsibility are all factors in this situation. My cousin is 27 and has three kids. She is constantly fighting with cps and my aunt to keep her kids because she is a addict and puts herself before her kids. And my friend who is 18 has two kids. She is one of the best caring mothers I have ever met. She also works night time while the father is with the children and when she comes home at 6, It's right back to mommy and me time.

I think it is sad, it changes your life completely, and most are not emotionally ready. You have to be willing to give up everything, for that child. Not to mention financially they cant support the child on their own.

What is the role of the dad, if the mom has not told him she's pregnant but he knows

i think that some teens get pregnant because they have a low self esteem and they dnt feel loved at times. So when this man/ boy tells them that they love them they are so happy because they never heard that before. sometimes there is no love in the home. and so the teens go out and find love becuase they want to be loved. but its sad to say they find it in the wrong places.

i feel that if any female under the age of 20, if they can lay there and have sex then they can stand up and take care of it. But that person also has to realize that she was wrong and ask for help. But if nobody will listen then go talk to your conselor or call me.....