Her gynecologic age (GA) is calculated by substracting the age of menarche (when menstruation first started) from her chronological age. In general, it is considered that growth is completed around four years after menarche. Therefore if a girl has a GA of two years, then her nutritional needs will be different to a girl who has a GA of five years. The girls of two years GA will still be in a growth period, which means she herself will have increased nutritional requirements.

So let’s say your daughter started menstruating aged 12, if she becomes pregnant at 15, she still has one year of growth left approximately. Some medical research has illustrated that a pregnant adolescent who is still in a growth period can be competing with her own fetus for nutrition.

So if you are the parent or caregiver of an adolescent who has become pregnant, you will need to calculate her GA and work with her medical team to ensure that her calorie intake and nutrition are dealt with accordingly.

Apart from her life outside the home, you may, like many other Mums and Dads, be working outside the home, and therefore not have as much time as you would like to consider family nutrition.

In order to understand pregnancy nutrition, be sure to read our feature: 11 pregnancy diet and nutrition essentials. This article includes a handy food pyramid chart from the HSE (Health & Safety Executive).

Once you have read this article, you will be ready to consider what you need to do to formulate a good teenage pregnancy nutrition plan. However making a plan is only one part of the supporting her, depending on the teenager’s current diet and lifestyle, helping her embrace it may be challenging.

1. It’s best to find ways to work within her current eating habits.

If possible try to find ways to integrate the nutrition that she needs into her current eating habits. Assess these habits honestly and design a plan that fits into her current lifestyle as flexibly and simply as possible.

2. She is an individual – approach the plan accordingly

Apart from trying to fit her nutrition around her current habits, be aware of her individuality. Are there ways that you can make it easier for her to accept and embrace her new way of life?

3. Foods vs nutrients

For many adolescents nutrients may be a bit challenging to take on board, so it may be easier for you to explain and present her teenage pregnancy nutrition in terms of the foods involved. But there may be some girls who will appreciate understanding more about the nutrients as well. This is a question of individuality as well.

4. Reward her efforts

Make it as positive an experience as possible, by rewarding her good food efforts. Whatever works well as a reward system for her, is what you should adopt.

5. Make it easy

Make it easy for her to get the nutrition she and her developing fetus need. Ensure she is eating food that she enjoys so that she sees any changes as easy and as enjoyable as possible.

6. Help her understand about the positive outcome of gaining weight at the recommended pace in pregnancy

Of course dealing with a teenage girl, self-image and weight may be an issue that needs to be addressed. You will need to find ways that suit her, as individual, to see the positive impact of weight gain at the correct pace in pregnancy. It’s super important that she understands and takes on board the need for weight gain for her optimal birth outcome.

7. Consider a nutritionist

It may be helpful, both for you and her, to attend a nutritionist. This can be an educational experience for you as well, and actually benefit the entire family over time. From her perspective, listening to and learning from, a professional may help her understand and embrace pregnancy nutrition for her teenage pregnancy.

DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE AS A PDF

Later Dating

10-17 weeks

Gynaecological Scans

Discover more

POPULAR SECTIONS