Unexpectedly expecting? You are not alone.
It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in North America are not planned. You have a challenging decision to make – and the decision is yours. Thankfully there is help to support you and provide guidance. A good place to start is to call the Pregnancy Options line at 1-888-875-3163 or Sex Sense Expert Line at 1-800-739-7367 or visit the Options for Sexual Health website for answers to questions about pregnancy.
Making the decision to keep your baby may fill you with a mix of emotions from excitement and happiness to fear and uncertainty – all of this is perfectly normal!
Parenting along with your partner, family member or as a single-mom can be a joy-filled experience and also requires a good support network to help you through the ups and downs. It might help to start by identifying your support network. Ask yourself “who in my life can I rely on to help me through pregnancy, delivery and the ups and downs of parenting?”. This could be your partner, family or friends.
If you’re having trouble identifying anyone, there are pregnancy and parenting resources available in the community – check out Chilliwack Community Services, the Chilliwack Public Health Unit or Child and Youth (CYC) websites online for plenty of programs and services. Also, don’t forget to check out prenatal classes in Chilliwack on this website for details on our interactive and supportive prenatal education classes!
Perhaps you and your partner have decided to raise your child together. Perhaps a family member has offered to help take care of the child until you feel you are able to. Making the choice to keep your baby can be overwhelming, particularly if you are very young or if this decision puts you in the position of becoming a single mother. But many women have chosen this option, and there are many single-parent resource centres and community programs that can assist mothers in this situation. If you are in school, your school may have options to help you to continue with your education and motherhood.
Check out these other services in Chilliwack to get started.
Choosing to put your child up for adoption is a very personal issue. You are encouraged to reach out to your support network to discuss this decision, including making sure you have loved ones around to help you through the pregnancy and delivery. If you don’t feel you have adequate resources, you will be provided for opportunities to access support and counselling throughout the adoption process. The adoption process differs depending on the province or territory in which you live, so take a look at the adoption websites below to make sure you have all the information you need to make a well-informed decision.
The decision to continue a pregnancy through childbirth and then place the child for adoption is a personal choice, and is based on individual reasons and personal values. It is important to learn as much as you can about the process before making your decision. In Canada, the process differs depending on which province or territory you live in.
Learn more about adoption in Canada
The decision to terminate a pregnancy by abortion is a very difficult one that only you can make, free of pressure or coercion from anyone.
Abortion is safe and legal in Canada. In theory, abortion is accessible in hospitals and clinics across the country. In reality, however, access to abortion services can be difficult depending on where you live.
If you have a health care provider it is best to speak him or her as soon as possible to learn about the process and about the availability of abortion services in your area. It is important to seek help early because the more advanced your pregnancy is, the more complex the process becomes.
Where can I get an abortion in BC?
There are no abortion services available in the Fraser Valley; however, many options exist and you can self refer to most. Visit the Option for Sexual Health website for abortion clinics in BC.
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