Birth weight outcomes for repeat teenage pregnancy

To investigate the outcomes for repeat teenage pregnancy and the effect of interpregnancy interval on birth weight, birth certificate data were reviewed from all mothers under 26 years delivering their second baby during 1981-1983 at an urban teaching hospital. Initially, 409 mothers who had delivered their first baby at the same hospital were identified. Mothers were divided into three groups: mothers under 20 years for both births; mothers under 20 years for the first birth, with the second birth delayed until 20 to 25 years; and mothers 20-25 years for both births. Group 1 mothers had high but identical rates of low birth weight (17.5%) for both parities, high rates of very low birth weight infants (less than 1501 g), and no change in mean birth weight between the two pregnancies. Group 2 mothers were older at first birth and had better outcomes for first and second births than group 1 mothers. For group 1 mothers, the initiation of prenatal care was delayed at second pregnancy compared to first pregnancy (46% receiving first trimester care versus 59% at first delivery). In contrast, groups 2 and 3 showed improvement in accessing prenatal care for the second pregnancy. Interpregnancy interval had no influence on the birth weight of the second infant in any group.