Adolescent pregnancy and prenatal care pose many
challenges for health care providers. At the same time,
the delivery of prenatal services provides rich opportunities
to guide adolescents through the changes that
accompany both pregnancy and normal adolescent
development. The tasks involved in maintaining a
healthy pregnancy can serve as valuable experiences for
teenagers to explore and reinforce new developmental
capabilities. Health care services tailored to individuals’
developmental needs and abilities can play a critical role
in promoting the health and well-being of pregnant and
parenting teenagers.