A sad reality confronted the entire world after the reports coming from US regarding teen pregnancy. It has been reported that 17 teenagers from a school in Massachusetts are pregnant and many of them are less than 16 years of age. The whole idea about being a teen mother is not out of compulsion but fancy. The hormonal growth of a teen is much higher as compared to adult women, which makes a young girl more active and energetic. Nonetheless, this increased fertility rates and strong body metabolism are not enough to cope up with the emotional and physiological stress during pregnancy. The large number of pregnant teens not only adds to population growth but pose a threat to entire mankind.
This situation arises more due to peer pressure, or increasing sexual experimentation at a tender age. The recent report shows that teenage pregnancy in US is relatively higher than any other developed or developing nations. The number is expected to cross the shocking figure of 1 million each year, according to a news report. The prime concern about being a mother is responsibility. Becoming a mother in an adolescent age leaves the teen perplexed about handling the entire situation. Moreover, such unwanted pregnancy usually creates major health concerns. This article is more focused on looking at the health risks attached behind teen pregnancy.
Risk to Fetus
The body metabolism of a teen mother is such that it cannot nourish the fetus adequately, which might result in a low -weight babies. It is also possible that certain body organs of the child is under developed leading to childhood disorder and higher infant mortality rates. Owing to the body shape and size, it is difficult for a teenage mother to deliver a baby normally, whereas the caesarian method might be dangerous. It could lead to physical complications like excessive bleeding.
Negligence of teenage mother
Often the teen age moms-to-be are not responsible enough to take care of their health and their babies health as well. Random eating habits and mal nutrition due to increased rate of smoking, excessive alcohol intake, or taking drugs during pregnancy may put both the mother and infant in a great danger.
Prenatal Care
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), newborn babies who do not get sufficient prenatal care are under higher risk and are more likely to die before the age of 1 year.
Social Negligence
Not only the increased health risks but the added pressure from the society comes as a serious shock for the teenage mothers. It is usually hard to get a social acceptance for such babies. It may hamper the psychological balance of a teenage mom, resulting in suicide in extreme case.
Other Consequences
Apart from facing a rejection from the society, factors like running a family and low annual income of the child's teenage parents may pose a serious trouble to carry out day to day functioning. According to reports, In the United States, the annual cost of teen pregnancies from lost tax revenues, public assistance, child health care, foster care, and involvement with the criminal justice system is estimated to be about $7 billion.
By no means, being a mother is an easy task. It takes lots of planning, sleepless nights, hair - tearing episodes, firm decision, and proper financial support before you opt to be mother. And that too, it is never advisable to get pregnant at a tender age. Never let your sexual adventures and other such experiments spoil for health, career and your future.
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