Young Mom

Becoming a young mom has special challenges.

In the U.S. in 2002, about 11% of pregnancies were in girls ages 15-19. About two thirds of those girls were 18 or 19. In total, about one in three teens becomes pregnant before age 20.

It's common for young women to choose not to continue a pregnancy. There were about 860,000 teen pregnancies in 2002, but only about 425,000 births. Some of those pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Many ended in abortion.

A young mom who doesn't want to get pregnant again needs to be extra careful. A high number of teen mothers have another baby within a few years, often because of mistakes with contraception.

Physically, girls can get pregnant as soon as they start having periods. But, there are some concerns:

• Premature babies. Teen moms are at higher risk of giving birth prematurely. Premature babies may have serious health problems that can last a lifetime.
• Pregnancy complications. Teen moms are at higher risk than older women for pregnancy problems like high blood pressure and anemia. Young teens have the highest risk.
• Low birth weight babies. While many babies born to teens do just fine, newborns of teen moms may be dangerously small. Teen moms have low-birthweight babies about 9.6% of the time, compared to 7.8% or older moms. Again, young teens are at highest risk. Low birth weight babies are more likely to have problems and are more likely to die than normal weight babies.

If you're about to become a young mom, you need to take good care of yourself. Here are some things to do:

• Eat right. Teens and women in their 20s aren't known for their good eating habits. Not eating properly can put your baby at risk for neurological defects, low birth weight, and other problems. Try to get three meals a day and get plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• See a doctor. Prenatal care—the checkups and other medical care you get when you're pregnant—is important. The doctor will help you do everything you can to make sure you and your baby are healthy. Most communities in the U.S. offer free or low-cost medical care to pregnant teens. For help, call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229), a hotline provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They can direct you to affordable prenatal care in your area.
• Take prenatal vitamins. Vitamins help you be sure that you're getting the proper nutrition.
• Don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Smoking, drinking, and doing drugs can hurt your baby. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor. You can find free advice and help to quit smoking at SmokeFree.gov.
• Stay safe. Many young moms are supported by loving families and partners. But, some are on their own. If someone is hitting you or threatening you, get help. If you have no money and no safe place to live, there are shelters where you can stay. Talk to a trusted adult or call 1-800-311-BABY. They can help you find a shelter, if you need one.

You should also learn about giving birth, so you're ready when the time comes. Your doctor can help you find childbirth classes, where you'll meet other future moms and learn about what to expect. And, you may want to look for parenting classes to help you give your baby the best possible start.

Young moms gather in a few different places online. You can find stories from other women, advice, and general support. For example, The Young Mommies Help Site was started by a young single mother in 1998. The site has a chat room, message boards, story collections, and more. It addresses young parenting, single parenting, and even adoption and abortion. Girls and women of all ages and beliefs are welcome.

1-800-311-BABY is a U.S. government-run hotline that serves as one-stop shopping for all pregnant women who need help. They can direct you to local services, including:

• Domestic violence assistance if someone is hitting or abusing you.
• Genetic counseling if an illness runs in your family and you're worried about the baby, or if your doctor has told you there might be a genetic problem.
• Family planning if you don't want to get pregnant again.
• Food assistance if you can't afford to feed yourself or the baby.
• Medical insurance if you're poor and you can't afford coverage.

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