Teenage Pregnancy and A Healthy Lifestyle
Lifestyle during pregnancy has long-lasting effects on your health and your baby’s health.
Now it’s important that you do all you can to ensure your health and the health of your baby.
There are many things you need to be aware of to achieve good health for you and your baby:
-Get regular prenatal care from your doctor or clinic
-Eat properly
-Stop smoking and stop drinking alcohol
-Don’t take any drugs unless they are given to you by your doctor
-Practicing these guidelines will increase your chances of having a healthy baby.
There are many risks involved with teenage pregnancy:
Poor eating habits, smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking nonprescription drugs increase the risk of having a baby with problems.
Babies born to teenagers often are born too small and too soon. As a result they may have:
-immature organ systems
-mental retardation
-a risk of dying early in infancy
It is proven that some of the problems associated with teenage pregnancy can be corrected by getting help early in pregnancy from doctors, nutrition experts, family, and friends.
Remaining healthy during your pregnancy is important for both you and your baby.
Good nutrition is the key.
The importance of good nutrition during pregnancy can’t be over stressed for either you or your baby.
Your body is still growing. Proper nutrition for that reason alone is very important at this time in your life. But now there is an extra demand on your body- the baby growing inside you needs proper nutrition too.
Getting enough of the right foods will decrease the chance of having a baby that is too small.
Pregnant teenagers have increased needs for some vitamins and minerals compared to older pregnant women because their bodies are still growing.
It is normal to gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. Now is not the time to diet.
You need to eat an extra 300 calories a day while you are pregnant.
Weight gain is even more important for you if you plan to breast-feed.
Keep in mind:
Don’t skip meals
Don’t eat empty calorie foods. Sometimes known as junk foods, they have little nutrient value. They are often high in sugar, salt, and fat. These foods make you feel full for you to skip nutritious meals easily.
Don’t eat away from home too often because it limits your food variety. Fast food items such as hamburgers, fried chicken, and french fries are high in fat and salt.
It you don’t have enough money for nutritious food, tell your health care providers and ask them for help. They will enroll you into the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program.
Other Articles of Interest
Teen Pregnancy: Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have declined steadily in recent years. More than 60 of every 1000 teenage women gave birth in 1991
When Your Teen Is Having a Baby: Finding out your child is pregnant and planning to have the baby means that a lot of things are going to change in your family.
Can I be pregnant and still have vaginal bleeding?: Up to 25 percent of pregnant women have light vaginal bleeding, or spotting, during the first trimester. In most cases, spotting is not a sign