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Teen Pregnancy. Teen Pregnancy. Every year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant. 11% of US births are to teens each year 1 of 3 women will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 85% of teen pregnancies are unintended
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Teen Pregnancy • Every year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant. • 11% of US births are to teens each year • 1 of 3 women will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 • 85% of teen pregnancies are unintended • 43% of unintended pregnancies occurred while using contraception
Choices to Make • Adoption – open or closed • Parenting – marriage, single parent, shared custody… • Abortion • Any choice will affect the pregnant girl, the father of the child, the child, and many others
Factors that influence a teenager facing pregnancy • What are the options? Solutions? • Economic Factors • Social Factors • Relationships • Career goals • Family values • Faith values • Age
Outcomes of Teen Pregnancies • Out of 100 unmarried pregnant teens: • 37 Had abortions • 17 had miscarriages • 12 married the baby’s father before the baby was born • 31 raised the baby themselves in their parents home • 3 allowed the baby to be adopted
Adoption • Only 1-3% of babies born to teens are put up for adoption • There are over 2 million couples in the US who are waiting to adopt • May choose to have an open or a closed adoption
Adoption • A truly loving choice • Many teens cannot offer their child all they want to • Many families are eager to accept a child into their family
Adoption • What are some challenges in adoption? • What are some good things about adoption?
Abortion • An abortion is the premature removal of the products of conception (the fetus, fetal membranes, and placenta) from the uterus.
Abortion • Many types of abortion (early vs. late term abortions) • It is an option in all states, though different states have different laws • 2010 – 1,210,000 abortions took place in the US • 22% of US pregnancies end in abortion • In 2007 42% of pregnancies in NYC ended in abortion • CDC & AGI
Legality • In the US a woman has a right to an abortion • 1973 – Roe vs. Wade decision • Each state has different laws concerning abortion, availability, funding, parental notification, etc…
Early-Term Abortions – 12 weeks • Suction Aspiration – • “vacuume curettage” • The cervix is dilated • A suction tube with a sharp edge is inserted into the uterus • The suction dismembers the body of the fetus and removes blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and fetal parts
Early Term Abortions – 12 weeks • Dilatation (Dilation) and Curettage (D&C) • Cervix is dilated • A loop shaped steel knife is inserted • The body of the fetus is cut into pieces and removed • The placenta is scraped off the uterine wall
Early Term Abortions – 12 weeks • RU-486 • Requires 3 trips to the facility • First visit – physical exam and pill which block the hormone which maintains the lining of the uterus, so that the developing fetus starves for lack of nutrients • Next visit - 36-48 hours later gives another medications to initiate uterine contractions to expel the fetus • Visit 2 weeks later to be sure the abortion has taken place
Later Term Abortions – 2nd Trimester • Dilation and Extraction (D&E) • Forceps with sharp metal jaws are used to grasp parts of the developing baby, which are then twisted and torn away • Skull may have to be crushed in order to be removed
Later Term Abortions – 2nd and 3rd Trimester • Instillation Methods • Salt Poisoning – amniotic fluid is removed and replaced with saline solution which burns and poisons fetus. Woman usually goes into labor within 72 hours and delivers dead fetus.
Reasons for Abortions • Most abortions are sought by unmarried women under the age of 25 • 21% - financial reasons • 21% - not ready for responsibility • 16% - life would change too much • 12% - relationship difficulty • 11% - too young • 8% - children are already grown up • 6 % - woman or fetus has medical condition • 1% - rape or incest • Torres and Forrest (1998)
Effects of Abortions • Higher risk of breast cancer • Risk of uterine perforation • Increase in ectopic pregnancy • More likely to have complications in subsequent pregnancies • Hemorrhage • Infection • Laceration of cervix
Effects of Abortion • Post Abortion Syndrome • Can happen any time after abortion • Feelings of guilt, pain, regret, etc… after abortion • Project Rachel – Catholic ministry of counselors and priests who help those who have been affected by abortion • Ministers to women, grandparents, fathers, siblings, etc…
Morality of Abortion • When does human life begin? • "Although life is a continuous process, fertilization ... is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is formed when the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the oocyte." (Ronan O'Rahilly and Fabiola Muller, Human Embryology & Teratology, 3rd ed., New York: Wiley-Liss, 2001, p. 8) • "It is the penetration of the ovum by a spermatozoan and resultant mingling of the nuclear material ... that constitutes the culmination of the process of fertilization and marks the initiation of the life of a new individual." (Bradley M. Patten, Human Embryology, 3rd ed., New York: McGraw Hill, 1968, p. 43).
Morality of Abortion • "Zygote. This cell results from the union of an oocyte and a sperm during fertilization. A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo)." ... "[The zygote] marked the beginning of each of us as a unique individual." (Keith L. Moore and T.V.N. Persaud, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th ed., Philadelphia: Saunders, 2003, pp. 2,16) • "The zygote thus formed represents the beginning of a new life." (J.P. Greenhill and E.A. Friedman, Biological Principles and Modern Practice of Obstetrics, Philadelphia: W.B. Sanders, 1974, p. 17)
Morality of Abortion • Abortion is legal, but not necessarily morally right • As Catholics, we believe life begins with CONCEPTION • Abortion is not acceptable in any circumstance
Parenting • About 12% of pregnant teens choose to marry the baby’s father • 31% will raise the baby in their parent’s home • 90% of teenagers who choose to parent will never attend or graduate from college
Parenting • What aspects of a teen’s life will be affected by her choice to parent?
What is the Best Choice??? • How would you make this choice? • What would you choose?