Empowering Teens During Their Pregnancy

Empowering Teens During Their Pregnancy

Facing an unexpected pregnancy as a teenager can bring on a flood of emotions. We want you to know you are not alone. You are strong and brave. You can discover hope in this situation.

Take a Moment to Process Your Emotions

Emotions can be difficult to understand as a teenager, and pregnancy is an especially emotional experience. Be kind and give yourself grace. Create space to breathe and think through your pregnancy options. Don’t try to make any big decisions when you are emotionally overwhelmed.Seek out emotional support from an adult you can trust, whether that is your parents, a school counselor, a pastor, or a therapist. Here at LivingWell, Client Advocates are ready to sit down with you as you process your pregnancy and consider all your options.

Practice Some Self-Care

Caring for yourself and your body during your pregnancy is very important.

Focus on getting plenty of quality rest and sleep. To ensure you get a full 8 hours of sleep try going to bed earlier and don’t take your phone to bed so your mind can truly rest.

Exercise can be a lovely hobby, but it is important to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor during your pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor low impact activities like walking or swimming.

Reach out to your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins. You also want to make sure you are drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods. You will need to add about 300 calories per day to your diet during your pregnancy. Try to avoid certain foods and drinks like alcohol, energy drinks, sushi, raw eggs, and some types of fish. Speak with your doctor for a complete list of foods to avoid. You can also find more information on this here.

Search Out Resources and Help

Your pregnancy may be stressing you out but knowing the right resources can help relieve that stress. Speak to your school counselor or local resource centers to find help. Make sure to ask about financial assistance programs that might be available to you. If you come into LivingWell, our Client Advocates may be able to offer you some referrals for resources.

Ask about other programs designed to help you reach your education goals such as childcare programs. There may be options through your school, federal programs, or local non-profits. Reaching your education goals will help you and your child in the future, so don’t be afraid to ask for help on your journey.

Lean on Supportive Relationships

Be okay with drawing boundaries to protect yourself. Remember that no one can force you to make a choice against your will. True friends will love and support you during difficult times, so lean on them. These friends are exactly the type of people you will always want and need in your life.

Consider Making an Adoption Plan

You can choose to carry your pregnancy to term without knowing what to do after you give birth. Give yourself time and space to consider adoption options. An adoption plan may be a good choice depending on your situation. Modern adoption can be unique for each mom, with differing levels of contact with your child, ranging from zero contact to frequent communication and interactions. If you want to read more about adoption plans, click here. Just remember, you can make this decision one step at a time.

How can we help?

LivingWell is here to offer you a safe place to process your pregnancy and learn about all your options. If you need to verify your pregnancy or progress, speak with a Client Advocate, or schedule your free and confidential appointment, give us a call at 530.272.6800. We would love to meet with you and answer any questions you may have during this time.

Links

Teen Pregnancy- https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/

Monigatti-Lake, N. “Five Questions You May Have About Adoption.” LivingWell Medical Clinic, LivingWell Medical Clinic, 2022, https://livingwellmedicalclinic.com/category/parenting/

Ben-Joseph, E. P. “Having a Healthy Pregnancy.” KidsHealthy.org, Nemorus TeensHealth, 2017, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/pregnancy.html