Pregnancy

Positive Test Result? Now what?

If you have a positive pregnancy test, it is important to have information about your options. Women in Canada have the following options:

• Continuing with a pregnancy and parenting
• Continuing with a pregnancy and adoption
• Surgical Therapeutic abortion
• Medical Therapeutic abortion

Need help deciding? You're not alone! Options counselling is available at:

Planned Parenthood:

 222 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON, Suite 404 ; 613-226-3234

• Pro-choice, non-judgmental, evidence informed philosophy - presents parenting, abortion, and adoption options equally. Services provided to anyone facing unplanned pregnancy.
• Crisis counselling (from 1 to 3, 60 to 90minute sessions)
• Free (funded through the Sexual Health Unit). Daytime and evening appointments, provided by trained volunteers. Post-abortion support also available

Further resources are available for once you make your decision, no matter what your decision is. The map below will help you navigate the different resources that are available in Ottawa. The blue pins on the map are resources that provide different services, choose the one that best helps you follow the decision you made.

Continuing with the pregnancy:

If you choose to continue your pregnancy, here are a few recommendations for a healthy pregnancy:

1. During the first 3 months of your pregnancy, visit your health care provider. If you don't have a health care provider visit a walk-in clinic or Community Health Centre.
2. Eat Healthy! Eating well will not only give you energy and help you feel better, it will also contribute to your baby's growth and development. For more information visit The Health Canada Website
3. Get your vitamins! Folic acid is one of the B-vitamins important for the healthy growth of your unborn baby. It is important for the normal development of your baby's spine, brain, and skull, especially during the first 4 weeks of your pregnancy. If you are planning to get pregnant, start taking vitamin supplements with folic acid before pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (PHAC). For more information visit The Public Health Agency of Canada website or speak with your local pharmacist, visit the Mother Risk website for more information.
4. Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix. There is no safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during your pregnancy. For more information visit The Public Health Agency of Canada website
5. When you or the people around you smoke, so does your baby. A smoke-free environment is best for you and your baby. For more information, visit The Public Health Agency of Canada website
6. Interested in Prenatal Classes? Visit the City of Ottawa website to find out more!

The Sensible Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy Website

Continuing with the pregnancy and parenting:

Ottawa Public Health offers the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program if you choose to continue with the pregnancy and parent. In addition, the Parenting in Ottawa website offers plenty of great information on parenting!

Some of the resources on the map above also offer help to new parents.

Continuing with pregnancy and adoption:

You may have chosen to continue the pregnancy and proceed with adoption. There are options for this as well. There are 2 types of adoption in Canada, private and public.

• Private adoption: conducted through a licensee and birth parents have a say in selecting the adoptive parents.
• A public adoption: coordinated through the Children's Aid Society.
• In an "open adoption," birthparents help choose the adoptive family and have contact with the child after the birth.
• In a "closed adoption," birthparents may still contact the child but only through the Adoption Disclosure Register.

For more information, contact:

• Adoption Council of Canada: 613-235-0344
• Children's Aid Society: 613-742-5494

Abortion:

Having to be faced with an unintended pregnancy can be difficult. Each woman's situation is different, and the decision to have an abortion (or not) is extremely personal. The first thing you need to know is you have abortion options.

There are 2 different abortion methods available: Medical abortion and surgical abortion.

• Medical abortions are only available during the early stages of pregnancy (up to 7 weeks (63 days) from the start of your last period). There are 2-3 office visits with a doctor. 2 medications are used to empty the contents of the uterus, causing a miscarriage. You miscarry at home. It is important to follow-up with the doctor after.
• Surgical abortion are carried out in a clinic or hospital using a gentle mechanical suction machine (similar to the one dentists use to clear the mouth of saliva) to gently remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus. The procedure only takes 5-10 minutes but you remain in the clinic to ensure everything is alright.

Medical and surgical abortions are not available at the Sexual Health Clinic.

Some of the resources on the map above offer medical or surgical abortions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I think I’m pregnant. How can I find out?

If you have missed a period, or if your period is late, you can take a home pregnancy (urine) test to find out if you are pregnant. Inexpensive tests are often available at your local dollar store. Your health care provider and the City of Ottawa's Sexual Health Centre can provide free pregnancy testing and discuss options available to you. The very earliest a urine pregnancy test will be accurate is 2 weeks after sex.

Your period may be late for several other reasons. Some females have irregular cycles, and do not have a period at the same time each month. Changes in body weight, stress levels, or inadequate nutrition may also affect your period.

Can I get pregnant the first time I have vaginal sex?

Yes! You can get pregnant any time you have vaginal sex! If you want to avoid becoming or causing someone else to become pregnant, use birth control correctly. If you're using the pill, patch, ring, injection, or IUD, plan to begin these methods before you start having sex so they will be as effective as possible. Pairing another method of birth control with a condom is always a great idea as condoms help to reduce the risk of STBBIs.

Can I become pregnant without having sex?

You can't get pregnant through oral sex, or through masturbation. If you are fooling around with your partner and there is an opportunity for semen to enter the vagina, there is a chance that you can become pregnant. This may happen if a hand with semen (the fluid that comes out of an erect penis containing sperm) touches the opening to your vagina. If you want to make sure that you don't become pregnant, make sure you use a condom, or avoid having contact. 

How much does an abortion cost?

Your valid Ontario Health (OHIP) card fully covers you for this service. Other plans that cover this service include:

• University Health Insurance Plans (UHIP)
• Interim Federal Health (IFH)
• Canadian Military Insurance (DND)

What if you or your partner find yourself pregnant? This section provides the options available to you and frequently asked questions that might help you in your decision-making.