Teenage pregnancies are those that occur among girls between the ages of 13 and 17. These pregnancies are often a result of poverty and poor education, which reduces the chances that a girl is using contraceptives, says Pregnancy Rx. Many teen girls become pregnant as a result of abuse or because their partner is much older than they are. The March of Dimes estimates that three in 10 teen girls will become pregnant at least once before they turn 20. Teen pregnancy causes many difficulties, both for the teen mother and her baby.
Inadequate Weight Gain
In an effort to hide her pregnancy, teen mothers may avoid prenatal care and carry on their lives as if they weren't pregnant. Many of these girls eat an unhealthy diet, says the March of Dimes. Many skip taking prenatal vitamins as well. Doing these things while pregnant can harm the unborn baby and cause birth defects, health problems or even death of the baby. According to Mama's Health, inadequate weight gain in a teen pregnancy can result in a low-birthweight baby. Low birthweight can cause health concerns for the baby, including respiratory problems, bleeding in the brain, and problems with vision and the intestines, says the March of Dimes. This is because a baby that is born with low birthweight often has underdeveloped organs that aren't ready to function outside the womb.
Substance Abuse
Many teens are experimenting with drugs, cigarettes or alcohol and don't discontinue use when they discover they're pregnant. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance use during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, low birthweight and behavioral and cognitive problems for the baby. Babies whose mothers use drugs prenatally are at risk of being born addicted and having to suffer through withdrawal at birth. Alcohol use during pregnancy can result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which causes health problems for the baby. The March of Dimes says teens that smoke while pregnant put their babies at risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
Inadequate Prenatal Care
According to Planned Parenthood, one-third of pregnant teens do not seek prenatal care early enough. If a teen gets sick during pregnancy it can affect her own health as well that of her unborn baby. Early prenatal care checks for sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, and other health conditions that can negatively affect pregnancy. Continued prenatal care ensures that a teen is gaining enough weight and that her baby is developing normally and does not have any serious birth defects or health problems, says Planned Parenthood. Through prenatal care, a teen will learn what signs indicate a problem and which are a normal part of pregnancy. Without this care, a pregnant teen is at higher risk for anemia, high blood pressure and premature labor.
