The term “Teenage Pregnancy” means bearing of pregnancy by a girl who has not attained adulthood, usually between the ages of 13 – 19.  In some countries, it is due to child marriages, rape, poverty, but in other countries, it may be the result of long time dating. It is the result of voluntary or involuntary sexual intercourse between a girl and boy. Usually, the average age of menarche in various countries including U.S.A is 12 years old, but the age is descending. Presently, a girl can get pregnant at the age of 10 or 11 also. Teenage pregnancy pours lots of problems for the expecting mother in any country. Society behaves with the expecting girl with extreme indignity. Therefore, it is becoming a social issue on which many studies and campaigns are prevalent. Many women institutions are raising this issue at large scale to make the population aware about its ill-effects, thus trying to reduce or stop teenage pregnancy.

The sign of pregnancy can be diagnosed by urine test. It can be also detected by pelvic examination by a gynecologist, who declares purple coloration of vaginal walls with enlargement of uterus and further ultrasound is done to confirm it. It carries risk to the body of the expecting mother, as they do not know about prenatal care. They are prone to high blood pressure, alcohol drinking, smoking, and unscheduled eating patterns resulting in low weight of child. They are frightened to tell their parents, and thus, face more difficulties such as confusion, fear, lack of sleep, frustration, and isolation.

The expecting mother should take quick decision in this stage of pregnancy. They have to either abort or offer the child for adoption. As abortion is possible only till 3 months or 12 weeks of pregnancy, she should talk to the family without any fear or go to any women centre to seek advice and help as it is the question of life and death of two people – the expecting mother and baby.

Usually women become aware of their pregnancy for the first time when they miss their regular menstrual period. Some other early markers of pregnancy that are quite common are morning sickness and/or weakness and fatigue, heavy swollen and tender breasts, dizziness etc. But much before the menstruation cycle date, some women tend to notice a vaginal discharge that may be heavy or light, but is very different from what is normally experienced every month. The color of the discharge is light and is more watery. It tends to stop on its own and is, usually not a reason to be alarmed. Only, that it is one more indicator for the things to come.

Like all other pregnancy symptoms this one too is not a universal sign of pregnancy. This is one essential characteristic of all pregnancy markers. Also quite often these symptoms can be mistaken for some other problem. Taken together it means detecting pregnancy is not so easy. It takes a woman’s sixth sense and a qualified doctor’s skill to determine whether a pregnancy has occurred or not. Sometimes, a pregnancy test has to be undertaken for the purpose. The correct administration of the test is important to get reliable results.

Once pregnancy is established, a lot of preparation is needed. In fact, there may be a need to change your lifestyle to incorporate the changes accompanying pregnancy. Depending on the doctor’s advice and your own assessment of your health, it may be necessary to take complete bed rest or step up your physical exercise regime suitably. You need to take ample care of yourself at all levels, physical, mental, and emotional, in order to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy to be followed by an equally safe and healthy childbirth. Care means not missing the doctor’s appointment, eating sensibly, and balancing work and rest schedules. Most important care also means following a one-point agenda to remain not only stress-free but positively happy as well, as what you do when you are pregnant profoundly affects your child throughout life. One should never undermine this aspect of parenthood