Risks of a teenage girl getting pregnant
When a teenage girl becomes pregnant, the risks are greater than if she were older in pregnancy.
For many teenagers, pregnancy is something that has not been planned and if it occurs it can be tremendously challenging … if a teenage girl becomes pregnant she must redirect her life from scratch. In addition, education and the economy are affected and to top it all, becoming pregnant in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of potentially serious health problems for both mother and baby.
The mother’s risk of anemia and postpartum depression is higher , and the baby is more likely to be born prematurely and have a low birth weight. Next we are going to talk about these health risks, although it is worth remembering that to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, young people must have a good sex education.
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
Teen mothers are more likely to give birth to a low-birth-weight baby , that is, a baby weighing less than eight pounds . They are also at increased risk for a number of problems that can affect their heart, lungs and brain . Although some babies born with low birth weight are healthy, it is a serious condition and is one of the most important risks of adolescent pregnancy.
PREMATURE DELIVERY
When women give birth in adolescence, they are at a higher risk of the baby being born prematurely or prematurely . Preterm birth was significantly more likely for adolescent mothers than for women in their 20s or under 30s. Being born prematurely is the leading cause of death in infants and young children … And it is an important risk factor to be aware of.
ANEMIA
Teen mothers are more likely to develop anemia, or an abnormally low level of red blood cells, during pregnancy. Most commonly, anemia is related to an iron deficiency. Anemia during pregnancy can pose problems for both mother and baby, including an increased risk of preterm labor and difficulties during labor and delivery. With severe anemia, the baby’s development before birth can be affected.
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Having a baby as a teenager puts a mother at a higher risk for postpartum depression . Teen mothers are about twice as likely to have postpartum depression compared to adult mothers. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder in new mothers and can start anytime during the first year after having a baby. It can appear as sadness, trouble sleeping, and anxiety . In severe cases, the mother may have thoughts of hurting herself or the baby.
Care and support for pregnant teens
Not all teenagers who get pregnant or all babies born to teenage mothers will have health problems, but the risks are definitely higher. Receiving prenatal care during pregnancy can reduce the risk of health problems associated with a teenage pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor as early as possible during pregnancy and establish a partnership to keep the mother and baby healthy.
In addition, if the pregnancy is unwanted and has been due to lack of sexual education, it is necessary to emphasize this in the lives of adolescents. An unwanted pregnancy in adolescence will change the life of the adolescent completely. In this sense, when your daughter is old enough to start having sex, remember to talk to her about it so that she knows what happens to her body, what sex is, how it should be to be a healthy sex, what are the contraceptive methods, etc.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.