Health Risks for Pregnant Teens

According to data from the Guttmacher Institute, about 750,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years get pregnant each year in the U.S. Pregnant teens are more likely than more mature pregnant women to experience a range of health risks.

Lack of Prenatal Care

• Many pregnant teens fail to receive adequate prenatal care. Without regular prenatal care, your doctor cannot monitor your health or your baby's health, which increases your chances of developing undetected pregnancy complications.

Premature Birth

• The March of Dimes states that pregnant teens have higher chances of giving birth prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) than mothers over age 20, increasing the likelihood your baby will experience health problems.

Pregnancy Complications

• The younger you are as a pregnant teen, the more likely you are to experience a range of pregnancy complications, including anemia, high blood pressure and premature labor.

Smoking

• According to the March of Dimes, if you're a pregnant teen, you're more likely to smoke during pregnancy than a pregnant woman over age 25. Smoking during pregnancy increases your chances of developing placental complications.

Prevention/Solution

• Start prenatal appointments early in your pregnancy, take a daily prenatal vitamin, eat a well-balanced diet and stop any lifestyle habits that may compromise the health of your pregnancy (smoking, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs).