Teen Pregnancy: Symptoms, Prenatal Care & Prevention Techniques

It's not easy being a teenager; especially if you are pregnant. It's a reality that hundreds and thousands of teenagers in this country become pregnant every year. While teen pregnancy is an important issue in this country, not all teenagers realize the significance of this topic. Read on to learn more about teen pregnancy and how it can affect you.

Significance

Although certain forms of birth control do provide some protection against pregnancy, as long as a female is sexually active, there is still a chance of becoming pregnant (if she has started menstruation). Research shows that more and more teens in the United States are becoming pregnant every year. In fact, according to Healthcommunities.com, approximately one-third of females in this country become pregnant during their teenage years. As this is an important issue in this country, young females should know how to identify the symptoms of pregnancy, so they can seek prenatal care for their unborn baby.

Symptoms

Many teenagers have symptoms when they are pregnant. According to TeenBreaks.com, the most common symptoms of teenage pregnancy include spotting or cramping about a week after conception; a missed period or lighter period; fatigue; swollen or tender breasts; headaches; nausea; vomiting; and darkening around the nipples. Not all teens experience the same symptoms and some teens may not have any symptoms at all. But most teens will stop menstruating when they become pregnant. Overall, missing a period is the most common teen pregnancy symptom.

Considerations

It is important to take good care of your body while you are pregnant. Therefore, you should visit your OB/GYN on a regular basis to receive proper prenatal care for you and your unborn baby. Prenatal care is important because your doctor can monitor the fetus and make sure that the baby is growing and developing in an appropriate manner. Overall, your doctor wants to ensure that you have a healthy pregnancy and that there are no complications with your unborn baby. So, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, eat healthy, take your prenatal vitamins and get an adequate amount of exercise every week.

Warning

You should avoid drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or taking drugs while you are pregnant. Statistics show that teen mothers are at a greater risk of using drugs and alcohol than adults. And Healthcommunities.com states that drug and alcohol consumption can cause infant mortality, health complications for your baby (such as bleeding in the brain and developmental problems) and low birthweight. In addition, please note that you may be pregnant even if you are still having a period every month. So, if you suspect that you may be pregnant, it is best to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible for an examination and pregnancy test.

Prevention

The best way to avoid becoming a teen mother, is to abstain from having sexual intercourse. However, if you choose to engage in sexual intercourse, then you should consider using birth control. There are different types of birth control methods, such as latex condoms; the birth control pill, ring, shot or patch; cervical cap; spermicide; diaphragm; intrauterine device, or IUD; and the withdrawal method. Your healthcare provider can discuss your options with you and help you choose an appropriate method of birth control to use.