Adolescent pregnancy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Adolescent pregnancy

Alternative Names:

Teenage pregnancy; Pregnancy - teenage
Treatment:

Pregnancy options made available to the pregnant adolescent, and should be reviewedthoroughly. Abortion is a potential option, but state lawsvary regarding an unmarried adolescent's ability to legally obtain this means of terminating a pregnancy without parental consent. In the case of married teens, consent of the husband may be required.

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Giving up infants for adoption after delivery is another option, but the majority of pregnant teens choose to continue their pregnancies and keep their infants.

Early and adequate prenatal care, preferably through a program that specializes in teenage pregnancies, ensures a healthier baby. Smoking, alcohol use, and drug abuse should be strongly discouraged, and support methods should be offered to assist the pregnant teen in terminating such behaviors.

Adequate nutrition must be assured through both education and the availability of community resources. Appropriate exercise and adequate sleep should also be emphasized. Contraceptive information and services are important, following delivery, to deter adolescents from becoming pregnant again.

Pregnant teens and those who have recently given birth should be encouraged and helped to remain in school or reenter educational programs targeting skills that will enable them to provide for their child financially, emotionally, and with appropriate parenting. Accessible and affordable child care is an important factor in teen mothers continuing school or entering the work force.

Expectations (prognosis):

Women having a first child during adolescence are more likely to have an increased overall rate of childbearing and more total births. They are less likely to receive child support from biological fathers, less likely to complete their education or work in some type of vocation, and less likely to establish independence and financial security adequate to provide for themselves and their children without outside resources.