Sleep is a part of our lives. All living beings need sleep because in this way we rest both physically and mentally. Adult sleep is regulated by the internal body clock, which scientists call the biological clock or circadian rhythm. A child is not born with the circadian rhythm of an adult, its biological clock begins to form at the age of 6 to 9 weeks, and even sleep cycles are established after 3 to 6 months. The child gradually reaches a stage where it is mostly awake during the day and mostly asleep during the night. 

Babies go through the same sleep cycles as adults but spend more time in light sleep and have more frequent phases of brief awakenings. This sleep pattern is biologically conditioned and is important for your child’s growth and development.

Regular visits to a gynaecologist are important for every woman.

This is all the more important for adolescents because at the beginning of sexual activity, the exposure to the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies is high, especially if they lack information on these topics.

Ideally, young people should see a gynaecologist before sexual activity to discuss contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, the menstrual cycle etc. However, since there are no ideal situations in life, it is recommended to visit a gynaecologist at least or no later than one year since starting sexual relations.

Adolescents often have a fear of the first gynaecological examination, but this is not necessarily an examination as such, but counselling on various topics, and through several visits to the clinic, the fear of a gynaecological examination disappears. The first examination, in addition to counselling, also includes an examination with gynaecological specula and taking a PAP smear. It is a swab that, in addition to signs of inflammation, also shows the possible presence of various bacteria and viruses, including HPV. This smear or test is done at least once a year. However, experience shows that people report to the doctor primarily when they have a health problem (temperature, pain, etc.) while regular, preventive examinations are often “skipped”. Regular visits to a doctor to prevent diseases are extremely important (for example, a check-up once a year, despite not experiencing any health problems at that time).

The adolescent period encompasses a turbulent period from 10 to 19 years of age, in which many physical and emotional changes take place, a transition from childhood to adulthood. Today, adolescents are characterized by earlier sexual and physical maturation, which is not accompanied by emotional maturation. There is a higher proportion of sexually active adolescents, they enrol in sexual intercourse at a younger age, they experiment, adolescents have a sense of invulnerability, safe methods of protection against pregnancy are not used, which can lead to consequences such as infections of sexually transmitted diseases or adolescent pregnancy.

Pregnancies in adolescence are usually not planned and desired, but happen accidentally, unplanned. We know that adolescence is not an ideal time to give birth because the young organism is still developing and maturing, thus adolescent pregnancies carry certain health risks for both mother and child. When pregnancy is confirmed in adolescent girls, there are two possible choices for a young girl. One is termination of pregnancy, which is regulated by law, or the girl retains the pregnancy, which ends with the birth of a child. In any case, the very knowledge and confirmation of pregnancy is most often unexpected for the adolescent, but also for the family and partner. Failure to cope in such a new situation sometimes requires help and advice in order to make certain decisions related to pregnancy.
If you have kept the pregnancy, you have to take care of your own and the child’s health, since no one but you can do that. By covering up, you endanger both yourself and the child, and in the end, you will still have to face the fact that your surroundings will find out everything. Therefore, boldly take responsibility and do everything possible to prevent possible complications:

1. During pregnancy, regularly attend gynaecological examinations (once a month, and every week during the last month of pregnancy)

2. Check your pregnancy regularly with an ultrasound examination (at least three during pregnancy, and more if necessary)

3. Regularly take laboratory tests prescribed by your gynaecologist

4. Get involved in counselling and courses for pregnant women

In your hand you are holding a pregnancy test, which you bought secretly, so that no one would find out, or you asked a friend to buy it for you. You are home alone in your bathroom, or maybe in a friend’s, in the school restroom, or in your boyfriend’s apartment. You realize the test is positive. Welcome among one of the hundreds of teenage girls who get pregnant every year. Stop, calm down and take a deep breath! You know you have more options. You can choose to continue the pregnancy and keep your baby, or give it up for adoption, or you can terminate the pregnancy. No one can tell you which choice is best for you. You may immediately know what you want and what is best for you, or you will still need time to decide what you actually want. 

If you are thinking about keeping the child, there are a few things you need to start thinking about right now. Those are: 

Where will you live? 

Will your parents provide support? 

How will you support yourself? 

Will you continue school, or will you take a class exam? 

Will your boyfriend, the child’s father, provide assistance? If not, is it a relationship that you want your child to grow up in? 

Do you have enough people around you to support you?

In the next nine months, and especially when the baby is born, you will need support. Do you have it in your family, around you, or will you have to look for it elsewhere: with a family doctor, school psychologist, pedagogue, gynaecologist, social worker? No matter what decision you make, you will need support, understanding and love. It is not an easy task to be responsible for a child with whom you are connected and whom you will love for the rest of your life. In the beginning, children ask for more than they give, but in the end – it is the most beautiful thing you will ever experience. Whenever you need love and understanding, you will find them in them. I hope these questions have focused your thinking and helped you make the right decision.

If you are attending primary or secondary school and you find out you are pregnant, contact one of the professional associates at the school (psychologist, pedagogue) and talk about how to continue your education after being absent due to childbirth and recovery. It would be desirable for your parents, or at least one of them, to be present at this conversation. During this conversation, you should agree on all the details of continuing your education, so that you can return to your school routine, but also take full care of your child. You can return to school when you have fully recovered from childbirth and when you no longer need to rest.

If necessary, you will also be instructed to write a request to the Teachers or Class Council to finish the school year by taking subject or class exams. There is no single procedure that is applied when a student is pregnant at school, but it depends on the agreement with the school. Experience shows that in most cases, school tend to offer support and enable their students to continue their education. That is why it is very important that you talk to your class teacher as soon as possible, as well as professional associates. If you go to vocational school and have the obligation of attending practical education classes, this can be difficult or impossible due to pregnancy, childbirth, and later recovery. Talk to your class teacher about that problem as soon as possible so that you can find a solution together.

The Adult Education Act allows any person over the age of 15 to continue their education. Formal education refers to the acquisition of professional knowledge, skills, and abilities and includes: primary education of adults, secondary education (acquisition of secondary or vocational education, lower education, retraining, training and advanced training) and higher education. Such education is provided by some primary and secondary schools, public open universities, and higher education institutions. Inquire about such opportunities in the area where you live.