Teenage pregnancy is certainly a challenging reality for any young mother to face. How you physically and emotionally handle your pregnancy will test you. But having a few teenage pregnancy tips to get you off to a positive start wouldn’t hurt.
Knowing you are not alone is the first of many teenage pregnancy tips. More than 615,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant each year, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Here are a few more teenage pregnancy statistics important to these teenage pregnancy tips:
- 8 percent of all births in the U.S. are teenage births.
- 82 percent of teenage pregnancies are unplanned.
- 20 percent of all unplanned pregnancies are teenage pregnancies.
- Pregnant teens are less likely to attend university.
- U.S. teen pregnancy rates are the highest in the world.
- 26 percent of all teenage pregnancies end in abortion.
- 66 percent of teenagers who get pregnant are 18 to 19.
- 15 percent of teen pregnancies end in miscarriage.
- 60 percent of all teen pregnancies end in birth.
There are as many teenage pregnancy tips as there are risks for a pregnant teen. Low birth weight of the baby, premature labor, anemia, high blood pressure, lack of prenatal care, postpartum depression, and depression are all risks.
1. Teenage Pregnancy Tips: Develop a Plan
Teenage pregnancy tips don’t need to be complex, and developing a pregnancy plan is vital to you and your baby’s health.
Lack of prenatal care is one of the biggest risks associated with teenage pregnancy. And lack of prenatal care can lead to miscarriages, low birth rate, etc.
Teen moms to be need to take charge of the situation and consider all options. Researching those options and seeking medical advice from doctors is also vital.
Here are a few key questions to ask:
- Will I have the baby?
- Is adoption an option?
- What are my abortion options?
- Am I making this decision?
- What is my plan if I decided to have the baby?
- How can I balance school?
- Who will be my biggest supporters?
Related: 4 Most Common Miscarriage Causes
2. Teenage Pregnancy Tips: Get Help From Your Supporters
There are a lot of organizations dedicated to assisting teen moms and they offer even more teenage pregnancy tips. There are many supporters you will need in your corner, regardless of your decision.
Doctors, family, therapists, federal and state social workers, school counselors, teachers, friends, and your partner’s family are all among the many people who may be involved.
Here is a list of organizations dedicated to helping pregnant teens:
- One Harvest
- Global Fund for Women
- Head Start
- After School Alliance
- Planned Parenthood
- Safe Horizon
- The Mommies Network
3. Teenage Pregnancy Tips: Seek Prenatal Care
Prenatal care and the lack of is a big issue for pregnant teens. It is certainly one of the essential teenage pregnancy tips you need to fully understand.
As a pregnant teen your body will change and you will need to pay attention to those changes. Otherwise serious pregnancy complications could arise, and you and your baby could be at risk.
Proper prenatal care for pregnant teens includes the following:
- Proper nutrition
- Avoid cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol
- No prescription medications not prescribed by a doctor
- Proper vitamins
- Regular checkups with your OBGYN
- Exercise
These prenatal care teenage pregnancy tips should all be discussed with your OBGYN, or a doctor online. Having proper prenatal care will ensure the health of you and your baby, and that is important.
It can be difficult to talk to your parents about being pregnant, especially if you are a teen. Know that you are not alone, and that it is vital to talk to someone.
A doctor is always a great choice, and you can find plenty of doctors and OBGYN specialists online to answer your questions.
