Prenatal Care for Pregnant Teens

When a teen is pregnant and decides to have a child, it’s likely that she’ll be thinking about how things will change once the baby is born. She’ll have to plan for her social life to take a serious slowdown, and all her shopping spree money will go straight into a diaper fund!

But what a woman does during her pregnancy is just as important as what she does once the baby is born. Unfortunately, one-third of pregnant teens do not receive adequate prenatal care, which means their babies are more likely to have low birth weight and childhood health problems. Low birth weight babies may face serious health problems as newborns and are at increased risk of long-term disabilities.

Having a healthy pregnancy requires some serious lifestyle changes from the minute a woman realizes she is pregnant. So, what do pregnant teens need to know? Here are a few of the most important things.

1. Call a Clinician

First things first — if a woman is pregnant, she needs to see a clinician as soon as possible. To make an appointment with a clinician, contact your local Planned Parenthood health center by calling 1-800-230-PLAN. Don’t procrastinate on this one! Prenatal care is necessary to monitor the health of the fetus and the mother.

2. Ditch the Smokes

The other thing a pregnant woman needs to do pronto is stopping some of those bad habits … like smoking! Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen the fetus receives in the womb, contributes to low birth weight, and could even cause a miscarriage. So if you’re a smoker, here’s another big reason to quit!

Cigarettes and coffee often go together … but not when a woman is pregnant! Most clinicians advise pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake. (Don’t forget that chocolate contains caffeine, too!)

3. Pass on the Partying

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is a serious don’t! Alcohol consumption can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). FAS and FAE cause birth defects and affect a child’s ability to learn, think, and move. And even a little alcohol … any kind of alcohol … can harm a fetus. So, it’s ginger ale from this time forward!

Drugs and pregnancy also don’t mix. Drug use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight and symptoms of drug withdrawal in infants, including excessive crying and shaking. Check in with your clinician before you take any drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medications.

4. Weighing In

A woman can help prevent low birth weight by following her clinician’s recommendations and by eating right. And say good-bye to dieting — pregnant women require 300-800 additional calories a day! It’s really important for a pregnant woman to get the vitamins and minerals she needs, especially folic acid, calcium, and iron. Exercise is also an important part of staying healthy, but it’s important for a pregnant woman to check with her clinician about what’s safe for her to do.

Having a healthy pregnancy starts from day one. Eat right, steer clear of drugs and alcohol, and make sure to get adequate prenatal care. For more complete information on prenatal care, check out Having a Healthy Baby.