It’s hard enough being a teen mom – imagine being just 11 years old. According to Fox News, an 11 year-old girl in the Northeast just gave birth to a baby boy.
“My daughter and baby are fine, and the baby is absolutely beautiful,” said the girl’s mother. Names are not being released in order to protect the girl’s privacy.
Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan, a leading high-risk obstetrician said the body of an 11 year-old is not built to carry a child yet. “Her body is clearly not defined for pregnancy with its short stature,” Al-Khan said. “Her chest is not extensively developed for breast tissue, her bones aren’t quite fused, and once you expose a child this young to high amounts of progesterone and especially estrogen, there is controversy that it could halt her growth.”
Other challenges: the pelvis is not defined for natural childbirth; the vagina could sustain injury during a natural birth; higher risks of pre-eclampsia and pre-term labor (which would mean the baby’s size would be compromised, and the baby is at risk for developmental issues); higher incidence of stillbirth; higher incidence of cholestasis of pregnancy, a condition where the patient starts itching like crazy, which can lead to stillbirth and placenta issues; and a chance of fatty liver developing, which could be fatal.
However, this girl was clearly menstruating and had the ability to become pregnant. I’m surprised Fox News even included this line: “going through with the pregnancy would be a greater risk than having an abortion.” What do you think? Would you let your daughter go through with this?
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Comments
Laura
February 6th, 2010 - 6:22:08 AM
"Let" her? If she wanted to keep the baby, who would I be to tell her she has to have an abortion?
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Jennifer Hudock
February 7th, 2010 - 7:43:29 PM
Wow. 11-years-old. :( Where were her parents? How does something like that even happen? Shy of following my own fifteen-year-old everywhere she goes with a magnifying glass, I would be severely disappointed in her if she got pregnant before finishing high school. I would seriously talk to her about giving the baby up for adoption, as someone that young is just not emotionally capable of the responsibilities that come with parenting. I can't even begin to imagine an 11-year-old mother.
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liz
May 12th, 2010 - 4:02:05 PM
I am young myself but looking at the women older than myself and the teens younger than me its not a thought in my mind to say whos incapable. of being a mother. This is incredibly overwhelming and I know as a young girl she will have many tests, however she chose to bring life into the world. She hopefully has help and support from family and loved ones and she and her little boy will be fine. I am 22 I wish this little lady and her baby the best. It can't be undone and at this point all that matters is that baby his mom and their health I hope there is a father for the baby. Also that this was not a completely negative situation for that 11 year old. As long as this was her chose and shes prepared to do her best all will be as it shall be. Everything happens for a reason. The lord has his plan.
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