The World Health Organization considers early pregnancy whenever a girl becomes pregnant before the age of 19, with most cases occurring between the ages of 15 and 19.
Early pregnancy is generally due to culture, low economic status and difficulty in accessing contraceptive methods.
Pregnancy at an early stage of life, such as adolescence, can result in several consequences for both the pregnant woman and the baby, such as depression during and after pregnancy, premature birth and increased blood pressure.
Main consequences of early pregnancy
Early pregnancy can have several consequences for both the mother and the baby, which can have physical, psychological and socioeconomic impacts:
1. Physical consequences
Due to the fact that women are not completely physically ready for pregnancy, there is a greater chance of premature birth, early water breakage and miscarriage, for example.
Furthermore, it is possible for weight loss, anemia and changes in the process of formation of blood vessels in the placenta to occur, which may result in increased blood pressure, a situation called pre-eclampsia. Understand what pre-eclampsia is.
2. Psychological consequences
Most girls who are in an early pregnancy are not emotionally prepared to be mothers, which is why it is common for them to develop depression, both during pregnancy and postpartum. There may also be a decrease in self-esteem and emotional problems between mother and baby.
3. Socioeconomic consequences
It is very common that during and after pregnancy, women need to abandon their studies or work, as it can be difficult to reconcile the two, in addition to suffering immense pressure from society, often from their own family, in relation to marriage and the fact that being pregnant while still a teenager.
Furthermore, being pregnant is often considered a reason for companies not to hire, as it tends to represent a greater expense for the company, since in a few months you will be on maternity leave.
4. Consequences for the baby
The fact that a woman is not physically and emotionally prepared can increase the chances of premature birth, low birth weight and even the risk of changes in the child’s development.
Due to all the implications that early pregnancy can cause, this type of pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy and must be monitored by qualified health professionals to avoid or reduce the impact of the consequences. Know the risks of teenage pregnancy.
Causes of early pregnancy
The main causes of early pregnancy are due to several different factors, but can include:
- First menstruation too early;
- Misinformation about pregnancy and contraceptive methods;
- Low financial and social level;
- Families with other cases of early pregnancy;
- Conflicts and bad family environment.
Early pregnancy can happen in any social class, but it is more common in low-income families, as young women often, due to the lack of goals or family incentives regarding studies, come to believe that having a child represents a life project.
What to do in case of teenage pregnancy
In the case of an early pregnancy, what the young woman can do is make a medical appointment to start prenatal care and tell her family to get the necessary support.
Psychologists and obstetricians, as well as nurses and social workers must be informed so that there is correct prenatal surveillance to reduce complications in the mother and baby. This type of support also helps to prevent a new teenage pregnancy and encourage young mothers to return to school.
See what precautions are taken during teenage pregnancy.
