The Consequences and Risks of
Youth Parenting
The Responsibilities of Parenthood

Care giving

Parenthood is a 24 hour job
Physical Consequences of Youth
Parenting

Prenatal Care = Medical care of the
mother and fetus before the birth
Pregnant women have to check with a doctor
before taking any medication, even aspirin
 Babies born to youth parents are more likely
to have lower than average birth weight
 Pregnant women should not drink
or smoke

Drinking while pregnant causes
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Emotional Consequences of Youth
Parenting


Feelings of isolation, despair, and
frustration
Children born to youth parents are at a
greater risk for being abused and
neglected
Financial Consequences of Youth
Parenting

Raising a baby is expensive!


Expenses are a shared responsibility between
mother and father
Teens can go to Social Services for
financial help (child support)
Financial Consequences, cont’d…


The younger people are when they have a
baby, the more likely they are to live in
poverty
Some youth parents end up dropping out
of school to earn money to support the
baby
Social Consequences of Youth
Parenting

Youth parents have to give up activities
with friends
Write an Advice Column to Teenage
Parents

In your advice column:

Define emotional maturity & financial
stability



Describe the financial burdens of raising
children
List the demands that infant care make on
the new parents daily schedule
List child care options for teenage parents