Teen birth rates, teen pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are down, while fewer teens report that they are sexually active. These lows in the teen birth rates are seen in every age group and among teens of every racial and ethnic group but these declines hold more strongly in some parts of the country than in others. Despite this progress, about 17% of current 15-year-old girls will give birth before their 20th birthday, and 1 in 5 teen births are repeat teen births.
In 2003, the birth rate for teens between the ages of 15 and 19 was about 41 births for every 1,000 teens, representing a 33% decline from about 62 for every 1,000 teens in 1991. Birth rates also continue to show wide geographic variations. New Hampshire remains the state with the lowest teen birth rate in the US with 20 per 1,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19. Mississippi remains the state with the highest teen birth rate with 65 births for every 1,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19.
The proportions of teen pregnancies that end in abortion have dropped dramatically also. In the mid- 1980s, about 40% of all teen pregnancies ended in abortion, while 29% of teen pregnancies in 2000, ended in abortion. However, there are significant state variations, with abortion rates in 2000 at 11% in Kentucky, while New Jersey’s was the highest at 53%.
Births to very young mothers are associated with increased health risks to the mother. These mothers had the lowest levels of timely prenatal care, about 47%, in the first trimester, in contrast to the overall rate of about 83%. About 16% of them received late or no prenatal, compared to an overall rate of 3.8%. They were also at a higher risk for pregnancy-associated hypertension, 5.3%, being over 40% higher than that experienced by all mothers, which was 3.7%.
Good advice is hard to come by as what’s considered good advice today may not be considered good years later. Take for example, Teflon, the biggest craze in the 70’s due to the non-sticking nature of the coating, replaced most all coating . Today, Teflon is looked down upon by some who say it is linked to cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, and high cholesterol. That wonderful product that was raved about is now something to stay away from. That said, we’ve gathered a few things on a list for the expectant mom that are considered good tips for 2014!
Exercise is good in pregnancy and can lower the risk of miscarriage, so that’s really good news. It is said to reduce complications when in labor and even reduce the time of your labor, but don’t overdo it.
Start taking prenatal vitamins before you’re pregnant. Prenatal vitamins help nail and hair health even when not pregnant. I take them and I’m not expecting. In fact, some recommend prenatal vitamins after cancer treatments to help hair return faster and healthier. There you have it! I get mine from 
When cleaning around the house, opt for organic or natural cleaners instead of harsh ones or those full of chemicals and toxic ingredients. If you must use a chemical cleaner, be sure to wear rubber gloves as the toxins can penetrate your skin and enter the bloodstream and reach your baby. We found a great natural cleaner tips at 
If you have a cat, don’t change your cat litter. Have someone else do it for you. Coming into contact with the feces or urine of a cat may infect you with toxoplasmosis. One more chore off your list! From Wikipedia, “Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.[1] The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid (cat) family. ”
Do leg and foot stretches before heading to bed. I still remember the pain of waking up in the middle of the night with a horrible foot cramp that my husband could only fix if he grabbed my foot and pulled it up toward me. I didn’t know that you’re supposed to stretch before bedtime.
Lastly, be prepared to order a dinner while out and by the time the plate comes out from the kitchen, you’ve decided you want your husband’s meal instead. The funny thing is, I could never get away with this when not pregnant. But when pregnant, my husband would gladly give in knowing there was absolutely no rhyme or reason to it, nor could I change that craving.
CHULA VISTA – A 4 month old baby almost didn’t make it and was unconscious when a maintenance worker found her in a car left alone by her 25 year old mother, Starley Cristal Geart. This little one was heavily sweating and would not respond to pinching or loud noises but was breathing. Temperatures outside were in the high 70’s – low 80’s that day but temps in the car would have been much higher.