Teen pregnancy is pregnancy in a woman 19  years and younger. Most teen pregnancies are unplanned and carry higher health risks to both mother and babies.

What are the signs of teen pregnancy ?

 
The signs of teen pregnancy are the same as pregnancy symptoms and include the following :

• missed period
• nausea and vomiting
• unusual fatigue
• tender breast
• frequent urination
• unusual mood swings
• sudden aversion to certain foods especially fried foods

 
A positive pregnancy test is also another sign. Home pregnancy kits available in stores are quite accurate.

What are the health risks of teen pregnancy ?

 
Pregnant teenagers face a high risk of pregnancy complications due to the fact that they don’t usually get early prenatal care. Prenatal care is very essential especially during the first months of pregnancy.  It screens for any medical problems in both the mother and the baby, monitors the baby’s growth and quickly deal with any problems that may arise. Some of the health risk pregnant teenagers may  face include the following :

High blood pressure : Pregnant teens are at risk of pregnancy induced hypertension than  older moms. They are also at increased risk of preeclampsia which can be fatal for both mother and baby.

Premature delivery : A premature baby is a baby delivered before 37 weeks gestation. Sometime premature delivery can be stopped by medications and bed rest. At other times , delivering the baby is the safest option for both the mother and baby. The earlier a baby is born , the higher his risk of complications such as respiratory, vision, and digestive problems.

Low birth weight :Premature babies are more likely to weigh less than they are supposed to because they have less time in the womb to grow. Low birth weight babies weight only 3.3 to 5.5 pounds. An extremely low birth weight baby weighs below 3.3 pounds. Babies that small may need to be on a ventilator to help them breathe.

Postpartum depression : Pregnant teens are susceptible to postpartum    depression. Girls who feel sad during pregnancy or after delivery should talk to their health care provider or anyone else they can trust. Depression can interfere with your chances of taking good care of your newborn.

How to reduce your chances of health risk of teen pregnancy ?

 
Pregnant teens should take these steps to reduce their health risk of pregnancy complications.

• get early and regular prenatal care
• do not smoke, drink alcohol or take illicit drugs
• take prenatal vitamins
• eat healthy
• get help from support groups

 
Getting early prenatal care and engaging in healthy lifestyle increase of having a health pregnancy and baby.