Pregnancy is a situation that has become medicalised in recent years. While it can be a very different experience from woman to woman pregnancy is nevertheless a normal part of the female experience. That said the teen pregnancy is likely to have more medical and emotional problems than that of an older woman. The unexpected and unwanted pregnancy can be more of a difficult life event than the planned and wanted pregnancy.

As soon as the expectant mother finds out that she is pregnant and in the time leading up to childbirth there are great changes for the parents and the other family members from big brother to granny. Even if the family already has a baby or other child another will alter the way that it works, and the new arrival will bring its own difficulties and family relationships are often strained. This can lead to financial problems, family breakdown, and divorce.

Health problems may become apparent this stage in life for the parents and extended family in the form of anxiety or postnatal depression. For the baby this may be a time for cradle cap (a form of eczema), learning difficulties (developmental difficulties) and inherited diseases. If the mother suffered Rubella during the early stages of pregnancy the baby may suffer from learning difficulties but also deafness.