Need help?
- If you are pregnant, visit a clinic as soon as possible.
- Both the guy and girl may want to talk to someone about how they are feeling and what choices they have. Depending on your choices, there may be counseling and/or community support services.
- If you want professional and confidential support, then a doctor, nurse or counselor may be helpful.
It is the female’s choice whether or not to take a fetus to term, and whether to keep a baby. This page goes through the options.
Parenting | Adoption| Fostering| Abortion
Parenting
Babies are completely dependent on you for their health and survival – a big responsibility. Parenting is a 24 hour job – completely different to babysitting or looking after a younger sibling. A teenage mother with a disability may encounter additional challenges. Just like learning and dealing with anything else, your local community centre and friends can be a great support and source of information. There may also be a need for special equipment or home adaptations so that you can be more independent in caring for your child.
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Adoption
Some teenagers put their babies up for adoption. Adoption is when someone other than a birth parent becomes the legal parent of a child.
Reasons
- A teen chooses not to have an abortion, and doesn’t keep the baby after birth.
- The birth mother doesn’t want to or isn’t ready to parent a baby.
- For many different reasons, some people aren’t able to take care of a baby.
Adoption may be difficult because an emotional connection can develop with the fetus / baby during pregnancy and after birth. Choosing adoption does not mean you love your baby any less. It can be an act of love.
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Fostering
- Sometimes, teenage mothers complete their pregnancy but still cannot decide whether or not to keep the baby.
- There can be an option to put that baby in foster care while the mother gets support in making her decision.
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Abortion
It is the female’s right to ask for a procedure that terminates her pregnancy in its early stages.
What is abortion?
- It is a legal medical procedure in Canada.
- The procedure causes the fetus to separate from the side of the uterus and to leave the female’s body through her vagina.
- An abortion is usually done in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The three common types of abortion. Medical – a medical (non-surgical) abortion is:
- Done up to 7 weeks from your last menstrual period
- An injection stops the growth of the pregnancy, while several tablets inserted into the vagina cause the uterus to go into muscle spasms to push out its contents
Surgical – up to 8 weeks
- This surgery is done up to 8 weeks from the last menstrual period.
- A flexible tube attached to a plastic syringe is inserted into the uterus. The syringe creates a suction and removes the contents of the uterus.
- A patient is awake for the procedure, which takes less than 10 minutes.
Surgical – 8 to 20 weeks
- This surgery is done up to 14 weeks in hospital (while the patient is asleep).
- It is performed up to 20 weeks in a free-standing clinic (while the patient is awake). The cervix is dilated and a gentle suction is used to remove the contents of the uterus.
- The procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Confidentiality
If you are trying to have an abortion in secret, be sure to still use a legal abortion clinic.
Concerned about keeping things private?
- Tell you doctor. Ask what they do with your medical information.
- If you don’t trust the doctor, leave.
Doctors usually have to keep patient information confidential.
Doctors can usually tell others if:
- They have your permission
- Are making a referral suspect abuse
- OR feel you’re incapable of understanding medical advice or the consequences of your decisions
Parenting | Adoption| Fostering| Abortion
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