16-year-old White Pregnant Teenager Living in an Inner-City Neighborhood

16-year-old White Pregnant Teenager Living in an Inner-City Neighborhood

Initial Post

I have a specific patient who is a 16-year-old White pregnant girl living in an inner-city neighborhood. Since she’s pregnant, my focus will be on women’s health and the health of her unborn baby. To begin, I would introduce myself and seek her permission to be involved in her care. This is crucial to establish a professional and respectful relationship. It’s also important to be empathetic, as it encourages patients to share their concerns openly. I would ask open-ended questions to understand her previous healthcare experiences and her current needs.

Assessing the health risks for a pregnant woman involves several key points. I would inquire about her prenatal care and her plans for breastfeeding. It’s essential to address issues like cigarette smoking and alcohol use. “Starting prenatal care is a significant step, especially if it’s in the 1st trimester,” as mentioned by Montgomery (2003). Another critical aspect is understanding the mother’s emotions and attitude towards her pregnancy. We should also be vigilant about the possibility of postpartum depression, given her young age and the challenges she might face due to poverty and the higher risks associated with teenage pregnancy. Conducting a functional assessment is important to understand her ability to manage daily activities as a young mother.

Questions I would ask include:
– Have you been pregnant before?
– How do your friends react to your pregnancy?
– Have you prepared a room for the baby?
– Is your partner excited about the pregnancy?
– Have you chosen a hospital for delivery?

References

Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.).

Montgomery, K. S. (2003). Nursing care for pregnant adolescents. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 32(2), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1177/0884217503252191

Response

Dealing with Pregnant Teenagers on Our Floor

We often receive young pregnant girls under the age of 18 on our hospital floor. Many of them face a challenging issue – they are addicted to opioids. This addiction is harmful to both the mother and the baby (Shainkar et al., 2012). These girls are admitted for various health problems, from cellulitis to endocarditis. Often, they are unaware of their pregnancy or simply don’t care. As nurses, it can be tough to separate our emotions from these cases. One significant obstacle to their treatment is the attitudes of caregivers. Pregnant women who misuse substances often face stigmatization and punitive treatment for their addiction-related behavior (Crawford et al., 2015).

Tubal Pregnancy Essay

We need to ask these girls if they want to keep the baby and if they are willing to seek help to stop using drugs. Unfortunately, many of them have no intention of quitting. These questions may seem straightforward, but our patients often have complex histories, including past experiences of sexual abuse, homelessness, mental health issues, and limited family support. In such cases, it can be frustrating to ask the right questions but feel helpless when a patient refuses help and leaves during treatment.

References

– Crawford, C., Sias, S., & Goodwin, L. (2015). Treating Pregnant Women With Substance Abuse Issues in an OBGYN Clinic: Barriers to Treatment. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/vistas/treating-pregnant-women-with-substance-abuse-issues-in-an-obgyn-clinic-barriers-to-treatment.pdf?sfvrsn=6

– Shainkar, S. A., Saia, K., & Lee-Parritz, A. (2012). Opioid Addiction in Pregnancy. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 67(12), 816–824. https://doi.org/10.1097/ogx.0b013e3182788e8c

Response 2

Addressing the Health Risks in Pregnant Teenagers

Teenage pregnancies, especially among those aged 15-19, carry risks of maternal complications (Amjad et al., 2019). It’s crucial for these young mothers to receive consistent prenatal care to detect any complications early. Additionally, postpartum depression is a concern for these adolescents, as they are already managing high school and now have the added responsibility of a baby. The rate of depression is twice as high for adolescents raising children compared to those who are not (Russotti et al., 2020).

Maintaining effective communication with these young mothers is vital for ensuring they continue with prenatal and postpartum care. They need guidance on available community resources. Questions like, “Do you have support at home to help with the baby?” and “Are you aware of community resources for assistance?” should be asked to provide the necessary support.

References

– Amjad, S., Macdonald, I., Chambers, T., Osornio-Vargas, A., Chandra, S., Voaklander, D., & Ospina, M. B. (2019). Social determinants of health and adverse maternal and birth outcomes in adolescent pregnancies. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 33(1), 88-99. https://doi-ord.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1111/ppe.12529

– Russotti, J., Handley, E. D., Rogosch, F. A., Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2020). The interactive effects of child maltreatment and adolescent pregnancy on late-adolescent depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 48(9), 1223-1237. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00669-w