Teenage Pregnancy

About half a million teenagers give birth in the United States each year, accounting for about 13% of all births.  In Canada the comparable statistics are about half that amount.  Teenage pregnancy poses special health problems for both the mother and child. Young women continue maturing into physical adulthood for 5 years after the onset of menstrual periods (menarche). Because the average age for menarche is 13 years in North America, a woman younger than 18 years is not as physically ready to be pregnant as she will be later.

Pregnant teens frequently exhibit a variety of other risk factors that can complicate pregnancy and pose a risk to the fetus. For instance, teenagers are more likely than older women to be underweight at the beginning of pregnancy and to gain fewer than 16 pounds during pregnancy. In addition, their bodies generally lack the maturity needed to safely carry a pregnancy. Sixteen percent of low-birth-weight infants are born to teenage mothers. This occurrence takes place, even with adequate prenatal care. Furthermore, the specific needs of pregnant teenagers vary according to their own growth patterns, body build, and physical activity habits. Thus, it is difficult to estimate their nutrient needs. Overall, mothers who are between the ages of 25 and 34 have the best pregnancy outcomes. Teenage pregnancy should be avoided.

Advanced Maternal Age

The risks of low birth weight and preterm delivery increase modestly, but progressively, with maternal age. Given close monitoring, however, a woman older than age 35 has an excellent chance of producing a healthy infant. Most women in this age group exhibit typical pregnancy related problems, which usually are manageable under close medical supervision.