Although recent studies show a declining rate, Teen Pregnancy or pregnancy of a woman aged between 13 to 19 years old, is still one of the growing issues faced by many young adults today. It usually is a family crisis for both the teenage boy and girl. However, it is the girl who gets the bigger burden. Aside from the problem of not being emotionally and psychologically ready, there are other risks that both mother and baby could face.
Teenage mothers usually have babies with low birth weight. Low birth weight in infants usually lead to numerous childhood disorders, developmental delays, learning disabilities as well as increased infant mortality. Since teenagers are more likely to have vices such as smoking and drinking as well as inadequate nutrition, their babies could suffer from irreversible organ damage. Studies have also shown that children of teenage mothers have higher risks of becoming delinquents.
Since a teenager’s body has not fully matured, a teen mother might run the risk of spinal or pelvic bone injury. They also run a higher risk for anemia, hypertension as well as preeclampsia. The combination of the last two can be fatal and could lead to premature birth.
Since they have been exposed to motherhood at a fairly young age, these teenagers no longer find time to take care of their careers and might not be unable to, later on, support the needs of the child. They are also more likely to suffer from post-partum depression, feelings of loneliness and isolation, and low self-esteem.
Motherhood is never an easy task. You must have the needed maturity and experience in order to handle the responsibilities it entails, something that teenage mothers do not have much of. Proper guidance and adequate support from the family can help these teenagers to somehow cope with being a young mom.
