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www.FredParent.NET • • • 17 I deally, young people will wait until they are finished with their education and established in their careers to start families. however, when pregnancy comes too early, local resources are available to help, and it is crucial that pregnant teens, already a vulnerable population, take full advantage of these services which are listed in the sidebar accompanying this piece. According to Dr. Brenda hines of new Beginnings oB/Gyn in Fredericksburg, "in 2012, there were 305,388 babies born to women age 15-19, which is a slight decrease from prior years, as per the Centers for "Preventing teen and unplanned pregnancy will help improve high school completion, contribute to increas- ing the number of college graduates, and make our workforce more competitive. Only 40 percent of teen mothers finish high school, and less than two percent of those girls earn a college degree by age 30." —The National Plan to Cut Teen Pregnancy By MAry BeCeLiA So Many Reasons to Wait continued on pg 19 "Community college students really have an advantage with their professors. They want the best for you. Talk with them, because they'll really support you." YOUR FUTURE. OUR COMMITMENT. - Rob Lewis, Germanna Community College Student Government Association and student representative to the College Council. Germanna offers over 30 programs in transfer, and career & technical areas of study taught by dedicated faculty committed to your success. Get started today, complete your free application and register for classes at www.germanna.edu, or call 540.891.3000. TEEN Pregnancy: Disease Control (CDC). These patients are at risk for many complications during pregnancy, so prevention of teen preg- nancy is of paramount importance. Teen mothers are more likely to be uneducated and live in poverty. Their children have an increase incidence of learning disabilities. "These women have an increased risk for medical and social complications during pregnancy, including preterm labor, pregnancy induced hypertension, substance abuse and anemia. stillbirths and neonatal deaths are 50 percent higher in this population. These problems are exacerbated due to the late onset of prenatal care generally seen in this population. American Congress of obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends early intervention. Girls age 11-15 should begin regular visits with a gynecologist and continue throughout their adolescent years. Abstinence is encouraged and contraception should be implemented as needed."