Teenagers and High Risk Pregnancy

High Risk Pregnancy Specifics

Some teenagers manage pregnancy fine while others do experience a high risk pregnancy. It’s variable. High risk pregnancy in itself is a huge topic. To learn more about the various times that a pregnancy becomes high risk and some of the ways in which providers manage high risk pregnancy, read Ways to Manage High Risk Pregnancy.

Specifics Related to Teenagers and High Risk Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy rates have gone down in recent years. Still, the most recent Guttmacher Institute statistics show that around 750,000 women aged 15-19 become pregnant yearly.

The specific high risk pregnancy factors related to teens can be divided into risks to the mother and risks to the baby. One major high risk pregnancy factor related to both mother and baby is a lack of prenatal care. Already teens are considered high risk, yet many receive less prenatal care than mothers who become pregnant at an older age. Some teens who do receive prenatal care start visiting their health care provider much later into a pregnancy then what is considered safe.

Because teenagers and high risk pregnancy is a common problem, it’s vital that pregnant teens receive early and ongoing prenatal care.

High Risk Pregnancy Issues Related to the Teen Mother:

• Hypertension: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that pregnant teens are at a higher risk for hypertension in pregnancy than older mothers.
• Anemia: low iron in the blood is more common among pregnant teens.
• Inadequate weight gain.
• More likely to experience preterm labor and birth.
• More likely to be exposed to labor and birth interventions such as epidurals and C-sections (Cesarean sections).

Teenagers and high risk pregnancy can also result in more emotional difficulties for a teen compared with older mothers.

High Risk Pregnancy Issues Related to the Baby:

• Low birth weight. This issue, of course, leads to other problems related to development. Too low a birth weight can also cause a death of a baby.
• Premature birth. Babies born to teen mothers are more likely to be born early. Preterm birth can result in underdeveloped lungs, poor vision, and many other developmental issues.
• Exposure to an STD. Health Communities reports that teen mothers are more likely to expose their baby to an STD because teen mothers are more likely to use drugs and have unprotected sex.

Resources & Support

Many social workers and health care providers who work with youth firsthand would relate that there is a huge difference between a teen pregnancy where the teen receives encouragement and support vs. a teen pregnancy where no support is offered. Pregnant teens have not chosen the easiest road, but they still absolutely deserve respect and support. If you know a pregnant teen and offer support, you may be the difference between that teen having a safe pregnancy and not.

Many health care providers and teams do not treat pregnant teens well. If you’re the adult in a pregnant teen’s life, attend her prenatal appointments with her so that you can be an advocate. If a teen is treated poorly and has no advocate, it’s more likely she’ll quit attending her appointments.

Supportive and positive pregnant teen resources include:

• Especially for Teens: Having a Baby
• When Your Teen is Having a Baby
• Risks For Pregnant Teens: Covers risks but also talks straight to teens about how to avoid them.
• When Children Have Children: Good resource for parents; discusses counseling ideas, and emotions that may be involved within the whole family.

If you’re a pregnant teen, you can help yourself and your baby by seeing a doctor or nurse-midwife as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant. You should eat well and cut out any smoking or drinking. You should also have protected sex: even though you’re pregnant, you can still catch a sexually transmitted disease.

If you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, your local Planned Parenthood is a place that is often filled with caring and respectful individuals. This organization makes a point of offering facts and support to all women regardless of age or finances. You can find a Planned Parenthood near you by visiting their website.