{"id":7142,"date":"2016-03-18T11:19:56","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T11:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=7142"},"modified":"2023-06-06T06:27:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T06:27:51","slug":"risks-of-teen-pregnancy-and-early-marriage-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/pregnancy\/risks-of-teen-pregnancy-and-early-marriage-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Risks of Teen Pregnancy and Early Marriage in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Teen<\/p>\n

Teenage pregnancy entails difficult experiences for your teen and your family or someone you know who is experiencing teen pregnancy.<\/p>\n

The risk of teen pregnancy is a looming menace and comes with unique challenges. It is important to learn about teen pregnancy risks and helpful tips to deal with pregnancy and related issues.<\/p>\n

The good news is that teen pregnancy in the U.S. has been declining since the 1990s. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy<\/span><\/a>, in 2013 the pregnancy rates of teen girls ages 15-19 were just over 26 births per 1,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bad news is that there are still many risks to teen girls during pregnancy and childbirth, and there are laws that make early marriage difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Early marriage and pregnancy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Teenage pregnancy and early marriage<\/a> are badly intertwined. <\/span><\/p>\n

Teenage marriage and pregnancy interfere with schooling, limit career, and future opportunities and place girls at an alarming risk of HIV infections and domestic violence. <\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly, early marriage is not a good idea. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Risk of teen pregnancy<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Risk<\/p>\n

What are the risks of teenage pregnancy?<\/p>\n

Most teen pregnancies are unplanned, and teen girls are typically not ready for the responsibility that pregnancy brings. Here is an overview of the risks of teenage pregnancy. <\/span><\/p>\n

First and foremost, they may not know how to take care of their bodies during pregnancy<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many may not know for many months that they are pregnant, or when they do find out they are pregnant they may hide it for quite a while. <\/span><\/p>\n

This means the teen pregnant mother-to-be may not take regular prenatal vitamins or get proper prenatal care from a doctor. <\/span><\/p>\n

Others may worry about costs, not realizing that many states offer programs for teen mothers to get care. <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, pregnant teenagers are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy, which can negatively affect the teen mother’s health if it goes unchecked.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Young pregnancy risks also include experiencing depression, anemia, and an increased risk of mental illness. <\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These are some of the dire dangers of teenage pregnancy. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>More teen births possible<\/span><\/h2>\n

Teen mothers who already have one baby are five times more likely to have a second baby during their teen years than older mothers. This might sound unusual, but repeated pregnancies are not uncommon for teen moms. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a critical risk of teen pregnancy and also a sad outcome for the young, overwhelmed parent. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Death of teen mothers in childbirth<\/span><\/h2>\n

For those who give birth before they turn 15, unfortunately, they are at a higher risk of death in childbirth than women 20+. <\/span><\/p>\n

The number is pretty high—in fact they are five times more likely to die. <\/span><\/p>\n

For older teenage girls aged 15-19, there are risks as well. About 70,000 of pregnant teens in that age range die<\/a> each year from childbirth complications.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Risks to a baby in childbirth<\/span><\/h2>\n

Teen mothers are more likely to give birth prematurely before the baby is ready to enter the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

This increases the baby’s chances of death or other issues at birth, such as respiratory, vision and developmental delays. <\/span><\/p>\n

A key medical risk of teen pregnancy – teen mothers also are more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight (premature babies can be low birth weight babies, but so can some full-term babies).<\/span><\/p>\n

Babies with a low birth weight typically have a harder chance of thriving at birth and may need extra help and maybe even time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Higher likelihood of STDs<\/span><\/h2>\n

Teens who are sexually active have a high risk of contracting STDs, which can risk the health of the teen, and if the teen becomes pregnant, the STD can harm the baby as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sexually active teens should always use condoms to prevent the likelihood of contracting an STD.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span>Postpartum depression<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Experiencing<\/p>\n

Experiencing postpartum depression is a major risk of teen pregnancy.<\/p>\n

According to the Center for Disease Control<\/a>, teen mothers are at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression. They may feel isolated, or not ready for this life change, and may not know that they are having a problem or where to get help. <\/span><\/p>\n

Teen girls who feel depressed should talk to their doctor about treatment options so they can better care for themselves and their babies.<\/span><\/p>\n