Teenage pregnancy is the conception of women who are 19 years and below. After sexual intercourse with male partners, young girls may get pregnant if they have experienced their first monthly period. In 2017, the CDC relieved a report indicating that teenage girls between 15-19 years gave birth to approximately 194,000. Though teenage pregnancies are declining in the US, the number is still high compared to other developed countries.

Does Teenage Pregnancy Have Indicators?

The primary indicator of pregnancy is a missed monthly period. However, suppose you get a late monthly period compared to when you usually get the periods. In that case, there is a high possibility that you may be pregnant since there is light bleeding during the initial weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, it’s hard for teenage girls to naturally know whether they are pregnant or experiencing late monthly periods.

There are other signs of teenage pregnancy, including breast tenderness, morning nausea, fainting, lightheadedness, vomiting, swollen abdomen, tiredness, and weight gain.

How arere Teen Mothers Affected By Teenage Pregnancy?

The following are ways in which pregnancy affects teenagers:

  1. Preeclampsia – Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure complication. Preeclampsia complications endanger the unborn as they may lead to low birth weight or premature birth. Pregnant teenagers have a high chance of developing preeclampsia than their adult counterparts.
  2. Anemic – The pregnant teenager is at a high chance of developing anemia, a condition involving the reduction of Red Blood Cells in the body. The decrease of RBC in the body may affect the development of the fetus. Anemic pregnant teens feel tired and weak.
  3. Delivery fatalities – Though delivering in the US is becoming safer; teens are still at high risk of dying while giving birth. The WHO report indicates that childbirth complications primarily cause teen fatality during delivery. Most of the young who develop complications at birth are aged 15-19.
  4. Depression – There is a lot of isolation during teenage pregnancy by peers, schoolmates, and families. Pregnant teens feel worried and frightened about telling their families and friends about their pregnancy status. However, adolescent pregnancy requires the girls to get a lot of moral, psychological, and material support. Lack of support leads to stress and depression.
  5. School dropouts – Most pregnant teenagers don’t complete their basic education. They leave school to go and give birth. After breastfeeding, they are afraid of stigmatization at school, and they end up involved in early marriages or child labor to support their children. Teen mothers eventually end up in poverty.
  6. Repeat births – According to CDC, at least one birth in five pregnant teens is a repeat birth. Women who deliver their first babies at teenage are more likely to have multiple children in life. Such teen mothers struggle to earn a living.

Does Teen Pregnancy Affect The Baby?

Most teenage mothers give birth to premature babies. A premature baby is given birth in less than 37 weeks of pregnancy. A mature birth, on the other hand, takes place within the 40th week.

Premature babies are born with incomplete brain and body development. The condition may bring lifelong health and development complications.

Premature babies are more likely to be underweight; hence they might develop infancy feeding and breathing problems. Later in life, some of these underweight infants are susceptible to illnesses such as heart conditions and diabetes. Underweight infants also experience derailed brain development hence learning difficulties later in life. Infant mortality is more likely in underweight babies born by teenage mothers.

Are Teen Fathers Affected By Teenage Pregnancies?

Though teen fathers face no health implications, they face psychological stress as they worry about raising children while still at school. In some states, they also worry about facing legal measures if they impregnate girls aged 17 and below when they are already 18 years. Some states take legal actions on active teen male offenders aged 18-19 years anytime they impregnate girls below the legal age, mostly 17 and below.

How To Diagnose Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage girls can test whether they are pregnant by carrying out home pregnancy tests. The home pregnancy test checks whether they are pregnant by detecting whether the urine has pregnancy hormones. The test must be carried out one week after missing out on the monthly periods because it is the most accurate testing period.

If the test is negative, the teen should carry out the test after a week. If the home pregnancy test is positive, the teen should visit a physician for a blood test and a physical examination.

What Options Do Pregnant Teens Have?

Teenage girls who are pregnant should visit a doctor to get advice and counseling on the options they have at hand. Generally, pregnant teens can medically abort, adopt the child after birth, or raise the child after birth. However, the decision should involve both the potential parents and their families.

Can A Teenage Girl Give Birth To A Healthy Baby?

There is a high possibility of pregnant teenage girls giving birth to a healthy baby. Pregnant teenage girls should immediately visit a doctor and attend all appointments. To get a healthy baby, pregnant teens should eat well, exercise, avoid drugs and alcohol, restrain from getting stressed up, and only take doctor’s prescribed medicine.

Pregnant teens should see the doctor at least once a month. During prenatal visits, the doctor measures blood pressure, weight, and stomach. Pregnant teens should see a doctor immediately whenever they experience vaginal bleeding, severe headaches, blur visions, abdominal pain, fever, burning urination, and painful legs.

Is Teenage Pregnancy Preventable?

Teenagers can avoid getting pregnant by avoiding sex. However, if they are sexually active, they may adopt numerous birth control methods, such as Intrauterine devices, pills, FemCap, condoms, and birth control sponge.