What to Know about Pregnancy as a Minor: Rights and Options

You imagined thrilling memories with friends and challenging days of school when you pictured your teenage years, but you never pictured an unexpected pregnancy. As uncertainty, confusion, and even fear threaten to consume you, know that you aren’t alone. Even as a pregnant teenager, you have options! You have the strength you need to make the best decision for you. So, choose to know the options you have!

Understanding the Legal Rights of a Minor

In Tennessee, a minor is anyone who is under the age of 18. By law, parents or legal guardians must protect and support minors. As a minor, your parents must give their permission for certain things such as a driver’s license or certain medical procedures. However, regarding your pregnancy, a pregnant woman under the age of 18 has the right to make a decision about her pregnancy. No one else can force a minor to make a decision regarding her pregnancy.

Medical Consent and Confidentiality

Legally, pregnant minors can receive prenatal care without the consent of their parents. Medical care may include doctor visits, labs, ultrasounds, delivery, and other medical requirements throughout the pregnancy. Healthcare providers must keep medical records confidential and cannot tell parents anything. In addition to prenatal care, healthcare providers can provide minors with contraception without their parents’ consent or knowledge. Minors can also seek testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections without the knowledge of their parents.

Choosing Between Parenting, Adoption, and Abortion

In Tennessee, a minor can choose to parent the baby or to place the baby for adoption. In Tennessee, abortion is no longer an option, except in certain circumstances. Every state has different abortion laws for a minor. Among the states without abortion bans, 25 require some level of parental involvement in a minor’s ability to access abortion care while 13 states and D.C. have no parental involvement requirements. If you live in a state where it is available, medical professionals should educate a minor about abortion contraindications, procedures, and risks.

Rights Regarding Adoption

You do not need to get your parents’ consent to place your baby up for adoption (unless you are younger than 13 or 14 years old). Your parents may want to be involved in the process, but you’ll make all the decisions regarding the adoption. The adoption process works the same no matter your age. After selecting an adoption agency, the agency will walk you through each step of the pregnancy. Adoption costs you nothing, and sometimes, pregnancy-related costs may be covered by the agency.

Protections Against Parental Pressure

Your parents may subtly try to convince you to have an abortion by telling you that they’ll no longer support you if you have a baby, or they’ll make you leave the house. Legally, your parents cannot pressure you to have an abortion. If you feel like anyone is pressuring you to have an abortion, you should contact a trusted professional. The law protects your right to make your own decisions.

Managing School and Education

Eventually you’ll want to tell your high school that you are pregnant so that they can support you well. No one can force you to transfer schools or to drop out of school. Legally, the school must accommodate you and give you permission to leave school for doctor’s appointments or pregnancy-related reasons. The school should even help you make up anything that you missed. You can still be involved in clubs and school activities.

Summary of Consent and Access Rights

The following table summarizes the ability of minors to access various services based on the provided data: