Nutrition in Adolescent Pregnancy

Abstract

The rates of adolescent pregnancy are lower than they have ever been, but there were still 229, 715 births to teenagers age 15-19 in 2015 (Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Osterman MJ, Driscoll AK, Mathews T, Natl Vital Stat Rep 66(1):1, 2017). Adolescent pregnancies are at increased risks of adverse outcomes, both for mother and child. Poor eating habits in adolescence can compromise intake of nutrients and energy needed for growth, even more so for a pregnant adolescent. The unique concerns regarding adolescent nutrition in pregnancy, including nutritional screening, requirements, recommendations and interventions, are addressed in this chapter.