Health risks that can be experienced if you get pregnant in your teens

Pregnancy requires physical and mental readiness. For that, it's best if you get pregnant at the time you think you're ready to get pregnant. Pregnancy at an age too young or too old can have a negative impact on the health of you and your baby in the future.

However, pregnancy in adolescence seems to be common in the world, both unwanted and unwanted. Many adolescents aged 15-19 are already pregnant. According to WHO, around 16 million women aged 15-19 years give birth to children each year, about 11% of births worldwide. This is a sizeable amount with a great risk.

What are the risks of getting pregnant in adolescence?

Getting pregnant in your teens can increase health risks to you and your baby. This is because your body is not ready for pregnancy and childbirth. Those of you who are 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

Pregnant in adolescence has a high risk of triggering high blood pressure. In addition, you are also at risk of suffering from preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine, and other signs of organ damage. Medication must be done to control blood pressure and prevent complications, but this can also interfere with the growth of the baby in the womb.

2. Anemia

Being pregnant in adolescence can also result in anemia during pregnancy. This anemia is caused by a lack of iron which is consumed by pregnant women. Therefore, to prevent this, pregnant women are advised to regularly consume blood plus tablets at least 90 tablets during pregnancy.

Anemia during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and difficulties with childbirth. Severe anemia during pregnancy can also have an impact on the development of the baby in the womb.

3. Babies born prematurely and LBW

The incidence of preterm babies increases in pregnancy at a very young age. These premature babies generally have low birth weight because they are not ready to be born (at the age of less than 37 weeks of gestation). Premature babies increase their risk of suffering from disorders of the respiratory, digestive, vision, cognitive and other systems.

4. Venereal disease

In adolescents who have had sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases (such as chlamydia and HIV) are a major concern. Sexually transmitted infections suffered by pregnant women can cause uterine infections and interfere with 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, it can occur any time in the first year after birth. Different from baby blues, postpartum depression is a much more serious condition.

Research published in the journal Pediatrics found that women who were pregnant at the age of 15-19 were twice as likely to develop postpartum depression as women who were pregnant at the age of 25.

Another study also reported that being a mother in adolescence will trigger stress at a very high level, which has the potential to become a mental disorder. Apart from depression, women who are already pregnant and become mothers in their teens are more prone to suicidal thoughts when experiencing depression, compared to other adolescents who are not yet mothers.

6. Economic instability

According to research on the socioeconomic consequences of unwanted pregnancies, published in the Iranian Journal of Public Health, pregnancies at a young age or even pregnancies that occur when the partner is not ready to have children tends to reduce the economic well-being of the couple.

Pregnancy in adolescence also risks hindering the continuing education of mothers and fathers, and reducing their chances of gaining higher employment status. Young parents who must immediately look for sources of income due to an unexpected pregnancy, also tend to accept jobs with lower income. This condition is coupled with the expenditure that will increase when the baby is born.

How to prevent unwanted pregnancy?

If you are already sexually active, or if you and your husband don't want to have children, make sure you take the following steps to prevent an unwanted pregnancy:

Find out which contraceptive method works best for you. From condoms, birth control pills, spiral birth control, injection birth control, and so on, there are many options that you can consider. Learn what the pros and cons are, and decide which one is most suitable for you. Check out Hello Sehat's review about the types of contraception.
Make sure you use contraception correctly. If using the pill, read the drinking rules and schedule. If using an implant or injection, find out when you need to see the doctor again to update your birth control. Also make sure the way you use and store condoms is correct.
Avoid having sex during the fertile period and when you are ovulating. You can calculate when your next fertile period is, with Fertility Calculator this.

What can I do if I become pregnant as a teenager?

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

Routine pregnancy checks. Regular pregnancy checks can monitor the health of the mother and the baby in the womb, so that certain disease conditions during pregnancy can be prevented.
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. This is done to find out whether the teenage mother has a sexually transmitted disease, if so, then it can be treated early.
Eat a well-balanced diet. During pregnancy, teenage mothers need folic acid, calcium, iron, protein and other important nutrients to meet the needs of them and their babies. Teenage mothers really need additional calcium and phosphorus because their bone growth is still ongoing. Prenatal supplements may be needed to meet their high needs.
Get regular exercise. Doing regular exercise can help reduce or even prevent complaints that are felt during pregnancy, increase energy, and improve overall health. Being active can also help you prepare for birth.
Maintain the appropriate weight gain. Proper weight gain can improve your baby's health and it can also help you to lose weight after giving birth. The amount of weight gain needed for each pregnant woman varies, you should consult your doctor to find out.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and other drugs. This can be dangerous to the health of both you and your baby. You should consult your doctor first before taking medicines.
Seek support from people closest to you. You really 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 parenthood.