Pregnancy issues for teens

Author: Dr Scott Pendergraft

One of the most concerning issues related to pregnancy is the age of the mothers. Teens are always in the middle of problems due to early pregnancies and the related complications. Problem is not all the teens are that aware of the complications and pregnancy issues they can face because of this. Teen birth rate remains 9 times higher in the U.S as compared to other developed countries around the world. It is important for teens to be aware of the long term implications and effects of early pregnancy. Here we are going to detail some of the most common signs of early pregnancy and the issues related.

The Signs

Classical parameter to predict pregnancy is a missing menstrual periods but it is occasionally found to be tricky and misleading. Girls usually have irregular periods so it’s not always the pregnancy symptom. Excessive exercising or dieting can also be a factor for delayed menstrual periods.

Some of early pregnancy signs are:

  • Nausea or vomiting called the morning sickness
  • Missed menstrual period
  • Sore breasts especially nipples
  • Aversion of taste which is sudden and intensive especially towards fried food
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Mood swings getting more common
  • Frequent urination

The best way to positively establish pregnancy is to make use of home pregnancy test kits. Modern day kits are very accurate and are easily available over the counter.

The Risks

There are unique medical risks related to teen pregnancy. Some of the major risks involved are:

Prenatal care absence

Teenage girls who get pregnant and do not get support from their families are usually at higher risks of not getting adequate prenatal care. It is critical to get adequate prenatal care during first months of pregnancy for both mother and the baby. It helps in keeping track of health of mother as well as growing baby and need for nutrition and any deficiency. Proper diet is also important to be maintained during this period.

Premature birth

Commonly the full-term pregnancy is a 40 weeks process which is termed as healthy. Any birth delivery before 37 weeks is termed as premature and in case of teenage mothers it can be very dangerous. The earlier the baby is born the higher the risk of developing problems related to digestion, respiration, cognition and vision.

High blood pressure

Risk of developing high blood pressure is greater in teens that become pregnant. Also the risk of preeclampsia is higher in such teens. This condition is very dangerous which results from hypertension and excess protein in the urine. It can also result in organ damage which can be really fatal. These conditions can also stop the growth of unborn baby and can also result in premature births.

Underweight Baby

Giving birth to underweight baby is highest probability among teenage mothers. Premature babies especially get less time to mature in the womb which results into underweight problems. Such babies may face critical breathing problems and need to be kept on ventilator for help.

These are some common problems faced by teenage mothers.

Tampa Abortion Clinic. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women's Center in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women, including abortions, physical examinations, family planning and counseling. Abortion Clinic.