8 Tips to Help Pregnant Teens Talk to Parents

Cindy Marcelle
No matter how it happened or what your choice is, telling your parents your pregnant can be one of the toughest things you'll do, but honest, upfront communication with a trusted adult can help ease the worry. Nervous? Here are eight tips to help you talk to your parents when you're pregnant.

1. Tell them early. Chances are it's going to be less problematic for you to tell your parents your pregnant right away then it will be to try and hide it. And having an adults support early on is a good idea.

2. Choose a calm environment free of distractions. Telling your parents your pregnant is a big deal and you want them to hear you - not the TV. Weekday dinner or weekend lunch at the family table can be a good choice.

3. Have a plan. Rehearsing what your going to say is a great way to make sure you're going to get all the information out, and preparing what your going to say can tame your butterflies.

4. Avoid telling them in the car. The car can be a great place for many big talks, but not this one. Telling your parents your pregnant in the car could be catastrophic - the car is defiantly not the place for life changing news.

5. Don't tell them during a fight. Telling your parents your pregnant when they're already mad at you is not a good idea, as it will only fuel the fire. Choose a time when the announcement will come out of love rather than anger.

6. Gather both parents together. No one wants to tell the same story twice, and while this may be hard for divorced families, it's a good idea to tell your folks your pregnant at the same time. By having your parents together while you tell the news you'll be providing them with a support system while defusing tension that could have been place on you.

7. Be upfront. If you're scared, tell them. If you need help, ask. Your parents aren't expecting you to have all the answers, and they probably wont either. Being up front with your parents is the first step toward making responsible decisions about your pregnancy.

8. Remember, they love you. This is going to be hard for them and you'll need to give your parents space to process your pregnancy. But remember, they love you.

You've made a big step my seeking answers to your questions, and it's a good idea to keep the dialogue going. Talking to your parents, the school nurse, or any other trusted adult about your pregnancy is an important way to keep baby and mommy safe.

No matter how it happened or what your choice is, telling your parents your pregnant can be one of the toughest things you'll do, but honest, upfront communication with a trusted adult can help ease the worry. Nervous? Here are eight tips to help you talk to your parents when you're pregnant.

1. Tell them early. Chances are it's going to be less problematic for you to tell your parents your pregnant right away then it will be to try and hide it. And having an adults support early on is a good idea.

2. Choose a calm environment free of distractions. Telling your parents your pregnant is a big deal and you want them to hear you - not the TV. Weekday dinner or weekend lunch at the family table can be a good choice.

3. Have a plan. Rehearsing what your going to say is a great way to make sure you're going to get all the information out, and preparing what your going to say can tame your butterflies.

4. Avoid telling them in the car. The car can be a great place for many big talks, but not this one. Telling your parents your pregnant in the car could be catastrophic - the car is defiantly not the place for life changing news.

5. Don't tell them during a fight. Telling your parents your pregnant when they're already mad at you is not a good idea, as it will only fuel the fire. Choose a time when the announcement will come out of love rather than anger.

6. Gather both parents together. No one wants to tell the same story twice, and while this may be hard for divorced families, it's a good idea to tell your folks your pregnant at the same time. By having your parents together while you tell the news you'll be providing them with a support system while defusing tension that could have been place on you.

7. Be upfront. If you're scared, tell them. If you need help, ask. Your parents aren't expecting you to have all the answers, and they probably wont either. Being up front with your parents is the first step toward making responsible decisions about your pregnancy.

8. Remember, they love you. This is going to be hard for them and you'll need to give your parents space to process your pregnancy. But remember, they love you.

You've made a big step my seeking answers to your questions, and it's a good idea to keep the dialogue going. Talking to your parents, the school nurse, or any other trusted adult about your pregnancy is an important way to keep baby and mommy safe.

Published by Cindy Marcelle

Cindy is no stranger to small town life, and growing up in Vermont she has learned to respect harsh winters, hot summers, and beautiful fall foliage. She lives in a cabin in the mountains with her partner a...  View profile

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.