Teenage Pregnancy: Signs, Possible Effects, And Prevention

When a woman under the age of 19 years gets pregnant, it is considered an adolescent or teenage pregnancy. Nearly 2 crore girls between the ages of 15 and 19 get pregnant and approximately 1 crore of them give birth each year in developing countries. 

However, teenage pregnancy is a bit concerning as it is associated with a higher risk of complications, both during pregnancy and childbirth. Conditions like anaemia, high blood pressure, and infections are common in teen mothers, and in many cases, their babies are born prematurely and have low birth weights. Read on to find out more about teenage pregnancy, its symptoms, health risks, and helpful methods to cope with it.

Symptoms of Teenage Pregnancy

The symptoms and signs of teenage pregnancy are mostly similar to the pregancy symptoms in women of other age groups. Missing a period can be considered one of the initial signs of pregnancy. However, many teenage girls have irregular or missed period due to several other reasons, and that’s why you may have to try other methods to confirm pregnancy. For instance, you can take a urine pregnancy test or visit your gynaecologist to determine whether your missed period is a sign of pregnancy.

Other signs and symptoms of teen pregnancy may include:

• Swollen and tender nipples and breasts due to hormonal changes
• Light vaginal bleeding caused due to the implantation of the fertilised egg into the uterine wall
• Headaches due to a rise in your hormone levels
• Fatigue, caused by an increase in the production of the progesterone hormone
• Morning sickness, namely vomiting and nausea
• Frequent urination, due to an increase in the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormones in your body.
• Mood swings
• Food cravings and aversions

These symptoms are also seen in other medical conditions and can vary among teen girls. You can seek the help of your healthcare provider for the exact diagnosis.

How Can Teenage Pregnancy Be a Problem?

Teenage pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of complications, as most girls may not be mature enough for childbearing and childcare. Additionally, babies born to teenage mums may have health problems due to insufficient prenatal care. 

Since most teen pregnancies are unintended, they may also severely affect the mum’s physical and mental health. In most cases, a pregnant teen is vulnerable to developing the following health conditions.

• Malnutrition or undernutrition
• Anaemia
• Excess or poor weight gain
• Depression
• Eclampsia (seizures in women with preeclampsia, that is organ failure due to high blood pressure)

Moroever, babies born to teen mums may have certain health risks including:

• Congenital malformations
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Risk of brain damage and other injuries
• High risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The lack of income sources and the absence of a family support system can further make teenage pregnancy challenging. It may also cause postpartum blues and depression in some teen mums. 

What Are the Probable Effects of Teenage Pregnancy?

Some significant effects of pregnancy on teen mums and dads include the following.

• The financial burden and lack of family support, leading to extreme hardship for teen parents.
• An unintended or unplanned pregnancy can cause the parents to develop ignorance toward the infant.
• Teen mums have difficulty balancing education and newborn care, and might struggle to finish school.
• Childcare can be stressful for parents due to a lack of knowledge about various matters.
• Single mums may have additional emotional problems and other relationship struggles.
• Many teen parents may not be able to ensure the infant’s well-being due to a lack of resources and support.

How to Reduce The Risk of Teenage Pregnancy?

The best method to reduce the risk of teenage pregnancy is by educating children about reproductive health from an early age. As parents, you can adopt the following methods to reduce the incidence of adolescent and teenage pregnancies.

• Educate your child about sex and the use of protective measures, such as condoms and contraceptive pills from a young age.
• Create a strong bonding with your child so that they are comfortable talking to you about any incidence of unprotected sex.
• Have a two-way conversation about sex and understand your teen’s perception of it. Gradually acquaint them with the consequences of unprotected sex and teen pregnancy.
• During their teen years, your child might begin to date. Teach them about the ways of setting boundaries in their relationships.

In case pregnancy is discovered then act promptly. Have a discussion with your teen and their doctor to understand the possible options to avoid the continuation of pregnancy. However, if your teen decides to continue the pregnancy, they should take the following measures to reduce the risk of complications or dangers.

• Take mineral supplements and prenatal vitamins to avoid complications like congenital malformations
• Ensure regular prenatal checkups and care to reduce health risks and complications of teenage pregnancy and childbirth.
• Follow a healthy diet and maintain adequate hydration
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco use

Conclusion

Teenage pregnancy is a complex situation that puts teen and their family under intense emotional and social pressure. Besides, it endangers the health of both the mum and the baby as teen girls are not mature enough for childbearing and delivery. That’s why as parents, you should educate your children about reproductive health and the adverse consequences of teen pregnancy. Also, acquaint them with the use of contraceptive measures to reduce the incidence of teen or adolescent pregnancy.

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