What to Do If Your 13 Year Old Is Pregnant? A Parent’s Guide Through the Storm

Stay Calm (Even If You Feel Like Screaming)

Hearing that your 13-year-old is pregnant? Yeah — it's one of those moments where time stops. Your brain might short-circuit. Totally normal. But the most important first step is: take a deep breath.

Your reaction matters more than you think

At this stage, your kid is likely scared, confused, maybe even ashamed. If your first response is anger or judgment, you might close the door on honest communication. You don’t have to pretend everything's fine — just don’t explode.

I know a dad who found out through a text message his daughter forgot to delete. He panicked, freaked out... and she ran away for two days. Lesson learned.

Be the calm in the chaos. You'll need each other more than ever now.

Understand the Legal and Medical Realities

Start with a medical check-up

Get a doctor involved ASAP. Not only to confirm the pregnancy, but also to assess her physical health. A 13-year-old’s body is still developing — there are real medical risks.

Your pediatrician or local clinic can guide you toward the next steps without pressure.

Know your state or country’s laws

Depending on where you live, the law might require reporting this to authorities — especially if the other person is significantly older. In some cases, this could involve child protective services or even law enforcement.

Don’t Google for hours — call a family lawyer or social worker and get clear info. Trust me, guessing in this situation is not your friend.

Explore All Options (Without Rushing the Decision)

Talk openly about choices — all of them

Pregnancy termination, adoption, parenting... these are heavy topics for anyone, let alone a young teen. But she deserves to understand her choices. Don’t decide for her. Guide her.

And yes — even if you’re strongly pro-life or pro-choice, this situation will test your beliefs in real time. Compassion must come first.

Involve a counselor or therapist

You probably aren’t equipped to handle the emotional storm this will bring. And that’s okay. A licensed mental health professional who works with teens and families is invaluable here. They’ll help your daughter process her feelings — and help you avoid falling apart.

Protect Her Future — and Yours Too

Keep her in school

One of the biggest risks for pregnant teens is dropping out. But education is key to her long-term stability, whether she becomes a parent or not.

Many school districts offer alternative programs or support services for pregnant teens. Ask the school counselor what’s available. Don’t wait.

Get support — no shame in that

Whether it’s family, community groups, churches, or even Reddit forums — you need a support system too. You don’t have to do this alone, and you shouldn’t.

I once met a single mom whose daughter got pregnant at 13. She told me, “What saved us was another teen mom at her school who became like a big sister. We thought we were drowning, but someone threw us a rope.”

Watch for Signs of Abuse or Coercion

This one’s heavy, but real. A 13-year-old doesn’t end up pregnant in a vacuum. Ask (gently but firmly) how this happened. Was the partner older? Was it consensual?

If there’s any sign of abuse, manipulation, or coercion — you must report it. Even if your daughter begs you not to. Her safety comes first.

Conclusion: It's Not the End. It’s a Hard Beginning.

Yes, your 13-year-old is pregnant. Yes, this is life-changing. But it’s not a death sentence for her future — or yours.

Lead with love. Get informed. Ask for help. Let her know she’s not alone — and neither are you. This journey is hard, unfair, emotional... but with the right support, it can be navigated.

She’s still a kid. But with your help, she can make adult choices — one step at a time.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.