A proposal for obstetric and pediatric management of adolescent pregnancy.

Of the 1 million pregnancies among adolescents in the United States each year, approximately 500,000 result in live births. These pregnancies are at high risk but are amenable to obstetric and pediatric intervention. Medical, social, and economic risks for both the adolescent mother and her infant are substantially decreased by early and comprehensive prenatal care. A combined obstetric and pediatric protocol for the management of adolescent pregnancy can improve both the perinatal and the long-term outcome.