Risks of Teenage Pregnancy

4 min read

Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting..

The U.S. has seen very high rates of teenage pregnancies for a long time. Teenage pregnancy means when a woman, who is under the age of 20, gets pregnant. While we are seeing declining numbers in terms of actual teenage birth rates in the U.S., teen pregnancy still remains a big problem in many parts of the world, which is why it is crucial to shed light on the risks that young girls face. Here are some of the major risks and consequences of teenage pregnancies that can lead to health problems and more.

Pregnant women holding tummy

Education and Career

One of the major teenage pregnancy risks is that you may not be able to finish your education. Whether you start expecting in high school, college, or even university, it can make some significant changes to how you approach your learning. You may not be able to take every lesson because of your symptoms, leading to bad grades, incomplete studies, and inability to apply for jobs later on. Of course, these days, you can take some homework help from online resources too. If you need to write a research essay to make sure you keep your grades up, or if you need some thesis help, so your graduation exam doesn’t get affected, you are able to do so using such resources. This will reduce the time you spend on your course and take some rest from time to time. Not only that, but you will also be more likely to graduate from your course and have a shot at your favorite job after some time.

High Blood Pressure

A health risk that crops up due to pregnancy is that of increased blood pressure. This is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension and is a bigger risk during the teenage years. Teenage expecting girls can also run the risk of preeclampsia, leading to issues like organ damage and swelling of the hands and face.

teen listening music

Premature Birth

One of the most concerning consequences of teen pregnancies is the premature birth of the baby. This happens when the mother undergoes labor before 37 weeks. Sometimes, it is possible to stop such labor with medication but in many cases, the baby has to be delivered. Premature birth can have many long-term consequences for the child’s body, like respiratory, digestive, and cognitive problems.

Postpartum Depression

Another teenage pregnancy risk is developing postpartum depression. This could happen during pregnancy or after giving birth. This is one of those risks that are not always obvious, but the symptoms of postpartum depression should not be ignored. It is important to talk to a doctor or someone else whom you can confide in and ask for help. Knowledge of mental health issues is important for young girls to have during adolescent pregnancy prevention programs to be safe. These kinds of prevention programs may prove to be the difference between a healthy and successful life and an unhealthy and stressful one. So, every parent, guardian, or teacher should ensure that the young children under their care are aware of how to prevent unplanned pregnancies in the first place.

STDs

STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are those that can be contracted by teens if they have unsafe intercourse. This can happen during pregnancy, too, and diseases like HIV and chlamydia can become major concerns. These can infect the uterus and, in turn, the growing baby, so it is crucial to do all you can to prevent STDs. Using a latex condom is one of the easiest ways to prevent many STDs.

pregnant teen holding flowers

Other Medical Risks

There are other risks that can be seen as a consequence. They may include both physical and mental issues for both the mother and the child. Some of these possible risks include:

The low birth weight of the baby can lead to long-term developmental issues.
Anemia, which causes low iron levels in the blood.
Higher chance of death.
Higher risk of cephalopelvic disproportion, which causes the baby’s head to grow wider than the pelvic opening.

As you can see, there are many different concerns that have to be considered when talking about teen pregnancy. The risk does not relate only to missing a school class or not being able to take a college exam on campus but also long-term medical as well as socio-cultural problems. Young mothers can develop medical issues that are hard to deal with or give birth to babies who are not in the best of health. Other than the direct impact on the lives of the mother and the baby, these issues could also make very significant changes to an individual’s as well as a family’s lives and goals. Due to all of these possible risks, it is vital to teach young children about safe and healthy sexual practices so that issues like unwanted teenage pregnancies can be mitigated.

Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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