Health issues for teen moms

There’s a lot of noise and hand-wringing when a teenager gets pregnant but it’s usually for social reasons.

Aside from the social issues, are there physical or health reasons that could be more of a problem?

Yes, there are physical issues that can affect teens more than they may affect older mothers. Part of the problem is many teens don’t receive the level of prenatal care – if any – that they need to help promote a healthy pregnancy. Many teens smoke or drink alcohol and may continue to do so until their pregnancy is confirmed. And, according to the March of Dimes, “A baby born to a teenage mother is at higher risk for certain serious problems and death than a baby born to an older mother. Babies of teenage mothers are more likely to die in the first year of life than babies of women in their twenties and thirties. The risk is highest for babies of the mothers under age 15.”

Some well known teen moms or teen moms-to-be:

Fantasia Barrino      Keisha Castle Hughs       Jamie Lynn Spears

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has a very good publication geared towards teens who are pregnant. You can find it on their website: Especially for Teens – Having a Baby.

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