How to Have the Talk with Your Pregnant Teen

If your teenage daughter is pregnant, be assured that you are not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in three teens will become pregnant before the age of 20. If your teenage daughter is among one of these teens, it's important to keep the lines of communications open. When having the "talk" with your teen, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are a few tips and some common advice on how to communicate with your pregnant teenage daughter and a few things to avoid.

The most important advice that anyone can offer is to keep your cool. It's only natural to be angry but conveying this to your teen will not help the situation. To discuss the pregnancy with your teenager, remember not to yell, lecture, or otherwise say anything that will stop the lines of communication.

Listen. While having this talk with your pregnant teen is dire, so is listening. Becoming pregnant as a teenager is not typically desirable for the teen either. Your daughter will no doubt be afraid and embarrassed about her situation. Listening as well as talking will create a more comfortable atmosphere for your teen.

Do not assume that your pregnant daughter knows and/or fully understands her options. Despite the fact that she is in a very adult situation, most teens do not yet have the maturity to grasp the full weight of their decisions. Take the time to explain the various choices available to her.

Another important tip is to not go into this conversation with your teenage daughter with the decisions made for her. Although you are the parent, you can not make this decision for her. Your daughter will be a parent herself soon.

If you don't know how to talk to your teen about the pregnancy, consider getting some materials from your local Planned Parenthood. They may be able to offer you brochures and other reading materials beneficial to both you and your child and offer otherwise valuable tips and advice.

Avoid punishing your pregnant teen. This will only lead to resentment and even further reluctance when you try to offer helpful advice.

Speaking with the parents of the father to be is fine, however, do not assume that you must include them in your initial conversation with your pregnant teen. This can be a very uncomfortable situation for all parties involved and like you, they may need some time to deal with this concept.

Do not pressure your teen to immediately have plans in mind. They are probably still grappling from the realization that they are pregnant.

Make sure that you don't state things in such a way that devalues your pregnant teen. She undoubtedly will suffer from low self esteem and regrets the decisions that she has made.

Stress to your child how much you love them and care about them. This may be one of the most important tips yet. During this time, they need you more than what they know and are willing to admit.

Being the parent of a pregnant teen is not easy for you or your daughter. However, the best thing that a parent can do is to be able to talk about it with their child. For more advice on teen pregnancy and resources, consider a visit to your local planned parenthood or health department.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Www.4Parents.gov.