Describes the facts about teen pregnancy, including how to find resources and support, how to care for oneself during and after pregnancy, and the available alternatives to raising the baby.

By all indicators, the reproductive health of Americans has been deteriorating since 1980. Our nation is troubled by rates of teen pregnancies and newborn deaths that are worse than almost all others in the Western world. Science and Babies is a straightforward presentation of the major reproductive issues we face that suggests answers for the public. The book discusses how the clash of opinions on sex and family planning prevents us from making a national commitment to reproductive health; why people in the United States have fewer contraceptive choices than those in many other countries; what we need to do to improve social and medical services for teens and people living in poverty; how couples should "shop" for a fertility service and make consumer-wise decisions; and what we can expect in the futureâ€"featuring interesting accounts of potential scientific advances.

More than 1 million teenage girls in the United States become pregnant each year; nearly half give birth. Why do these young people, who are hardly more than children themselves, become parents? This volume reviews in detail the trends in and consequences of teenage sexual behavior and offers thoughtful insights on the issues of sexual initiation, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, adoption, and the well-being of adolescent families. It provides a systematic assessment of the impact of various programmatic approaches, both preventive and ameliorative, in light of the growing scientific understanding of the topic.

Describes the frequency of teen parenthood, the responsibilities of fatherhood, dealing with a partner's pregnancy, balancing teen parenthood with education and part-time work, and parenting skills.

Discusses how various contraception methods work, as well as their safeness and effectiveness.

Describes what happens when parents divorce, including what changes may occur within a family and how a child will be legally and emotionally affected by the divorce.

Describes the health risks of smoking cigarettes, why some people begin smoking, and the different methods of quitting.

Discusses the harmful effects that alcohol and binge drinking have on teens, including why teens drink, information on binge drinking, peer pressure, and societal costs.

Teen childbearing is associated with adverse health and social outcomes for teen mothers and their children, although these outcomes often reflect pre-existing social deficits. Compared with women who delay childbearing until their 20s, teen mothers are more likely to drop out of school and have low educational attainment; to face unemployment, poverty, and welfare dependency; to experience more rapid repeat pregnancy; to become single mothers; and to experience divorce, if they marry. Infants of teen mothers are more likely to be premature and experience infant mortality. The children of teenage mothers do less well on indicators of health and social wellbeing than do children of older mothers. This book briefly examines some of the data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics on teenage childbearing, offers potential reasons for high teen pregnancy and birth rates, and provides basic information on federal programs whose purpose is primarily to delay sexual activity among teenagers and to reduce teen pregnancy. It also discusses the decline is state teen birth rates by race and Hispanic origin; birth rates for Unites States' teenagers; and the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).

Choosing to become a mother is a difficult choice for any woman. It can be especially difficult for teen mothers without the right kind of support and information. Support is provided within the text, as is the necessary information a new teen mom needs to prepare for the birth of her baby and the first few years of her baby's life.