Pregnancies in young girls are highly risky

In most of rural India especially in low economic status families marriages of girls are performed at a very young age. Child marriage, defined as marriage before age 18, devastates the lives of girls, their families and their communities and its consequences only perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

More often than not, child brides are pulled out of school, depriving them of an education and meaningful work. They suffer health risks associated with early sexual activity and childbearing, leading to high rates of maternal and child mortality as well as sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. And they are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and social isolation. The young age pregnancies - which are a result of child marriages - are highly risky. Why? I am going to answer that question now.

Complications in pregnancy are the “number one killer” of girls and young women aged 15-19 worldwide and 50,000 teenage girls and young women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year, in many cases because their bodies are not ready to bear children. Babies born to young mothers are also at greater risk: each year about 1 million babies born to adolescent girls die before their first birthday. In developing countries, if a mother is under 18, her baby’s chance of dying during the first year of life is 60% higher than a baby born to a mother older than 19. Many adolescent girls know little about family planning, let alone where to get it. Girls’ low status within families and communities means they lack the power to make their own decisions about whether or when to have a baby.

Girls under 18 are reportedly more likely to give birth to premature babies and have complications during labour. Their bodies are not physically ready for childbirth and their pelvises are smaller, so they are more prone to suffer obstructed labour. This can put women at greater risk, especially in the absence of emergency obstetric care as may be the case in some rural areas. Since the young mother is less likely to eat correctly during pregnancy, her baby often has a low birth weight (less than 51/2 pounds), making it more likely the baby will become ill.

Most young girls are not physycially, emotionally, or financially ready to carry and care for a child, their babies tend to have low birth weight and are predisposed to a variety of illnesses. An young mother will need the full support of her family to live a healthy lifestyle for her and her baby.

Pelvic bones do not reach their maximum size until about the age of 18; therefore, the pelvis of the teenage mother may not have grown enough to allow vaginal delivery of a normal-size baby. For this reason, the incidence of cesarean section is higher in teenage mothers -- a baby that can be delivered vaginally when the mother is 20 is often too large to have been delivered vaginally when she was 14 years old.

When pregnancies are not planned and spaced properly, frequent pregnancies and breastfeeding can deplete the stores of vitamins and minerals in the mother’s body, with the result that babies conceived fewer than six months after a prior birth are 42% more likely to be born with a low birth weight. Waiting longer to conceive after a birth means a new baby is given the best start in life. Siblings born within a relatively short space of time are affected throughout infancy and childhood. They are more likely to be malnourished and at greater risk of dying from illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Short spaces between births are dangerous for mothers. Women who become pregnant again fewer than five months after a birth are more than twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than women who wait for 18 to 23 months between births.

Prenatal care: Girls who come from rural back ground and from poorer families are at risk of not getting adequate prenatal care. Prenatal care is critical, especially in the first months of pregnancy. Prenatal care screens for medical problems in both mother and baby, monitors the baby's growth, and deals quickly with any complications that arise. Prenatal vitamins with folic acid -- ideally taken before getting pregnant -- are essential in helping to help prevent certain birth defects, such as neural tube defects.

Anemia : Young mothers are more likely to develop anemia -- or an abnormally low level of red blood cells -- during their pregnancy. Most commonly, the anemia is related to an iron deficiency. Anemia during pregnancy can pose problems for both the mother and baby, including increased risk of premature birth, and difficulties during labour and delivery. With severe anemia, the baby's development before birth may be affected.

High BP: Young pregnant girls have a higher risk of getting high blood pressure -- called pregnancy-induced hypertension -- than pregnant women in their 20s or 30s. They also have a higher risk of preeclampsia. This is a dangerous medical condition that combines high blood pressure with excess protein in the urine, swelling of a mother's hands and face, and organ damage.

These medical risks affect the pregnant girl, who may need to take medications to control symptoms. But they can also disrupt the unborn baby's growth. And, they can lead to further pregnancy complications such as premature birth.

A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. A baby that delivers before 37 weeks is a premature baby. In some cases,premature labour that begins too early in pregnancy can be stopped by medications and bed rest. Other times, the baby has to be delivered early for the health of the mother or infant. The earlier a baby is born, the more risk there is of respiratory, digestive, vision, cognitive, and other problems.

Low-birth-weight baby: Young girls are at higher risk of having low-birth-weight babies. Premature babies are more likely to weigh less than they should. That’s because they've had less time in the womb to grow. A low-birth-weight baby weighs only 3.3 to 5.5 pounds (1,500 to 2,500 grams). A very-low-birth-weight baby weighs less than 3.3 pounds. Babies that small may need to be put on a ventilator in a hospital's neonatal care unit for help with breathing after birth.

STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases): For young girls who have sex during pregnancy, STDs such aschlamydia and HIV are a major concern. Using a latex condom during intercourse may help prevent STDs, which can infect the uterus and growing baby.

Postpartum depression: Young girls may be at higher risk of postpartum depression(depression that starts after delivering a baby). Girls who feel down and sad, either while pregnant or after the birth, should talk openly with their doctors or someone else they trust. Depression can interfere with taking good care of a newborn, but it can be treated under medical supervision.

Feeling Alone and Isolated : Especially for young girls who are far away from their parents and friends, feeling scared, isolated, and alone can be a real problem. Without the support of family or other adults, pregnant adolescents are less likely to eat well, exercise, or get plenty of rest. And they are less likely to get to their regular prenatal visits. Having at least one trusted, supportive adult -- someone nearby in the community, if not a family member -- is invaluable in helping them get the prenatal care and emotional support they need to stay healthy during this time.

Therefore, it is important to realize marriage at an young age is not good for not only girls but also the society as a whole. Schooling should be improved and girls should stay in school for longer because of the link between better education and greater involvement in decision-making. Both girls and boys should be educated fully on sexual and reproductive health and rights. This goes a long way in preventing catastrophic young age pregnancies.