Antenatal management of teenage pregnancy

Both the under 18 conception and birth rates are falling. However, despite this the United Kingdom has a high rate of teenage pregnancy compared to similar countries in Western Europe. Young mothers and their babies have poorer access to maternity care and experience worse obstetric outcomes than older mothers. It is likely that the risks associated with teenage pregnancy reflect a significant interplay between the socio-demographic status of many of these teenagers, their nutritional status and their uptake of antenatal care. This review looks at the complications associated with teenage pregnancy and how the implementation of specialized antenatal care aims to improve outcomes.