DAY 2

    Every Tuesday, prenatal check-ups are made available at the Suba-Masulog Health Center. While accompanying my mother during her pregnancies, I routinely accompanied her to these appointments. However, upon encountering the prenatal check-ups for pregnant women myself, I found myself at a loss. Uncertain of the protocol, I harbored a desire to inquire, but the steady influx of patients precluded such opportunities. Consequently, I opted to observe quietly, deferring my questions until a more opportune moment arose. The clinic staff diligently attended to each expectant mother, leaving little room for extraneous inquiries. Hence, I chose to acquaint myself with the procedures through observation prior to offering assistance. The primary responsibilities involved recording vital signs such as blood pressure, weight, and height. Additionally, for expectant mothers undergoing their first pregnancies, I aided in completing informational booklets.

    Throughout the day, I was able to tend to pregnant women of varying ages. One of the youngest patients I helped was of age 14 with a spouse of 23 years old. This was kind of alarming to me as the girl is a minor. Nevertheless, I refrained from reacting in any manner and maintained a composed and hospitable demeanor towards the expectant mother. It was on that particular day that I came to a profound realization regarding the prevalence of teenage pregnancies, thereby underscoring the evident dearth in their understanding of safe sexual practices. As I aspire to pursue a career in Pediatrics, I earnestly aim to contribute towards the enhancement of awareness surrounding safe sex practices. Adolescents must comprehend the immense responsibility associated with parenthood and acknowledge that the primary burden falls upon their parents.

    That day, when I was talking with pregnant women, I got a real eye-opener about what teens go through when it comes to sex and having kids. Seeing how clueless some of them are about safe sex really hit me. It made me think we need way better sex ed and easier access to healthcare for teens. I started thinking about all the reasons why teens end up pregnant, like how society and money play into it, and how schools aren't doing enough to teach about this stuff. It just made me more set on becoming a Pediatrician and making sure I can help teens get the info and support they need to make smart choices about their bodies and futures.