The unwanted pregnancy in the adolescent (women under 18 years), early pregnancy, represents a great problem for herself, her family and society, not only is exposed to a condition for which her young body is poorly prepared but is left exposed to a series of complications associated with the potential failure to achieve an independent and productive life. In addition, their children also share this risk from the moment they are born: the risk of physical, intellectual, economic and social marginality

Venezuela has won the first place in South America with the highest number of teenage pregnancies. The Organization of the United Nations, reported that out of every thousand pregnant women, 91 are under 18 years of age. This is because the average age, in which young Venezuelans initiate their sexual activity, occurs between 12 and 14 years.

The pregnant teenager

Perhaps the first problems faced by the pregnant adolescent are rejection, domestic violence, abandonment, and lack of medical attention. This is followed by the complications of induced abortion, the complications of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium

Pregnancy during adolescence usually presents a crisis for the girl and her family. The most common reactions include anger, guilt and refusing to admit the problem. If the father is young too and gets involved, it is possible that the same reactions occur with his family. In any case we will have two families involved and that could be adequate to generate a better support network for the mother and her unborn baby, at least it increases the probability of having better resources.

Pregnant teenagers can be deprived of medical assistance during their pregnancy, which results in a higher risk of having medical complications; they also need more understanding, medical attention and instruction, especially about nutrition, infections, substance abuse and pregnancy complications. They also need to learn that smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and using drugs can harm the developing fetus. Ideally, all pregnant adolescents receive early medical care during the first stage of pregnancy so that they feel supported and receive information that clarifies doubts and helps eliminate fears.

Pregnant teens can have different types of emotional reactions:

• Some may not want to have the baby
• they may want to have it for idealized and unrealistic reasons
• other teens can see the creation of another life as an extraordinary achievement, but without realizing the responsibilities that this entails
• some may want to keep the baby to please another family member
• Some may love the baby for having someone to love, but they do not realize the amount of attention the creature requires
• Depression is very common among pregnant teenagers
• Many can not anticipate that that adorable baby can make constant demands or be very irritating
• some feel overwhelmed by guilt, anxiety and fear of the future.

If the adolescent is pregnant, it is imperative that she and her family receive sincere and sensitive counseling about the options available, from abortion to adoption. In many countries there is no legislation that allows abortion as a viable option, in addition there are religious and moral considerations in this regard; On the other hand, just as abortion has been the appropriate response for a large number of adolescents and their families, there is a large number who have done an excellent job and have managed to get ahead thanks to the presence of an affective family and effectively involved in the care of the young mother and her son

From a practical point of view in those countries where abortion is legal, and performed by trained specialists, maternal mortality from septic abortion is practically nil whereas in places where abortion is criminalized many young lives have been lost for this reason. The truth is that the “criminal” abortions will never disappear and the methods have improved even under those conditions and there are no longer cases of uterine perforation, hemorrhage, sepsis, adolescent death that we used to see in hospitals years ago thanks to abortion attempts with unimaginable and extremely dangerous methods.

Delivery for adoption is an option that can be considered.

It is very important that the adolescent manages to re-enter the educational system as soon as possible, this with the aim of eventually achieving a profession that allows her to be independent and productive on her own. Of course, it is imperative that the adolescent does not become pregnant again, for which reason she should talk seriously about some efficient contraceptive method, preferably involuntary and long-term, while it would be convenient to consider limiting the adolescent’s sexuality, because even when mother, is still a minor and technically parents should not support or encourage sexuality in a minor, which incidentally, is still under the canons of parental authority.

The baby of the teenage mother

After the birth of the baby, exposure to risks increases considerably for both the mother and her baby; In fact, maternal mortality is high and neonatal mortality is even worse. Adolescent ignorance plays a fundamental role, especially if there are no adequate resources or adults available who can exercise effective supervision.

How is the adolescent feeding in her puerperium?

If there is no production of breast milk as the baby of a teenager is fed unable to buy and prepare formulas properly?

Who instructs her regarding the measures to raise, feed, clothe and groom a newborn?

Who instructs you with respect to hygiene standards and the prevention of diarrhea and common infections?

In my years as a rural doctor I received a sad case of a neonatal death of a 14-day-old baby due to acute dehydration from diarrhea and acute malnutrition. The young mother, a 14-year-old abandoned teenager, fed her baby with the food that the community gathered for her in an act of solidarity, but having no more instruction and supervision the baby was fed rice, beans, fried plantain, some Sometimes meat … of course, the baby did not survive this diet.

If they survive a difficult childhood and are plagued by long-term risks and deprivation, the children of adolescent mothers are exposed to problems and disadvantages in many important aspects of their lives, including failure in school, poverty and physical or mental illnesses. mental Adolescent mothers also run the risk of having these problems themselves; in fact, the effect on the adolescent becomes evident immediately if her family nucleus and the social services available are insufficient or inadequate to meet her wide and varied needs.

Babies born to teenagers run the risk of being abandoned and abused because young mothers do not know how to raise them and are very frustrated by the constant demands of caring for the little ones. In many cases the male partner is the most dangerous element for the baby, the inconsolable crying due to hunger or discomfort has been the reason for the murder of many babies due to parental desperation and the lack of filial attachment.

Some teenagers have to stop going to school to have the baby and then they do not come back. Thus, the pregnant adolescent loses the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to obtain employment and to survive in the world of adults

Prevention

Parents of teenagers could prevent their daughters’ pregnancies through open communication and giving them advice about sexuality, contraception and the risks and responsibilities involved in sexual intercourse and pregnancy; Of course, this requires parents to be concerned and with a minimum level of interest and educational preparation, something not always available. Classes at the school about family life and sex education, as well as clinics that offer information to young people about reproduction and birth control, can also help prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Education is fundamental, the government should have support networks for abandoned children, for the pregnant adolescent, daily care homes for the adolescent to be educated, school, soup kitchens, health care, it seems utopian but many poor countries have achieved great advances in these matters, it’s just a matter of will!