Teenage pregnancy is something that happens every day. Television shows, such as 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom and many others, expose the harsh reality of being a child and trying to raise one. Coming from a mother who was pregnant at sixteen and living in a single parent home, I know firsthand how parental mistakes have lasting effects on the child. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Everyone knows how this happens. This could be an accident, but it could also be due to ignorance. Teenage pregnancy not only affects the lives of the parents, but it also affects the child. When a young girl becomes pregnant, it not only changes her life, but also that of her unborn child. When someone this young carries a child, it can cause problems for both mother and baby. Throughout pregnancy and even after birth, many face problems such as complications during childbirth, malnutrition and mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Not all women are the same, so childbirth can be different for each individual. Some can deliver perfectly, but others may have complications and need an emergency C-section. When age becomes a factor, most doctors become very concerned. Doctors also begin to monitor the baby very closely to ensure that there are no signs of ill health. When someone so young and not yet fully developed conceives a child, the chances of having a perfect, healthy baby are very slim. Malnutrition becomes a major problem for most infants of teenage mothers. It is very important that the mother is healthy so that in return, a healthy baby is produced. In the life of a child, from toddler to adolescence, some discover that the child suffers from a mental illness. Depression, bipolar disorder to anxiety and many more have been recorded. Any of the above stories can occur in any pregnancy and happen to any child, but there is evidence that teen pregnancy rates are higher. Both of my parents, high school and scholarship athletes, were eager to live out their dreams of playing college sports. My father, a few months before graduating, and my mother, a year younger and committed to playing softball at the University of Chattanooga, soon discovered their lives were turned upside down. Because of a careless mistake, my parents gave up on their dreams of a college athletic career. My dad ended up going to Middle Tennessee State University, even after his relationship with my mom broke down, and my mom was just trying to finish her senior year of high school. Many people can't say they were at their mother's graduation, nor can they claim they were there for the first day of college, but I was there. I have never been so proud of my parents. Both graduated from high school and college while raising a child. Most teenage girls who become pregnant tend to drop out due to the pressure of being pregnant or the stress of raising a child and attending school. As the child of a teenage parent, I faced many stereotypes. Growing up, I was told not to be "as stupid as my parents", and I was told that I might become like the other twenty-two percent of children raised by a teenager, and.