Teen pregnancy is considered a major health problem with unique medical and psychosocial consequences. However, researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes have been linked to low socioeconomic status, poor nutrition, poor general health, and substance abuse, but not to young maternal age. The scientists concluded that pregnant teens benefit from bonding with other women, comprehensive perinatal education and the development of parenting skills. Fewer low-birth-weight infants, longer child spacing and higher maternal education were attributed to such interventions.
Poor Diet
For a mother under the age of 19, the dietary requirements for pregnancy are added to the already high need for nutrients in normal adolescent growth and development. At an age when social gatherings are devoted to fast food and vending machines, vitamin and mineral supplements cannot substitute for high-quality proteins, plant fiber, probiotics, and healthy fats.
Calorie and protein requirements go hand-in-hand during pregnancy. The absence of adequate calories causes the mother's body to burn protein for energy. According to Anne Frye, author of "Holistic Midwifery," this is a major factor in the development of pre-eclampsia, a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure, which is more common in first-time mothers.
Another complication related to poor diet is iron-deficiency anemia. The National Institutes of Health report that 50 percent of pregnant women do not have enough iron in their body, and adolescents who are growing quickly have an even greater need for this mineral. Dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue and pale color in gums and lower eyelids are symptoms of anemia. Iron-rich foods include raisins, prunes, apricots, pumpkin seeds, beans, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, parsley, romaine lettuce) and lean meats.
Poor Prenatal Care
The stigma of teen pregnancy keeps many adolescent mothers in isolation. They are less likely than older mothers to seek prenatal care until pregnancy is far advanced. Good prenatal care is associated with early detection of infections, anemia and pre-eclampsia, improving outcomes for these complications.
Low-Birth-Weight Babies
According to the National Institutes of Health, teen mothers are two to six times more likely than older mothers to give birth to babies weighing less than five and a half pounds. Low birth weight is associated with preterm delivery, or birth before 37 weeks gestation. Emotional stress, poor nutrition, substance abuse, infection, pre-eclampsia, anemia and lack of prenatal care are risk factors for premature birth.
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is another cause of low birth weight. In this condition, nutrients and oxygen do not reach the fetus, hindering growth. Poor diet, substance abuse and tobacco use are risk factors for IUGR. Growth-retarded babies are more likely to be stillborn, according to The National Institutes of Health.
References
- "Hollistic Midwifery"; Anne Frye, 1998
- Medline Plus: Adolescent Pregnancy
- "Seminars in Adolescent Medicine", Adolescent pregnancy: critical review for the clinician, Miller KA, September, 1985, 1(3)
