Teenage Pregnancy

2008 March of Dimes, retrieved 22 April 2008
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1159.asp

This article states a lot of the risks and the declination of teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy had declined steadily since 1991 but the rates are still high. The important facts to the teen mothers are that they're increasing risks to their health and their opportunity to build a future is diminishing. Studies show that most of the teenage births (67%) are of the girls ages 18-19. More than 750,000 become pregnant and 420,000 of those give birth. Three out of 10 girls become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 then between 22-33% of teen mothers under the age of 18 have a 2nd baby within two years after the birth of their first baby. Teens are more likely to give birth prematurely, like before 37 complete weeks of pregnancy. In 2002 from 2004 the preterm birth rates averaged 14.3% for teenage girls under the age of 20, their babies get an increased risk of newborn health problems, longterm disabilities and even death. So if teens were to smoke, drink, or take drugs a baby will most likely be born with health problems like low birth weight. Another risk they lead to is pre-mature birth or stillbirth (when a baby dies in the womb).