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.

The end period of second trimester is defined as 26 weeks pregnant, with baby growing to 15 inches in length. The pregnant woman’s fetus starts adding a little fat to his bones and development of heart continues to grow. The heart beat can be heard through a stethoscope placed on the stomach of the expecting mother. Pumping of blood in the heart begins. The lungs of baby start developing blood vessels to make him prepare for life after coming out of mother’s womb. Organ maturation takes place and baby develops good sense of touch and sound.

The baby will start jumping every now and then in the womb on hearing loud music. Some parents therefore start enjoying reading books to them at this time. Eyes development is complete and baby will enter into the field of opening and blinking of eyes. Network of nerves to ear completes and blood circulation begins in the body of baby and placenta grows almost to the size of him. The umbilical cord thickens due to filling of nutrients in it. Fingernails and toenails develop and become prominent. Baby continues to breathe in the amniotic fluid and baby boys experience more growth as their testicles begin to descend in the scrotum. Baby shows movements in the mother’s body.

In the stage of 26 weeks pregnant, owing to increasing pregnancy health the normal clothes do not fit to woman as the uterus of the woman grows to 2.5 inches above belly button and has sensations under the ribs. She feels heartburn, weight gain, cramps in the muscles. She starts feeling slight contractions in the uterus which is called as Braxton-Hicks Contractions. Woman should, therefore, need to relax more. She should engage herself in light works and regularly do walking and stretching, as this will prepare the body for labor and birth.