Teen pregnancy rates have declined significantly since the 1990s according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, and of those pregnancies, more than half occur to women who are 18 or 19. Developmental rates, both physical and emotional, vary widely from one teen to the next, making it difficult to ascertain whether a teen is physically or emotionally able to handle childbearing. Even teens who are healthy and mature face risks and disadvantages that may be difficult to overcome. Still, it's possible for teens to deliver and parent healthy children, especially if they know and are able to navigate the associated risks.
Pregnancy Complications
The younger you are, the more likely you are to have pregnancy complications according to the NIH. Teens have an increased risk of premature birth, high blood pressure, anemia and placenta problems. Teens also more regularly deliver low birth weight babies. According to an article published in the "Journal of School Health" in 1998, low birth weight could be attributed to immature reproductive systems or a teen's desire to minimize weight gain during pregnancy. Most instances of low birth weight are caused by premature delivery, however, teens are at an increased risk slowed fetal growth. Teens are also more likely to participate in risky behaviors, according to the March of Dimes, like smoking, unprotected sex and substance abuse. Teens who contract sexually transmitted infections can pass these infections on to their babies.
Social and Emotional Complications
Having a baby as a teenager forces many women to skip entire developmental periods, jumping essentially from being a child to an adult in a short period of time. This can lead to depression and anxiety according to the American Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry. It's common for teens to struggle with their decisions to parent. Once babies are born, teens often lose their idealistic views of cute, cuddly babies and learn how difficult and demanding parenting can be. This can also trigger depression and anxiety. Many teens experience jealousy, sadness or resentment when they see their friends attending school functions, going to parties and living seemingly care-free lifestyles instead of having to care for a baby. Teen pregnancy also carries a social stigma that can contribute to a teen dropping out of school or losing friends.
Poverty
Only around 40 percent of teenage mothers go on to graduate high school, according to the March of Dimes. Lack of education usually leads to low-wage work and may prevent a teen from obtaining financial independence. Many teens and their babies live with family members or depend on financial assistance from the government to make ends meet. The March of Dimes reports that around 64 percent of families that consists of an unwed teen mother and her children live in poverty. Teen parents often have another child with two years, according to the NIH, which increases financial strife. The children of teen parents are more likely to have difficulty in school, to get arrested, to live in poverty or to have children themselves as teens.
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