Adolescent Pregnancy
Alternate Names : Pregnancy - Teenage, Teenage Pregnancy
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Adolescent Pregnancy Complications
Adolescent pregnancy is associated with higher rates of illness and death for both the mother and infant. Teenage girls are not only less ready than older women EMOTIONALLY to have a baby, they are less ready PHYSICALLY to have a health baby.
Pregnant teens are at much higher risk of having serious medical complications such as toxemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, significant anemia, premature delivery, and/or placenta previa. The maternal death rate for mothers age 15 or younger is 60% greater than that of women in their 20s.
Infants born to teens are 2 to 6 times more likely to have low birth weight than those born to mothers age 20 or older. Prematurity plays the greatest role in this, but intrauterine growth retardation (inadequate growth of the fetus during pregnancy) is also a factor.
Teenage mothers are more likely to demonstrate behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, or drug abuse; poor and inconsistent nutrition; or multiple sexual partners. This may place the infant at greater risk for inadequate growth, infection, or chemical dependence. The younger a mother is below age 20, the greater the risk of her infant dying during the first year of life.
Thus, it is VITALLY important for pregnant teens to have EARLY and ADEQUATE prenatal care!
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