If you are a teen and pregnant, know that you are not alone! Almost a half million teens give birth each year. The majority of teens who have babies never ever planned on getting pregnant. You may have been surprised when you found out or even hoped it wasn't true. You were probably or still are terrified to tell your parents. Are you afraid of your family, friends or even the baby's father will think? Sharing the news of your pregnancy can be one of the toughest things that you've ever had to do.



Whether you feel confused, worried, scared, or excited, you'll want to know how your life will change, what you can do to have a healthy baby, and what it takes to become a good parent.

The most important thing you can do is to take good care of yourself so that you and your baby will be healthy. Girls who get the proper care and make the right choices have a very good chance of having healthy babies.

Prenatal Care

If you are pregnant, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible to begin getting prenatal care. The sooner you start to get medical care, the better your chances that you and your baby will be healthy.

If you can't afford to go to a doctor or clinic for prenatal care, there are social service organizations that can help you. Ask your parent, school counselor, or another trusted adult to help you locate resources in your community.

During your first visit, your doctor will ask you lots of questions including the date of your last period. This is so he or she can estimate how long you have been pregnant and what your due date will be. Your doctor will measure your pregnancy weeks. Most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks after the first day of a woman's last menstrual period, or 36 to 38 weeks after conception, which is when the sperm fertilizes the egg.

Only a small percentage of women actually deliver exactly on their due dates.

Changes to Expect in Your Body

Pregnancy causes lots of physical changes in the body. Here are some common ones:

• Your breasts will grow

• Acne

• Mood swings

• Nausea and vomiting

• Backache

• Fatigue

Smoking, drinking, and taking drugs when you are pregnant put you and your baby at risk for a number of serious problems, so if you participate in any of these activities be sure to talk to your doctor so that he or she can assist you in quitting.

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