What Is Teenage Pregnancy?
Teenage pregnancy happens when a woman under the age of 20 is pregnant. It usually refers to teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. But that could have girls as young as 10. It’s also called teen marriage or teenage pregnancy.
In the U.S., teenagers’ birth rate and the number of births of teen mothers have steadily dropped since 1990. In 2018, just under 180,000 babies were born between 15 and 19 years of age. Teen birth rates have fallen by 70% over the last 3 decades. The trend is driven both by the fact that fewer teens have sex and more use birth control when they do.
What’s the sign of teenage pregnancy?
You would probably first realize that you are pregnant when you skip a regular period. But if you’re going to have a very light period around the time, you expect it doesn’t assume you’re not pregnant. Very light bleeding may occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy.
Signs of pregnancy shall include:
- Missed or very light period
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea, often in the morning
- Vomiting
- Feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Weight gain
- Feeling tired
- Swelling abdomen
Adolescent Pregnancy Risks
Pregnant adolescents and their unborn babies have unique medical risks.
1. Lack of prenatal care
Pregnant teenagers are at risk of not having the right prenatal care, especially if they do not have their parents’ support. Prenatal care is important, especially during the first months of pregnancy. Prenatal care looks for medical issues with both the mother and the child, monitors the child’s growth, and handles any complications that arise quickly. Prenatal vitamins with folic acid—ideally taken before pregnancy—are essential for preventing certain birth defects, such as neural tube defects.
2. High blood pressure
Pregnant adolescents are at higher risk of having high blood pressure-called pregnancy-induced hypertension than pregnant women in their 20s or 30s. They are also at greater risk of preeclampsia. This is a dangerous medical disorder that combines high blood pressure with excess protein in the urine. It causes swelling of the mother’s hands and face and damage to the organ.
3. Premature birth
Full-term birth lasts nearly 40 weeks. A baby that delivers before 37 weeks is a premature baby or “preemie.” Premature labor that starts too early in pregnancy may be stopped by treatment in some cases. Other times, the child needs to be born early for the health of the mother or baby. The earlier the child is born, the greater the risk of respiratory, digestive, vision, neurological, and other problems.
4. Low-birth-weight baby
Teens are at high risk of having low birth weight children. Premature babies are more likely to weigh less than they should be. In part, that’s because they had less time to grow up in their womb. A low-birth baby weighs just 3.3 to 5.5 pounds. A very-low-birth-weight baby weighs less than 3.3 pounds.
5. Postpartum depression
Pregnant teens may be at increased risk of postpartum depression, according to the CDC. Girls who feel sad and depressed, whether they’re pregnant or after birth, should speak freely to their doctors or anyone else they trust. Depression may interfere with the treatment of a newborn—and healthy teenager development—but it can be treated.
How’s adolescent pregnancy diagnosed?
Most supermarkets and drug stores are offering home pregnancy tests. These tests are designed to detect pregnancy hormones in the urine. They are the most effective if you use them more than a week after your missed period.
If a home pregnancy test shows that you are not pregnant, wait a week, and take another test to ensure that you are not pregnant.
If you are pregnant by a home test, you need to make an appointment with the doctor. They’re going to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test and maybe a physical exam.
Adolescent Pregnancy Health Risk Prevention
If you’re a teen who’s pregnant, here’s how to keep your pregnancy healthy:
- Get early prenatal treatment for you. Call the doctor for your first pregnancy appointment as soon as you think you might be pregnant. If you cannot afford to see a doctor, ask the school nurse or counselor to help you locate a low-cost clinic and other support. For example, they will help you find state Medicaid or WIC (Women, Babies, and Children) programs.
- Stay away from alcohol, drugs, and smoking. This harms the unborn child more than they harm the growing teenager. If you can’t stop by yourself, ask someone you trust for support.
- Take a prenatal vitamin of at least 0.4 mg of folic acid per day to help avoid birth defects. Ideally, this should start before you get pregnant.
- Ask for your emotional support. Motherhood brings with it untold emotional and practical challenges—especially for teens still in school. Look out to others—your parents, relatives, the father of the child—for emotional and practical support.
- For healthy adolescents, the chances are good to have a healthy lifestyle during adolescent pregnancy.
How can adolescent pregnancy be prevented?
The best way to make sure you’re not getting pregnant is not having sex. However, there are also ways to reduce the risk of getting pregnant if you are sexually active.
According to a study published in the journal PLoS One, abstinence-only sex education was positively associated with increased teen pregnancy.
Many communities provide counseling and support services to help prevent teen pregnancy.
These groups may offer information on birth control and help adolescents realize their own sexual limitations to not get into situations where they may have unprotected sex and become pregnant.
Some programs provide peer counseling since it may feel more comfortable talking to someone of your own age. For information on programs in your city, contact your health department.
The Bottom Line
Although teens can often deliver healthy babies safely, there are possible health risks for both mothers and infants. If you get pregnant, you should contact a doctor as soon as possible to discuss your pregnancy.
Many methods are used to help prevent pregnancy, including IUDs, birth control tablets, and condoms.
In comparison, many organizations, such as SHIFT NC in North Carolina and Planned Parenthood, provide adolescent support or counseling programs. You should also make sure to look for regional groups in your country or city.
