Health Risks That Can Be Experienced If Pregnant at the Age of Teenagers

Contents:

• Medical Video: Teenage Pregnancy - What You Need To Know
  
• What are the risks if you are pregnant at a young age?
  
• 1. High blood pressure
  
• 2. Anemia
  
• 3. Babies born prematurely and LBW
  
• 4. Venereal disease
  
• 5. Postpartum depression
  
• 6. Economic instability
  
• How do you prevent unwanted pregnancies?
  
• What can I do if I am pregnant at a very young age?
  

Medical Video: Teenage Pregnancy - What You Need To Know

Pregnancy requires physical and mental readiness. For that, you should be pregnant at a time that you think is ready to get pregnant. Pregnancy at the age of too young or too old can adversely affect your health and your baby's future.

However, pregnancy in adolescence seems to still be a lot happening in the world, both desired and undesirable. Many adolescents aged 15-19 years have experienced pregnancy. According to WHO, around 16 million women aged 15-19 years give birth to children every year, around 11% of births worldwide. This is a fairly large amount with a large risk.

What are the risks if you are pregnant at a young age?

Pregnancy at a very young age can increase health risks for you and your baby. This is because your body is actually not ready for pregnancy and childbirth. You who are still very young are still experiencing growth and development, so if you are pregnant, this can interfere with your growth and development.

1. High blood pressure

Being pregnant at a very easy age is at high risk for high blood pressure. In addition, there is also the risk of suffering from preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure, the presence of protein in urine, and other signs of damage to organs. Treatment must be done to control blood pressure and prevent complications, but this can also interfere with the growth of the womb baby.

2. Anemia

Pregnancy in adolescence can also result in anemia during pregnancy. This anemia is caused by iron deficiency which is absorbed by pregnant women. Therefore, to prevent this, pregnant women are encouraged to routinely consume blood-supplementing tablets for at least 90 tablets during pregnancy.

Anemia during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature babies and difficulties during childbirth. Very severe anemia during pregnancy can also have an impact on the development of the womb.

3. Babies born prematurely and LBW

The incidence of premature babies increases in pregnancy at a very young age. This premature baby generally has a low birth weight because actually he is not ready to be born (at the age of less than 37 weeks of pregnancy). Premature babies increase the risk of suffering from disorders of the respiratory, digestive, visual, cognitive, and other problems.

4. Venereal disease

In adolescents who have had sexual relations, sexually transmitted diseases (such as chlamydia and HIV) are a major concern. Sexually transmitted infections suffered by pregnant women can cause uterine infections and disrupt the growth of the baby in the womb. This disease can be prevented by using a condom during sexual intercourse.

5. Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is depression that occurs after the baby is born, can occur at any time in the first year after birth. Different frombaby bluespostpartum depression is a much more serious condition.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that women who were pregnant at the age of 15-19 years were twice as likely to experience postpartum depression than women who were pregnant at the age of 25 years.

Another study also reported that being a mother in adolescence will trigger stress at a very high level and potentially become a mental disorder. In addition to depression, women who have become pregnant and become mothers in their teens are more prone to suicidal thoughts when experiencing depression, compared to other teenagers who have not yet become mothers.

6. Economic instability

According to research on the socioeconomic consequences of unwanted pregnancies, published in Iran J Public Health, pregnancy at a young age or even pregnancy that occurs when couples are not ready to have children, tends to reduce the couple's economic well-being.

Pregnancy in adolescence also risks inhibiting the continuing education of the mother and father, and minimizes their chances of getting a higher employment status. Young parents who must immediately seek income from unexpected pregnancies also tend to accept jobs with lower income. This condition is coupled with expenditure that will increase when the baby is born.

How do you prevent unwanted pregnancies?

If you are already sexually active, or if you and your husband do not want to have children, make sure you take the following steps to prevent unwanted pregnancies:

• Find out which contraceptive method works best for you. From starting condoms, birth control pills, spiral family planning, injection KB, etc., there are many choices that you can consider. Learn what the advantages and disadvantages are, and determine which ones are the most appropriate for you. Check out Hello Sehat's review of types of contraception.
• Make sure you use contraception correctly. If you use a pill, read the drinking rules and their schedule. If you use implants or injections, find out when you should see a doctor again to update your KB. Also make sure the way you use and store condoms is correct.
• Avoid having sex in the fertile period and during ovulation. You can calculate when your next fertile period, withFertility Calculator this.

What can I do if I am pregnant at a very young age?

The following are things that can be done to improve the health of mothers and babies in pregnancy at a very young age.

• Routine checkups. Pregnancy checks can routinely monitor the health of the mother and baby in the womb, so that certain disease conditions during pregnancy can be prevented.
• Test for sexually transmitted diseases. This is done to find out whether teenage mothers have sexually transmitted diseases, if so, they can be treated early.
• Eat foods with balanced nutrition. During pregnancy, teenage mothers need folic acid, calcium, iron, protein, and other important nutrients to meet their needs and their babies. Teenage mothers really need extra calcium and phosphorus because their bone growth is still ongoing. Consumption of prenatal supplements may be needed to meet their high needs.
• Do regular exercise. Regular exercise can help reduce or even prevent the discomfort felt during pregnancy, increase energy, and improve overall health. With active moves, can also help you prepare for birth.
• Maintain appropriate weight gain. Appropriate weight gain can improve your baby's health and this can also help you to lose weight after giving birth. The amount of weight gain needed by each pregnant woman is different, you should consult your doctor to find out.
• Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs. This can endanger your health and your baby. You should consult your doctor first before taking drugs.
• Find support from the closest person. You need emotional support at this time. This support can help improve your health.
• Take special classes for pregnant women if necessary. This class can help you find out about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and becoming a parent.