Adolescent pregnancy is a leading cause of death for girls under age twenty. Adolescent girls who become pregnant are at high risk of complications during their pregnancy and during childbirth.

Even if they don’t die, they may be left with chronic health issues. Additionally, having a baby so young is typically stigmatizing and interferes with the ability to pursue an education and a career, thus trapping millions of girls in poverty for the rest of their lives.

Adolescent pregnancies are often not planned. They are frequently unintended and unwanted, not some happy little accident. At least 10 million adolescent pregnancies each year are unintended.

Because they are often unwanted, there are an estimated 5.6 million abortions in this age group in developing countries. Most of them (3.9 million) are unsafe, often not performed by a licensed medical professional in a proper medical setting. This is part of why so many girls die as a result of pregnancy or are permanently impaired with lasting health issues.

Girls between the ages of 10 and 19 who become pregnant are at increased risk for eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections. If they do successfully give birth, the baby is more likely to have a low birth weight and be delivered preterm. Once the child goes home, it is more likely to be living in poverty and not receiving adequate care.

This Is No Small Problem

Each year, developing regions around the world see an estimated 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant. The result is twelve million live births, millions of abortions, and millions of miscarriages. There is an additional estimated 777,000 births in girls under age fifteen in developing countries.

Although the global fertility rate for adolescent girls has declined substantially in recent decades, it remains high in some areas. This is especially so in some parts of Central Africa and South-East Asia, though it still varies from country to country and even from one city to another within countries.

Although the fertility rate for this demographic has declined, the number of births for this group has not. The reason for this is that the overall global population has grown, including this demographic.

The Hardship Hits The Underprivileged The Hardest

Although adolescent pregnancies can and do occur in any country and in any social class, they are more likely to occur in marginalized communities. Lack of education, lack of opportunity, and the usual social ills that drive poverty also push up rates of adolescent pregnancy.

In very underdeveloped countries, up to 39 percent of girls are married off before they turn eighteen. Twelve percent are married off before age fifteen.

Motherhood may be expected and may be valued as a role for women in such countries. At the same time, women often lack rights and lack opportunity for making a life of their own outside of marriage and motherhood. This double-whammy helps drive up early pregnancy in many places where it will be a real hardship due to lack of sanitation, lack of health care and lack of education generally in the population.

Often, an adolescent who knows it is a bad idea to get pregnant and wishes to avoid it simply lacks to means to control their own destiny. They may not have the legal right to obtain contraceptives. They may not have the money. Their pregnancies are all too often a result of sexual violence.

This is harmful to the physical health of both mother and child. It also means women and their children are often trapped in poverty with little hope of ever really escaping it.

A Path Forward

Making sure women have access to rights, education, contraception and earning power is a primary means to stamp out some of the worst problems in some of the worst areas. This must include young women of childbearing age who may not yet be legally counted as adults.

The World Health Organization and others nongovernmental organizations have made it a priority to reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy in developing countries. Some governments have also made an effort to make in-roads on this issue.

Global poverty will not be resolved without resolving the issue of adolescent pregnancy in marginalized communities. Unintended pregnancy is especially problematic and is best resolved by focusing on rights and education.

Early pregnancy is mostly imposed upon girls. Women who can think for themselves and decide for themselves rarely choose to have children so young.

What causes gestational diabetes?
Pregnancy hormones can block insulin from doing its job. When this happens, sugar (glucose) level may increase in a pregnant woman’s blood.

Pregnant women are at higher risk for gestational diabetes if they:

• Are older than 25 when pregnant
• Come from a higher risk ethnic group, such as Latino, African American, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander
• Have a family history of diabetes
• Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds (4 kg) or had a birth defect
• Have high blood pressure
• Have too much amniotic fluid
• Have had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
• Were overweight before pregnancy
• Gain too much weight during pregnancy
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome

What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?
Usually, there are no symptoms. The diagnosis is made during a routine prenatal screening. Mild symptoms of increased thirst or shakiness may be present. These symptoms are usually not life-threatening to the pregnant woman.

The following are the other symptoms that may be present:

• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Frequent infections, including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination

How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?
Gestational diabetes most often starts midway through the pregnancy. It is usually diagnosed when a pregnant woman is tested for glucose intolerance during routine prenatal screening. All pregnant women usually receive an oral glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to look for the condition. Women who have risk factors for gestational diabetes have this test earlier in the pregnancy.

How is gestational diabetes treated?
The goal of treatment is to keep blood sugar (glucose) level within normal limits during the pregnancy and to make sure that the growing baby is healthy. Your doctor may treat your gestational diabetes with daily glucose monitoring, diet changes, and exercise. If diet and exercise fail to control your blood glucose, the doctor may prescribe diabetes medicine or insulin.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

The following are some of the common health problems that are experienced by pregnant women:

1. Anemia: This condition refers to a drop in hemoglobin levels or red blood cells count. Most of the time, this is triggered by iron deficiency. The symptoms of anemia are feeling tired or weak, looking pale, feeling faint, and shortness of breath. Treating the underlying cause of the anemia will help increase the red blood cells count and hemoglobin levels. Women with pregnancy-related anemia are treated by giving iron and folic acid supplements. Your doctor will check your iron levels throughout pregnancy to make sure anemia does not appear again.
2. Gestational diabetes: This condition is marked by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Usually, there are no symptoms, but sometimes, the symptoms like extreme thirst, hunger, or fatigue occur.  A screening test shows high blood sugar levels. Most women with pregnancy-related diabetes can control their blood sugar levels by eating a healthy meal suggested by their doctor. Some women also need medicines and insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control. This is very important because poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk for other health complications.
3. Depression: This condition is marked by extreme sadness during pregnancy or after birth. Intense sadness, helplessness, irritability, appetite changes, and thoughts of self-harm are some of the symptoms. There is no single cause of depression during and after pregnancy, but hormonal changes, stress, family history, and changes in brain chemistry or structure may all play a role. The mother’s depression can affect her baby’s development, so getting treatment is important for both mother and baby. This is a treatable condition. Women who are depressed during and after pregnancy can get help with medicines, therapy, or support groups.
4. Preeclampsia: This is a condition that may start after 20 weeks of pregnancy and this can cause high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other organs. High blood pressure, swelling of hands and face, high protein in the urine, stomach pain, blurred vision, dizziness, and headaches are some of the symptoms of this condition. The only cure is delivery, which may not be best for the baby. If it is too early to deliver, the doctor will watch the health of the mother and her baby very closely. The doctor may prescribe medicines and bed rest at home or in the hospital to lower blood pressure. Medicines also might be used to prevent the mother from having seizures.
5. High blood pressure related to pregnancy: High blood pressure that starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy and goes away after birth. This high blood pressure is without other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. The health of the mother and baby are closely watched by the doctor to make sure high blood pressure is not preeclampsia.
6. Nausea and vomiting: Many women experience severe, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Nausea that does not go away, vomiting several times a day, weight loss, reduced appetite, dehydration, and feeling faint or fainting are some of the symptoms. Eating dry, bland foods and fluids together is the first line of treatment. Sometimes, medicines are prescribed to help nausea. Many women with this condition have to be hospitalized to feed fluids and nutrients through a tube into their veins. Usually, women with nausea and vomiting begin to feel better by the 20th week of pregnancy. But some women vomit and feel nauseated throughout the pregnancy.

This informational article is intended to educate and alert readers about some health problems faced by a pregnant woman. It is not intended to diagnose and treat any pregnancy-related condition.

Wrong postures during pregnancy cause pelvic or back pain. It is absolutely necessary to maintain correct postures while standing, sitting, bending, or lying down. If you are pregnant, you must avoid the following activities and postures for yours as well as baby’s safety:

Activities to avoid during pregnancy

• Gymnastics
• Squatting
• Heavy weight lifting
• Intense cardio
• High impact aerobics
• Intense jumping
• Any rigorous work
• Driving or traveling on a bumpy road

Standing postures to avoid during pregnancy

• Avoid drooping while standing, stand erect.
• Avoid standing in the same position for a prolonged time.
• Avoid bending forwards or backwards.
• Avoid stooping down to pick up something, go down on your knees slowly and pick up.
• Avoid standing tilted forward or backward. You must stand upright to avoid any pressure on your stomach.
• Avoid putting weight on one foot while standing, distribute your weight evenly, or keep shifting weight between left and right foot.
• Avoid tilting your head downwards or sideways while standing, keep your head upright or forward-looking position.

Sitting postures to avoid during pregnancy

• Avoid sitting in a cross-legged posture.
• Avoid sitting in the same position for prolonged time.
• Avoid hanging your legs in the air while sitting, as it causes swelling in the legs
• Avoid sitting on the edge of a bed or a chair, as you are likely to lean forward for balance.  Always sit resting on a back support.
• Avoid slouching or leaning on one side while sitting, as that puts pressure one side of your hips. Sit comfortably distributing your weight evenly.
• Avoid twisting your waist while sitting on a rotating chair, instead move your entire body along with the rotating chair.

Sleeping Postures You Must Avoid

• Avoid lying down on your stomach, instead of sleeping on side, particularly left side.
• Avoid lying flat on your back, instead of sleep in a half-sitting-position leaning on your back with the support of pillows.
• Avoid putting pillows under your shoulders while sleeping.
• Avoid sleeping in a curling position, as this restricts blood circulation to your hands and legs.
• Avoid getting up with a sudden jerk from a lying position.

This informational article is intended to educate pregnant women about what postures to avoid during pregnancy for their safety. Please contact your gynecologist for correct standing, sitting, and sleeping postures during pregnancy.