While this is good news, teen birth rates in the U.S. remain high, exceeding those in most developed countries. 6 High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers and their babies face increased risks to their health. 4 Almost 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year6, and about 485,000 give birth. The teenage birth rate is declining. Her Baby Teens too often have poor eating habits, neglect to take a daily multivitamin, and may smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs, increasing the risk that their babies will be born with health problems.
Low gain increases the risk of having a low-birthweight baby.
2 Pregnant teens are least likely of all maternal age groups to get early and regular prenatal care. A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications such as premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure. These risks are even greater for teens who are under 15 years old. 4,1 Three million teens are affected by sexually transmitted diseases annually, out of a total of 12 million cases reported. 6 Health Risks to the Baby A baby born to a teenage mother is more at risk of certain serious problems than a baby born to an older mother.