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When a woman under 19 years of age gets pregnant, it is an adolescent or teenage pregnancy. Well-nigh 21 one thousand thousand girls betwixt the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant, and approximately 12 meg of them give birth each year in developing countries. In this, approximately x million teenage girls may take an unintended pregnancy, and well-nigh 777,000 pregnancies occur in girls below age fifteen (1).

Teenage pregnancy is concerning since it can be associated with a college gamble of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. High blood pressure, anemia, and infections are common in teen mothers. In many cases, babies tin can also exist prematurely born or take low weight (1). Read on to know the pregnancy symptoms, health risks, and other challenges of teen pregnancy and ways to cope with it.

Signs And Symptoms Of Teenage Pregnancy

Signs and symptoms of teenage pregnancy tin be like to pregnancy symptoms in women of other age groups. Missing the menstrual flow tin can be the initial sign of pregnancy. However, teenage girls tin can have missed periods or irregular periods due to different reasons.

You may take to confirm pregnancy with a urine pregnancy test or visit a gynecologist for the verbal cause of missed menses.

The other signs and symptoms of pregnancy may include (2):

  1. Calorie-free vaginal bleeding from implantation of a fertilized ovum (egg) into the uterine wall
  2. Swollen and tender breasts and nipples due to hormonal changes
  3. Fatigue caused by increased progesterone hormone
  4. Headaches due to rising hormone levels
  5. Morning sickness, namely nausea and vomiting. Although it is called morning sickness, it may occur at any time
  6. Frequent urination due to the increase in the homo chorionic gonadotrophins (hCG) hormones, which leads to increased blood flow to the pelvic regions in the initial weeks of pregnancy and due to the pressure level on the urinary bladder from the growing womb during the after trimesters.
  7. Food aversions and cravings
  8. Mood swings

These symptoms tin can also exist seen in other medical conditions, and the symptoms may vary among girls. You may seek the assist of health intendance providers for the exact diagnosis.

Why Tin can Teenage Pregnancy Be A Problem?

Teenage childbearing is associated with a higher take a chance of pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Most teen girls may not be matured plenty for childbearing and childcare.

Babies born to teenage girls may have health problems due to inadequate prenatal intendance. Lack of prenatal vitamins, minerals, and other forms of care may increase the run a risk of health issues in both mothers and babies.

Most teen pregnancies are unintended and may have severe consequences for a teen's mental and physical wellness. Social issues and lack of fiscal support could touch on the psychological well-being of immature women, and they may oft develop depression and ignorance towards infants.

Along with the wellness risks, it can exist difficult for teen mothers to seek proper prenatal care if they practise not have financial resources. It volition be hard for them to take care of themselves and their education along with the babe.

Lack or delay in prenatal care can be the primary reason for nigh of the health risks of adolescent pregnancy. A pregnant teen may be vulnerable to developing the following wellness problems (3).

  • Anemia
  • Depression
  • Excess or poor weight proceeds
  • Undernutrition or malnutrition
  • Eclampsia (seizures in pregnant women with preeclampsia, that is, organ failure due to high blood pressure)

Babies born to teen mothers may also have certain health risks, including (3):

  • Low nascence weight
  • Premature nascence
  • Congenital malformations
  • Loftier run a risk of sudden infant death syndrome
  • Run a risk of mental retardation, brain damage and nascence injuries

The absence of a family unit support arrangement and a lack of income sources can farther make teen pregnancy challenging. Unintended pregnancy may cause postpartum depression and postpartum blues in some teenage mothers.

Beingness a mother of more than a kid can exist extremely difficult for teen parents, specially for single mothers without support.

What Are The Probable Consequences Of Teenage Pregnancy?

The meaning consequences of teen pregnancy may include the following (4).

  1. Unintended and unplanned pregnancies could result in less interest and chances of mother to seek prenatal care. Some pregnancies are identified in later trimesters, and the female parent may not be able to receive early prenatal intendance. Lack of prenatal care could have adverse outcomes.
  1. Fiscal brunt and poverty can cause farthermost hardship for teen parents who lack family support or other financial resources.
  1. Teen mothers may have difficulties in balancing newborn care and education. Statistics bear witness that only 3% of teenage mothers were able to finish graduate schoolhouse earlier the age of 30 years (iv).
  1. Childcare can be stressful for immature people due to a lack of knowledge and family support.
  1. Single mothers may take additional emotional problems and relationship troubles, forth with other struggles.
  1. Fiscal difficulties and emotional issues may also cause a lack or delay in postpartum care and newborn care.
  1. Mothers who are nether fifteen years of age may accept a more than challenging time coping with childbirth.
  1. Unintended pregnancies may result from sexual set on or child union. These cases require additional medical care.

Altogether, it is non easy for a kid to take care of another child. Many teen parents may not be able to ensure the well-being of the newborn since they lack resource and noesis.

How To Reduce The Risks Of Teen Pregnancy?

The best method to reduce the gamble of teen pregnancy is to educate children about reproductive wellness from an early on historic period. There are many ways to forestall pregnancy subsequently unprotected intercourse, thus seek medical care for appropriate prescriptions.

Parents can adopt the following methods that may help reduce the incidence of teen and adolescent pregnancies (4) (5).

  • Reproductive didactics helps reduce the charge per unit of unintended pregnancies amid teenage girls.
  • You tin develop stiff bonding with your child to make them comfy to share any incidence of sexual abuse or unprotected sexual practice.
  • Have a 2-way conversation nearly sex and your teen's perception of information technology. Gradually accustom the teen well-nigh the consequences of unprotected sex and teenage pregnancy.
  • Teenage is the phase when dating tends to brainstorm. Accustom the teen with ways of setting boundaries in their relationship.
  • Information technology is okay to prepare rules on dating simply practice and so while considering your teen'southward opinion. Have a word with the teen to reach a consensus.

If pregnancy is discovered, and then human action promptly. You may discuss the possible options and resources to avoid the continuation of pregnancy every bit per doctors' recommendations.

If your teen decides to proceed the pregnancy, then the teen should take the following steps to reduce the risks.

  • Ensure regular prenatal intendance as soon as possible to reduce the health risks and complications of teen pregnancy and childbirth
  • Take prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements to avoid congenital malformations and other complications
  • Avoid alcohol, drugs, or tobacco use
  • Follow a healthy diet and stay hydrated
  • Do walking or other exercises suggested by the doctor

You may too seek help from support groups and other teen and significant (TaP) programs in your customs for emotional and fiscal back up.

These symptoms can likewise be seen in other medical weather, and the symptoms may vary among girls. You may seek the assistance of health intendance providers for the exact diagnosis. The

American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that medical termination of pregnancy (MTP or abortion) can be considered if your teen is willing and the rules and regulations permit it. Giving a baby for adoption can likewise be considered if the teen does not desire to have the child in instance of advanced pregnancies (6).

Teen pregnancy is a complex state of affairs, and its occurrence tin can be overwhelming, both for teens and their families. Practise not hesitate to seek the advice of a doctor and other legitimate organizations or professionals that specialize in the domain of teen and boyish pregnancy.

References:

MomJunction'southward manufactures are written after analyzing the research works of skillful authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their corresponding fields. You can acquire more than about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

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Dr. Priya Shukla is a gynecologist and obstetrician currently working at Apollo Cradle in Nehru Place, Delhi. She did her DNB (Obstetrics & Gynecology) from the National Board of Examination, India. She went on to become trained in Advanced Gynecological Endoscopy and Endometriosis in Germany, Advance Techniques in Operative Gynecological Endoscopy, French republic, and Operative Therapy (surgical) Workshop in Endometriosis, Frg,... more

Dr. Bisny T. Joseph is a Georgian Board-certified physician. She has completed her professional graduate degree every bit a medical doctor from Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia. She has iii+ years of experience in various sectors of medical affairs as a physician, medical reviewer, medical writer, wellness motorbus, and Q&A expert. Her interest in digital medical education and patient educational activity made... more