Getting pregnant at a young age
Very fertileFertileIf you are fertile, you are able to have a baby (if you…Read more
A woman is very fertile when she is young and has had an ovulationOvulationMoment at which a ripe egg cell is released from 1 of the…Read more for the first timeFirst timeFirst sexual contact with a partner. The first time usually means the first…Read more (first cycleCycleNumber of days between the first day of a woman's menstruation and the first…Read more). After her first ovulation, a woman is fertile about 6 days each month.
Even when a woman has sex for the first time she can become pregnant.
More risks for mother and baby
If a woman is pregnant and aged under 20 years, she has a higher riskRiskPossibility that something unpleasant may happen, for example a disease.Read more of having a difficult deliveryDeliveryThe process of giving birth to a baby.Read more.
The baby might risk:
- Premature birth;
- Low birth weight (higher risk of illness).
Life changes when having a baby
If you are still young and are thinking of having a child, be aware that:
- You will have less time for school, work and hobbies;
- Having a child is very expensive.
- Your relationships with your partnerPartnerPerson you are in a relationship with.Read more, parents and friends will change. Your baby comes first.
- You may need to look for another place to live.
ContraceptionContraceptionMeans and methods of preventing pregnancy. Condoms and the contraceptive pill are examples…Read more
You and your partner can decide how many children you want, and when. This is called family planningFamily planningWhen you plan your family, you decide whether, when and how many children…Read more. You can do this by using contraception.
Unintended pregnancyPregnancyThe time when a woman is expecting a baby. The pregnancy begins when…Read more
If you are pregnant but did not plan to be, you have different options. You can ask your parents, family and friends for help. Do not feel ashamed. It can happen to anybody. You can also ask for professional help and advice.