Teenagers who get pregnant have greater risks for health issues with the baby than a woman who is 20 or older. Since most teenage girls don't plan to get pregnant, they are less likely to receive prenatal care in the first trimester, which is a critical time in development. In addition to health issues for the baby, the teenage mother is also at greater risk for high blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Higher Mortality Rate
Babies who are born to teenage mothers have a higher risk of dying during their first year than babies of women over 20, according to an article on March of Dimes. They are likely to be low birth weight babies and many of them are born premature. In premature babies, some of the baby's organs haven't completed their development. Complications may include breathing problems, loss of vision, intestinal problems and a bleeding brain.
Lack of Prenatal Care
Since most teenage pregnancies are accidental, teenagers are less likely to receive prenatal care, which includes instruction and support for the mother during pregnancy, monitoring the baby and mother during pregnancy and running routine tests. Not getting the prenatal care increases the risks of nutrition-related problems with the baby, such as birth defects from the lack of folic acid and other essential nutrients, according to WomensHealth.gov. Without proper monitoring of the mother and baby's health, certain conditions, like gestational diabetes and hypertension may go untreated.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
According to KidsHealth.org, the younger a person is when she starts having sex, the more likely she is to contract a sexually transmitted disease. Approximately 48 percent of sexually transmitted infections occur in people ages 15 to 24, according to PregnantTeenHelp.org Some of these infections include chlamydia which can cause pneumonia or eye infections in the baby, syphilis which may cause blindness or even death and HIV which may be passed on to the baby.
Unhealthy Teen Lifestyles
Many teens experiment in unhealthy lifestyle choices that may affect their babies, according to WomensHealthChanel.com. Teenage girls are more likely than women in their 20s to smoke during pregnancy. Smoking while pregnant may cause low birth weight in the babies as well as other health problems, since it interferes with oxygen supply. Alcohol may cause fetal alcohol disorders, according to the March of Dimes. Smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use may cause a wide spectrum of health problems for the baby and the teenage mother.
Teenage Mother's Health Risks
Not only does the baby have a greater chance for health issues, so does the teenage mother. According to Smith.edu, teen mothers have a higher risk of placental problems, anemia and hypertension.
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