Despite the fact that the teen birth rate is climbing after slowly falling for years, there are still an estimated one million teen pregnancies in the United States alone. About 85% of these pregnancies are unplanned, which in any population can increase the risk for problems. The biggest risk for teen mothers is delaying prenatal care or worse, 7.2% received no care at all.
The reason for lack of prenatal care is usually delayed pregnancy testing, denial or even fear of telling others about the pregnancy. Most states have a health department or university clinic where prenatal care is free or low cost and patient confidentiality is very important, meaning no one can tell the teen mother's family.
Because the body of a teen is still growing she will need more nutritional support to meet both her needs and that of her baby. Nutritional counseling can be a large portion of prenatal care, usually done by a doctor or a midwife, sometimes a nutritionist. This counseling will usually include information about prenatal vitamins, folic acid, and the dos and don'ts of eating and drinking. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to problems like anemia (low iron), low weight gain, etc.
Another problem facing teen mothers is the use of drugs and alcohol, including cigarette smoking. No amount of any of these substances is safe for use in pregnancy. In fact, their use can complicate pregnancy even further increasing the likelihood of premature birth and other complications.
Premature birth and low birth weight create a wealth of their own problems, including brain damage, physical disabilities and more. The potentially lengthy hospital stay and increased risk of health problems for these babies leads to more stress on the teen mother.
While facing the grim realities of teen pregnancy is not pleasant, this is not the picture that has to be painted. Teen mothers are perfectly capable of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. With the proper nutrition, early prenatal care and good screening for potential problems the majority of these potential problems will not come to light. While some tend to think that you can't teach a teen mother anything about her body or baby, it's really a ridiculous notion. Many of the teen mothers who take active roles in their care do go on to have healthy babies, despite the other hardships that they will face in their lives. Support from the families and communities is a must for the young, new family to be successful.
When it comes to teen pregnancies, there is a greater risk of complication for both the mother and child. However, this risk is commonly experienced by younger teens, because their bodies have not yet fully physically developed and they usually have poor nutrition. These teens generally suffer the worst complications, such as severe anemia and hypertension due to pregnancy. However, the baby often suffers the most problems.
The baby may be born premature.
The baby can suffer from low birth weight, with difficulty gaining weight after delivery.
The baby can suffer from mental retardation or brain damage.
The baby could also be stillborn (born dead).
Pregnancy is a wonderful thing, and every part is something special that should be enjoyed, despite any discomforts. You are carrying a child, and he/she is growing inside of you. As each month passes, you and your child will be growing together. Here are some things to look forward to and/or expect.
During the First Trimester (3-12 Weeks)
You
Your Baby
* Frequent mood swings possible
* Fuller, sore breasts and darkening around nipples
* 3-5 pounds gained
* Fatigue, nausea, vomitting, headaches, dizziness
* Frequent urination and increase in vaginal discharge
* Hair growth begins
* Extremities, eyelids, and other facial features fully formed
* A little over 1 ounce in weight
* Growth from 1 inch to about 4 inches
* Kidneys begin to send urine to your bladder
During The 2nd Trimester (13th-25th Week)
You
Your Baby
* More cravings for certain foods
* 6-16 pounds gained
* Feel baby's movements
* Milder mood swings
* Begin to look more pregnant
* Increased perspiration
* Morning sickness milder
* Swallows, hears, eye movement
* 6 ounces-2 pounds in
* More active
* An audible heart beat
* Full organ development
* Sleep patterns developed
During The 3rd Trimester (26th- 38th Week)
You
Your Baby
* 15-35 pounds gained
* Possible lower back pain
* Breast size increase
* Increase breast fluid leakage
* Feel more baby movement
* Stretch marks more visible
* Difficulty sitting and positioning yourself for long
* About 3-8 pounds
* Harder bones
* 15-20 inches in length
* Sucks fingers and toes
* Kicks and stretches
* Usually turns to birthing position or head down
