The developmental tasks of young adults include establishing and managing a home, becoming established in an occupation or career, and starting a family. All of these changes can be sources of stress. Health teaching topics that the nurse may become involved in include stress reduction, health maintenance and promotion, and for some young adults, marital adjustment, prenatal teaching, and child-rearing practices. When teaching young adults who are preparing to be parents, the nurse should focus on normal physical and emotional changes associated with pregnancy, sexual activity during pregnancy, preparation for the newborn, diet counseling, preparation for the parenting role, and the process of birth, including procedures during labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Important nursing activities for young adults include teaching risk factors for future disease, teaching how to alter lifestyles to decrease risk, and finding opportunities for health promotion in the many types of settings where nurses work with young adults.