HEALTH RISKS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

KEY FACTS

Risk to Mother:

• A young girl’s body is still developing and not ready to carry and deliver a baby. Excess bleeding while giving birth is a potential complication.

• Teens have an increased risk of premature birth, high blood pressure, anemia and placenta problems.

• If bone structure is not fully developed, she takes the risk of injuring her spine and pelvic bones, altering her life forever.

• Giving birth is a big stress on the body. The body is neither developed physically nor psychologically, to deliver. A teenage girl may succumb to intense pressure and pain during delivery, which her body may not be able to bear.

• Since a teenager’s body is not fully developed, the mother is at risk of serious injury such as excess bleeding, inability to bear the labor procedure, or even death during delivery.

Risk to Fetus:

• 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.

• If a teenage girl does get pregnant, she can decrease the above risks by going to the clinic and getting pre-natal care to help that her and the fetus get the proper nutritional support they need.

• Due to a low metabolism, a teenage mom may not be able to adequately nourish the fetus when it is in the womb. This could cause a low-weight or premature baby. The baby’s internal organs could also be underdeveloped, putting the child at risk of severe health issues such as brain damage and physical disabilities.

Most of the above risks can be minimized if the pregnant teenager seeks medical attention early in her pregnancy (pre-natal care) to ensure both herself and the fetus is getting the proper nutritional support.