At what age is pregnancy not considered teen pregnancy anymore? I've always wondered.

My friend is pregnant. She is 18, legally an adult. But it seems it's still considered teen pregnancy.

What are your views? Do you think 18 is a decent age to have a kid? Should an 18 and 19 years old pregnancy be considered as an adult pregnancy ?

As long as a female's body is firmly capable of carrying a child, I don't see why there's a limit. The age 18 is a pretty strong age, I think that you're right, the ages 18/19 should be considered as adult pregnancy. Technically when an individual (regardless of sex) in the U.S. reaches the age limit of eighteen, they become adults.

So, if an eighteen or nineteen year old (as adults) become pregnant, then I don't see why not it considered as adult pregnancy. Though either way, the individual is pregnant.

But, being eighteen and nineteen doesn't necessarily mean it's a 'decent' age to be with child. It's if the individual's body is capable of bearing another life form. Women go through at least 9 months of pregnancy and one painful birth giving, so her body would have to be strong enough, not only old enough.

This is a very interesting debate... P :

I think teen pregnancy is now, around the age of thriteen.
which is horrible, it's Mainly whenever a girl has started her period, and is capable of getting pregnant.
It's horrible though.
I can't see what kind of person want's to have relations, of that manner with someone so young.

I agree with Bfsfaerie i think teen pregnancy is now about thirteen.

Even though 18 is still a very young age you are legally an adult. Before people used to get married at 19 and 20 and had children at that age. So I don't see the big deal about getting pregnant at the age now.

I agree with both of you.

Though I don't see why people would want to submit to intercourse at such a young age.

Hmm, I don't think 18 and 19 are really considered teen pregnancy, you're generally out of school and considered an adult. Is it too young to have a child? I would say yes. I could never imagine being that young with a baby.

Honestly...I don't think that ANYONE is ready for the rigors of having children... When they come is when you are either FORCED to BE ready or you fall short!!!

I got pregnant with my first at 17 but I was over halfway though my 18th year when he was born... I think having kids early is both good and bad... Though I was legally an adult when my son was born I was not ready to be a mommy... First of all I was still living with my mother. I was unemployed and ready to drop out of high school! None of which are a good place to be when you have a child! Needless to say age does not dictate maturity! I by far was not a mature teenage mother (to begin with) but that does not mean you don't love and care for your child! I very much love my oldest! He is my life but as I look back on many of the things I did when he was little I can see how immature I really was! But in the same thought I think that in a few years or even perhaps just one when I plan on having my next child I will look back on things I have done with my second child and think the same! Maturity and wisdom do not simply appear at the age of 18... They are gained though life experience and adaptability and the willingness to learn from our mistakes... Among dozens of other things! Children will inevitably teach you something... About yourself, them, or just life in general...

Sorry got a little off topic!

Thanks Jaz for sharing your experience

@others: My friend is still in high school and to everyone it's still considered a teenage pregnancy. People stare even when she is outside school, because she is still young. I think though it's weird because when you see someone about 21 pregnant you don't think anything of it, but when you see a teen pregnancy everyone's thoughts are "OMG poor kid" or "she shouldn't have got herself in that situation"and looked down apon.

I am 22 now and just had my youngest a little less then 2 months ago. People seem to think they have the right to judge everyone... People still looked at me like I was not ready to have a baby despite the fact that I was toting about a nearly 4 year old! Tell your friend not to worry too much about it! People are nosy and judgmental! That isn't her fault. She should just focus on making her life the best she can so she can provide the baby with the best she can!

the right age to have a kid is the age where you're on your own, able to sustain yourself AND a child.

in the matter of having a kid ya...if your ready to take care of the baby then your fine but then again alot of people think they can handle it but it turns out harder than they thought

Exactly. We actually are never ready to fully bear children. If we were made of iron, (IRON MOMMY xD) maybe, but we know fantasies can never be prepared to reality. I think it is the media that always radiates an 'it's okay to give birth at a young age/or have sex in general' image, but they aren't the only ones out there to blame. : |


( Jaz, I know this is off topic, but I LOVE YOUR AVATAR! x3)

The ages 13-19 are teenage years. No matter what, legally an adult or not, you're still a teenager if you're in that age group, yoz. S'all statistics. You may be a SENSIBLE teenager, but you're still a teenager.

Ah....
My friend is a bit younger than me *im 19* and she is only engaged to this man that she is with, but pregnant.
Although i support my friend to the fullest on her desicion to have a child; i truly worry about how she will finish college, and be able to support her husband as a wife, and her child as a mother.
I pray that she does finish school so she can have a career and not a dead-end job....and that her marriage is sucessful...
I just dont want her to end up alone with a child all by herself...it worries me...but, i must have faith~

Any age under 18 revolts me to be honest.

they've barely finished school, they're certainly not earning enough, they're not working most of the time at all.

they're just gonna be another teenage mum living off benifits. and thats no life for any child.

but, if your 18 or older, you or the father has a good job set up then i don't see why not.

but my own personal opinion (and im 18 now) is that if i got pregnant now by accident (like that actually happens, accidental pregnancy is a myth in my mind!), then i'd get rid of it.
Its no life to bring up a child into when your that young, your practically still a child yourself. Mature, get a job, and a house before you even THINK about it i say.

think of the life your gonna give the kid, not yourself.

I think 18 and 19 and still considered teenage pregnencies because it is still really early for girls to be having children. Yes they are adults but odds are they just got out of high school have a low paying job and may even still be depending on their parents. Having children really prevents them from doing a lot else besides being a parent. They've basically prevented themselves from bringing their children into the world with a good foundation ready for them and have to build it as they go. I think it also prevents mothers who don't plan to be stay at home mothers from getting a good career. I think it's much easier to get the education and the stable job and then take off or leave the career to take care of your child and go back when you think it's time that going out afterwards and trying to get the career of your dreams.

Then again, odds are you'll be much more active and willing to take on the trials of having a child at a younger age then when you're older. I think in your twenties or early thirties is a much more appropriate age to have children, at least in making sure that they have everything they need.

Also, my mom had my older brother when she was 18 or 19 but that's because she was in the navy and the only career she ever wanted was to be a mother. My dad was also working at the time and could provide for the family at the time. She also spaced out her children. My brother is 25, I'm 18 and my little sister is 9.

Honestly, if i were to get pregnant right at this exact moment in time, the child would be doomed, my mother would probably kick me out onto the street, since i have no job i'd probably be a wreck.

I'm 17 years old, and dont think's it's acceptable to have a child under the age of 18. I had a best friend, who was 16 or 17 when i was 14 or 15 who got herself knocked up, did acid while pregnant and yeah, i detest her. Her mother is raising the child for her.

But anyhow, i've known so many 13 and 14 year olds who have given birth that it both sickens me and very much does make me sad.

See the problem with this is, they're younger than me and already a mother. But what type of mother are they? Abusive? You never know, because if they're that young and already having children, are they able to handle the child?

this absolutely bothers me.
I will say nothing further

~Silver

Oh here's something else I forgot to mention.

My dad used to work in the prenatal unit at the hospital. That's where they take care of premature babies. So many of the babies that came early were from really young girls who had no idea how to take of themselves during pregnency. Becoming an early mom might not just hurt how your baby grows up but also how they develop. Being premature isn't always a problem, a lot grow up healthy, but some of those babies that were barely a couple pounds were in real danger. My dad finally had to stop working in there because it was too depressing and he would get attached to the children there.

Also, having a premature baby is really expensive especially if he/she has to be in there for months. If you don't have a job or a steady stream of cash you will be in debt for one heck of a long time.

well, way back when, I'm sure women were getting pregnant as soon as they had their period. but nowadays, you have to have a financial ability to take care of it.
I'm not against teen pregnancy, frankly, they can do whatever th hell they want, It's none of my concern.
But as for myself, i would not get pregnant until i was married and had a financial situation, perfectly able to raise a child in a stable environment.

18 and 19 is still teen pregnancy when you hit 20 it's no longer TEEN pregnancy (( i asked my mommy she tell me so ^.^))

well technically since 18 is the cuttoff age of becoming in adult, it would be considered a regular pregnancy. Although I could see how you would think of it as a teen pregnancy too :sweat:

One thing I think is weird is that most girls are afraid to tell there parents that they are pregnant at a young age because they think their parents would kick them out or something. Yeah, the parents would be extremely disappointed probably. But at the same time the parents are gonna be the main source of help for providing for the child.

Not wanting to offend anyone; just giving my opinion.

I agree with those who say it's a little bit silly to have children when you're a teenager. Even when you're in your early twenties, it can still be really hectic having kids. My cousin (who is twenty-three) married, and works (quite a high-paying job) has trouble balancing everything.

We hardly ever have the time to talk with them, and I'm usually baby-sitting her kid (Jodie, for those who want to know. xDD) They're still a happy-functioning family, but I think they should have waited until they had a proper financial plan, budget and all that jazz before bringing a baby into the world.

Still; I think they'll manage.
x3

I also think that having kids at 12, 13, 14 and so on is just sick.
Once again; not wanting to sound offensive. But think about it; they're pretty much still kids themselves.
I'm 15 myself (well, 14 until September anyways) and if I did have a kid (not gonna happen for a while) I'd break down.
I struggle with chores, school-work, social-life and work as well; throwing a baby into the mix would be my death-warrant.
Some people probably could manage to juggle it all, but I can't and I doubt a lot of teenagers could.

So yeah.
Just adding my two cents.
...
More like three dollars, but you know.
You get the idea.

teenage = 13-19.
but 18 is legal adult.
even though most people at age 18 are still just as immature as children.
go figure.

I myself am a teenage parent and I think you people are very ignorant for putting ALL teenage parents under one catagory. I am more mature than my own mother was when she had me and she was 29. Yes, the majority of teenage parents are irresponsible, have no commitment to being a parent, and have a very tough time with it or hurt their child pre & post natal. Others, like myself, were more than ready physicaly and mentaly to have a child. My boyfriend and I are very responsible, he does not however live with us right now because I just recently moved. He is however moving out here as soon as possible. I am deffinitly more patient and motherly than a lot of parents I know, so I don't have to worry about my baby being hostile or angry towards me. I also had no problem with child birth or pregnancy. I also am more entergetic than older parents so I can keep up with my childs changing needs to play all day or sleep if he wants to. I have no problem taking care of my child and doing the daily things that I used to before he was born.

I think it depends on the person. My friend had her first baby by the age of seventeen and the second by the age of eighteen and she's a horrible mother. There is a girl the same age as me she has three kids and is a great mom.