Ms. Wooly brought her daughter, Mary, age 16, to the health care center to be seen by the nurse for a referral to the physician. Together, they tell the nurse that Mary has had nausea, vomiting, and headaches for the past 2 weeks. She has vomited "almost every day." Ms. Wooly began to cry as she tells the nurse that Mary does not remember the date of her last menstrual period and that she is

Question

afraid that Mary is pregnant. During this interchange, Mary appears stoic and does not cry or have any verbalizations. After a blood test that confirmed the pregnancy, Ms. Wooly became calmer. A prenatal assessment was begun. Ms. Wooly answered most of the questions even though they were directed at Mary.

Last menstrual period was estimated to be 2 months ago.

Menses onset began 4 years ago.

Ht: 5?8? Wt: 125 lbs

Medium frame size

She described her usual dietary intake as including hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, candy, and colas. Mary denies alcohol, drug, or cigarette use. Mary would not discuss the father of the child, nor did she volunteer any additional information. It is evident that Mary has some urgent needs that must be addressed during this visit. Mary is young and will need time to accept the pregnancy, but she must also begin to eat properly to meet her nutritional needs and those of the infant.

Mary's age, physical symptoms, and diagnosis will factor into her care. Teen pregnancy is impacted by several life cycle needs and also covers a broad range of developmental needs based on the pregnancy and the woman's age. Discuss the factors associated with nutrition and identify goals to help Mary obtain a successful outcome.

Answer 1

Mary is a pregnant teenager. She still has the pressures of being a teenager and the demands of eating nutritionally. In addition to eating properly for the fetus, Mary is still growing and developing with her own nutritional needs. She may also have cravings related to fast foods or empty calories and possibly aversions to meat and eggs. Her list of "usual foods" shows how difficult it may be for her to change her dietary habits and eat healthily. Goal 1: Mary will verbalize understanding of the rationale for eating a nutritious diet. Goal 2: Mary will select foods and make a meal plan that adheres to dietary guidelines for a pregnant teen.?