Problems Pregnant Teens
Face:
[ Quoted from
COHIS: Teen
Pregnancy and Maternal/ Neonatal Health ]
- "Teenage mothers have a
higher rate of anemia
and pregnancy
induced hypertension occurring.
- Babies are more likely to be born premature
and/or suffer from low birth weight.
- These children can also be
predisposed to mental retardation, brain
damage, and injury at birth.
- More likely to develop problems
such as
- The general rule is this:
- the younger the mother, the
greater the risk of complications for both the mother and her
child.
- Some of these problems are due to
the teenager's physical immaturity, the fact that they are still
growing and poor nutrition.
- Other problems happen because the
pregnant teenager denies the fact that she is pregnant or ignores
it, which delays getting proper care for the growing baby inside
of her."
This is why good prenatal care is
especially important! Just taking that huge prenatal vitamin every day
can prevent birth defects like spina bifida. You need to take care of
yourself and take care of your baby. What you do to your body when
your pregnant is what you do to your child. If you smoke - quit. If
you drink - quit. If you party - quit. If you do drugs - quit. If you
have unprotected sex - quit. You may not have chosen or planned on
this baby but remember that this baby didn't choose or plan on you
either but she or he is depending on you just the same.
Is anything worth risking your child?
Imagine the guilt you would feel if your child was born brain damaged
or disabled and you could have prevented it! So see your doctor. Eat
right. Take care of yourself. If you have questions, ask them! The
best thing to do is to get informed. Know what's going on and
understand your choices because if you don't then someone else will
make those choices for you.
Pregnancy is a temporary situation.
There are times when it seems like it will never end but when you look
back on it, those 9 months are really only a tiny part of your life
but they mean everything to your baby. Start getting it together now -
you'll find it feels good to be healthy.