Teens Helping Teens
Choices and Consequences
Problem Pregnancies
You do have choices! Many people want to help you and your baby. Caring Pregnancy Centers can assist you with finances, medical care, housing, legal aid, educational alternatives, or whatever is making your pregnancy a problem. To find such help in your area go to: www.optionline.org or e-mail
[email protected]. A pregnant teen needs a friend: Be a friend by encouraging her not to make a quick decision. Haste does make waste of her life and her baby’s. Be a friend by locating a caring pregnancy center in her area. Free help is just a phone call away. Be a friend by encouraging her to see a doctor for a pregnancy test. Maybe she really isn’t pregnant! Be a friend who prays for and with her. Don’t leave God out! Be a friend who is not judgmental and who will stick with her. Be her Good Samaritan. Be a friend who gives her this pamphlet and other informative materials. Ignorance isn’t bliss! Be a friend who reminds her that her dearest friend, Jesus, promises to be with her every difficult, frustrating, and joyful step of the way. “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 Lutherans For Life • 1120 South G Avenue • Nevada, IA 50201-2774 • 888-364-LIFE • 515-382-2077 • Fax (515) 382-3020
[email protected] • www.lutheransforlife.org • Item #601R
Take time to think
Why not abortion?
If you make a quick decision about your pregnancy, you could regret it for the rest of your life. Pregnancy affects “all of you”—not just your body. That’s why abortion can affect you emotionally and spiritually as well as physically. Don’t let anyone rush you into a decision about something that important.
God cares about you in your pregnancy! God wants to forgive you no matter what you’ve done.
He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die as proof of His love for you.
God planned sex as a special gift and privilege of
marriage. Sex outside of that committed union creates problems. Teen pregnancy is one of them.
While God’s perfect plan is to have new life created
within marriage, nevertheless, a child created outside of marriage is known by God and is a person for whom Christ died. The new life you are carrying belongs to God.
Being an unwed pregnant teenager is not an
unforgivable sin. In 1 John 1: 9 it says that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God has a plan for you in this pregnancy. His word makes it clear that His plan is not abortion.
“You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother.”
Psalm 139:13 GOD’S WORD
First, because abortion takes the life of a baby created by God and for whom He has a plan. Secondly, because abortion hurts you.
Physical Effects
Abortion can result in a damaged cervix or scarred uterus, leading to the miscarriage of a future child who is “planned.” Abortion can result in hemorrhaging and infection and the need for a hysterectomy, resulting in the inability to ever have children.
Emotional Effects
Most of the girls and women who carry their babies to term, despite the difficulties involved, feel good about allowing their children to live. But the majority of those who choose abortion admit to later regretting their decision. Nightmares, guilt, depression, and problems in relationships are some of the complications reported by abortive women. Abortion has also been linked to suicide, chemical dependency, anorexia, child abuse, and divorce.
Spiritual Effects
Abortive women often become uncertain about their salvation, feeling that God can no longer love them. Many believe they are unworthy of forgiveness and feel separated from their Savior. In abortion there are two victims—the unborn child and the mother of that child who thinks abortion will solve her problem.
