Health Handout Physical Needs the Physical Needs Essay

Total Length: 671 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 4

Page 1 of 2

Health Handout

Physical Needs

The physical needs of the adolescent mother-to-be are not dissimilar to the physical needs of a pregnant woman at any other age. However, there are specific physical and biological issues that must be taken into consideration. In fact, "adolescent pregnancies are higher risk than the pregnancies of healthy adult women," (StorkNet, 2012). Teenage mothers are more likely to deliver babies prematurely, or babies with low birth weights (StorkNet, 2012). Moreover, "complications of pregnancy such as anemia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and preeclampsia are also more likely to develop" in teenage mothers (StorkNet, 2012). Teenagers usually have higher nutritional needs than their adult counterparts, enhancing their prenatal nutritional needs. The reproductive organs of some teenagers have not yet been fully developed -- even at age fifteen. This would place a considerable amount of strain on a fifteen-year-old pregnant female (StorkNet, 2012).

Psychological Needs

The teenager who finds herself pregnant and who intends to carry the child to term has unique psychological needs.

Stuck Writing Your "Health Handout Physical Needs the Physical Needs" Essay?

Those psychological needs are different from those of her adult counterparts. The teenager is already dealing with the social pressures and turmoil of adolescence. Most teenagers are not pregnant, which means that the pregnant teen might find herself isolated from her peers. Moreover, the teen who is pregnant might experience taunting and teasing from peers. Counseling specific to the needs of the pregnant teen will be necessary. "Another problem facing teen mothers is the use of drugs and alcohol, including cigarette smoking," (Weiss, 2012).

Teenagers who are pregnant will usually be in school, causing a host of psychological problems. If a fifteen-year-old pregnant female finds that school becomes too much of a burden and drops out, her prospects for the future are diminished considerably. "Teenage mothers can expect to earn, after tax, between $50,000 and $120,000 less over a lifetime compared to mothers who delay until at least age 20," (New Mexico Department of Health, 2007). This fact is in part due to.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Health Handout Physical Needs The Physical Needs" (2012, February 21) Retrieved June 3, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/health-handout-physical-needs-physical-needs-78194

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Health Handout Physical Needs The Physical Needs" 21 February 2012. Web.3 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/health-handout-physical-needs-physical-needs-78194>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Health Handout Physical Needs The Physical Needs", 21 February 2012, Accessed.3 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/health-handout-physical-needs-physical-needs-78194