Teenage mothers 'more likely to give birth prematurely'. Teenage mothers are more likely to give birth prematurely and have underweight babies, research shows.
The study also indicated that one quarter of teenage mothers get pregnant again before they turn 20, and that they are at particular risk of a preterm birth the second time around.
Premature babies are more susceptible to a range of medical problems and are at greater risk of dying in the first year of life
These teenagers are 93 per cent more likely than adult women to give birth early, prompting experts to warn that must me done to prevent girls becoming pregnant again immediately after giving birth.
Researchers at the University College Cork in Ireland, who conducted the survey of more than 55,000 births, called for more health and sex education to prevent the “biological immaturity” of young mothers from damaging their babies’ prospects.
Premature babies – generally defined as those born earlier that 37 weeks in pregnancy – are more susceptible to a range of medical problems and are at greater risk of dying in the first year of life.
The study of children born to mothers aged between 14 and 29 in the North West of England found that younger teenagers were more prone to premature birth than older teenagers.
Ali Khashan, who carried out the research, said the results indicated that some teenage girls were failing to receive proper medical advice after becoming pregnant – and that young mothers tended to slip through the net of the health services when they had a second child.
Dr Khashan said: "It is possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome is related to biological immaturity.
“It is also possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome in the second teenage pregnancy is related to numerous complicating factors such as greater social deprivation and less prenatal care."
Professor Louise Kenny, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital, who led the study, said: " A first pregnancy may be the first and only time a pregnant teenager interacts with health services and this opportunity should not be overlooked". ( telegraph.co.uk )
The study also indicated that one quarter of teenage mothers get pregnant again before they turn 20, and that they are at particular risk of a preterm birth the second time around.
Premature babies are more susceptible to a range of medical problems and are at greater risk of dying in the first year of life
These teenagers are 93 per cent more likely than adult women to give birth early, prompting experts to warn that must me done to prevent girls becoming pregnant again immediately after giving birth.
Researchers at the University College Cork in Ireland, who conducted the survey of more than 55,000 births, called for more health and sex education to prevent the “biological immaturity” of young mothers from damaging their babies’ prospects.
Premature babies – generally defined as those born earlier that 37 weeks in pregnancy – are more susceptible to a range of medical problems and are at greater risk of dying in the first year of life.
The study of children born to mothers aged between 14 and 29 in the North West of England found that younger teenagers were more prone to premature birth than older teenagers.
Ali Khashan, who carried out the research, said the results indicated that some teenage girls were failing to receive proper medical advice after becoming pregnant – and that young mothers tended to slip through the net of the health services when they had a second child.
Dr Khashan said: "It is possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome is related to biological immaturity.
“It is also possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome in the second teenage pregnancy is related to numerous complicating factors such as greater social deprivation and less prenatal care."
Professor Louise Kenny, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital, who led the study, said: " A first pregnancy may be the first and only time a pregnant teenager interacts with health services and this opportunity should not be overlooked". ( telegraph.co.uk )
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