Can a pre-teen or teen die from pregnancy?

Question

I heard once that if a female has a baby too young, like pre-teen and teen years, she can have major pregnancy complications or even die because her body is not full grown enough to carry and have a baby.

What about the baby?

Can the baby die or be premature because the mother is too young?

Any truth to this?

(this is not about me, my wife is in her 20's)

Answer 1

Yes, a preteen or teenager can die during delivery. Pregnancy is not usually what kills them, it is the delivery. Statistics are higher among younger girls because their bodies are not quite ready for the delivery. ALL of what you say is true.

Of course NOT all teenagers die, regardless of how young. BUT statistically yes, it is a very realistic danger.

Answer 2

Teen mothers are more apt to develop pre-eclampsia:
What is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.

Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy), though it can occur earlier. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are closely related conditions. HELLP Syndrome and eclampsia are other manifestations of the same syndrome. It is important to note that research shows that more women die from preeclampsia than eclampsia and one is not necessarily more serious than the other.

Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year.

This condition can affect any mother to be, not just teens... I had it when I was pregnant with my son who is now 24, I was 19 when I gave birth to him. Thank goodness everything turned out fine when all was said and done, but the last trimester was very difficult, and the birth itself was one that was very dangerous for he and I both. The important thing is for anyone who is even thinking about becoming pregnant.. to start increasing their intake of folic acid before even trying to conceive, as the lack of it increases certain birth defects for the baby... and this is for any woman of any age. As soon as a woman thinks she is pregnant, she should get a home pregnancy kit (their as cheap as a buck these days).. then get under the care of an OB-GYN asap and be monitored throughout the pregnancy... I personally feel that any woman can have a safe and healthy pregnancy and deliver a very normal healthy baby with proper care and nutrition! I don't think having complications is due to one being too small, I think there are more complications for those who are overweight before becoming pregnant, and those who do not practice proper nutrition and exercise, and don't seek out proper OB care during the 9 months.

I hope this answers your ?

Answer 3

Babies born to girls who are under 16 are at high risk of being compromised as are their mothers. The babies are often small for dates, born with very low birth weights and prematurely.

As far as dying as a result of pregnancy complications...that I am not sure about, but in developed countries mothers rarely die in childbirth, young or old. You could try searching maternal deaths and correlate with ages if you really wanted to know!

Answer 4

The youngest woman (and I use the word "woman" loosely) to give birth was Lina Medina, a 5-year-old Peruvian girl. She was 4 years old when she conceived and had the perfectly healthy baby boy by C section.

The point is, if a woman's body is mature enough to concieve, her body is able to bear children. But as an older friend once told me, "Just cuz the plumbing's in doesn't mean the house is ready to occupy." We're talking physical maturity here, not mental or emotional.

Answer 5

Any woman can die during pregnancy if she has complications. The risk of complications increases in very young mothers and women over 35. Better stick to popping out those kids now while she is in her prime baby making years.

Answer 6

The youngest girl to ever have a baby was 6 years old. Can you believe that? If the girl is very young and not developed enough to have a baby the traditional way, doctors perform a C-section. That's what they did with the 6 year old girl.

Answer 7

I bet that could be true. You know why? Because take this as an example. When females start going through puberty, many things happen. Their bodies become able to carry a baby to term, they become sexually active, they start filling out...you know, all that stuff. But what if one of those things starts happening before the other, or they are all off a little bit? So like, She becomes sexually active, and is able to grow a baby, but her body just isnt ready to support that? I think that could lead to something fatal, unfortunatly.

Answer 8

the fact is that any woman could die in childbirth but now doctors have ultrasound and can see when the child is getting too big or when the child isnt in the right position so fewer and fewer women die in childbirth.If the mother dies then the child has a high chance of also dieing if not being supervised by doctors and other medical personnel.

Answer 9

Anyone can die during childbirth. A pre-teen would be small, unlesss she had big hips. That smallness could be a problem. A preteen has no business having a baby in the first place. Just my humble opinion.

Answer 10

well if the female is too young then she may can die because she may can't handle the pressure of pushing the baby out and her body may not be developed enough to have a child any way the baby may live if she can deliver the baby