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Shows such as 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, and the Secret Life of the American Teenager increased our awareness of teen pregnancy. Since these programs took over TV, the teen pregnancy rate has dropped to an all-time low of 22.3 per 1,000 women aged 15-19. In Minnesota, the teen pregnancy rate dropped 69 percent between 1990 and 2015.

Sadly, those who become pregnant before the age of 20 still face significant stigma, not to mention financial burdens. Adoption can ease some of this strain, while also allowing adoptive parents the opportunity to build a loving family. Read on for eye-opening statistics about teenage pregnancy and adoption — plus valuable resources for teen mothers and prospective adoptive parents.

Statistics About Teenage Pregnancy and Adoption

As an expecting mother considering adoption, you experience a mix of difficult emotions. Sometimes, cold, hard facts prove surprisingly useful for shedding light on and processing these feelings. Keep the following statistics in mind as you explore adoption:

  • Teenage mothers in 40 states can place their children for adoption without alerting their own parents
  • Several decades ago, 95 percent of unmarried adolescent mothers pursued adoption. Now, an adoption plan plays into just three of every hundred teenage pregnancies.
  • Birth mothers are, on average, 29 years old at the age of adoption. Teenage birth mothers are less common than most people suspect. However, 88 percent of birth mothers are younger than the eventual adoptive mother.

Resources for Further Learning:

Ready to learn more about the role adoption can play for pregnant teenagers and prospective parents? These resources may help:

Whether you’re a birth mother or hope to become an adoptive parent, you deserve compassionate support from your Minnesota lawyer. Contact the law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. today to schedule your case consultation.