Pregnancy

Dr.Joe's Data Base

How to Get a Pregnancy Test

Teen Pregnancy

Unplanned Pregnancy: Decisions

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol and Medication During Pregnancy

Adoption

Signs of Pregnancy
At first, a woman may have no signs at all that she is pregnant. The most common
early sign of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. Sometimes a woman has a
period, but it is shorter or lighter than usual. If she normally has irregular
periods this sign may be hard to notice.
Another sign is having to urinate more often. This is caused by hormone changes
and growing pressure on the bladder.
Some women feel sick or nauseous. This may be slight, or may make her throw up.
It is called "morning sickness", but can happen at any time of day. Hormone
changes cause this also. Eating dry soda crackers before you get out of bed and
small, frequent meals may also help.
Breasts may become tender, sore and larger. The area around the nipples may
become larger and darker.
Many women feel tired when they are first pregnant and there may be an increase
in vaginal secretions.
Another sign is constipation. This is also from hormone changes, and the growing
uterus pressing against the bowel. High fibre foods such as prunes, prune juice,
bran, or molasses will help.
Having any of these signs does not always mean a woman is pregnant. Stress,
illness, a change in diet, doing a lot of heavy exercise and taking the birth
control pill can all cause a missed period sometimes. But remember, a woman can
get pregnant if she has unprotected vaginal intercourse or misses even one birth
control pill in a month.
If you have any of the signs of pregnancy or any other reason to think you might
be pregnant, you should have a test done to know for sure. A pregnancy test
requires a sample of urine either at a drug store, clinic or doctor's office.
Please listen to the message on How to Get a Pregnancy Test, in the Pregnancy
Menu for other details.
It is important to know whether or not you are pregnant as soon as possible. You
can get the best prenatal care if you plan to continue the pregnancy, or you can
get an early abortion if you decide not to continue with it. You can read more
about the choices in this situation in the message on Unplanned Pregnancy:
Decisions, further down in this document.
In the meantime, look after yourself. Eat well, avoid caffeine, don't smoke, use
alcohol, or use any drugs or medication without asking a doctor or pharmacist or
clinic if it will affect the fetus. This includes drugs which may be bought
without a prescription.
For more information you can call a local Planned Parenthood organization or
Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.

How to Get a Pregnancy Test
Even though there are several reasons why a menstrual period might be late, if
there is a possibility a woman might be pregnant, she should have a reliable
pregnancy test as soon as possible. Other causes of a missed period can be
stress, illness, change of diet or routine, or travel.
Most Family Planning Clinics, doctors and drug stores can do a pregnancy test,
using a small amount of the woman's urine. The woman may give a sample of urine
at a clinic or may take a sample from home. Results are usually ready in a few
hours.
At a doctor's office or clinic there is no charge for the test if you have an
Ontario Health Card. Some clinics do not charge, even if you don't have the
Card. A doctor or clinic will keep all information confidential if you ask. You
can also buy a home pregnancy testing kit at a drug store and do the test done
at home.
Occasionally, there are false readings. If the test results are negative, or not
pregnant, but the woman does not have a menstrual period within two weeks she
should have another test done right away.
If the results are negative, or not pregnant, and the woman does not want to
have a baby, she can talk to a doctor or counsellor about birth control, to see
which method is best for her and her partner.
If the test is positive, or pregnant, the woman has two choices: to continue the
pregnancy or to terminate it. The message on Pregnancy Decisions, in the
Pregnancy Menu, deals with a woman's choices in this situation. If you are in
this situation, you can also talk with someone close to you: your partner, a
family member or a friend.
For more information about how and where to get a pregnancy test, you can call a
local Planned Parenthood organization or Public Health Unit -- see
References/Resources.

A Teen Pregnancy
Every year in Canada and the United States, thousands of young women between 10
and 19 become pregnant. Although some teen pregnancies are planned, many are
unplanned and therefore mean that difficult decisions must be made.
A high percentage of young women who don't use birth control get pregnant the
first month they are sexually active. Some young women don't use birth control
because they want to become pregnant. But, many are not trying to become
pregnant. Maybe they don't have accurate information to help them choose a good
method of birth control, or how to use it properly. Or maybe they don't know
where to get it. Others might be afraid or embarrassed to go to their doctor or
a clinic, or to buy it in a drug store, especially if they think that they will
get a lecture about being sexually active.
Some might not admit to themselves that they are likely to have sexual
intercourse and do not prepare for it, or they think, "It can't happen to me."
Some feel that planning for sex takes away the romance. Some think that you
can't pregnant at certain times of the month, or the first time you have sexual
intercourse. Or, they might think the guy will take care of everything.
They may not realize that there are safe and effective methods of birth control.
Many methods are actually safer than pregnancy for young women. The chance of
problems during pregnancy, such as toxemia and anemia, are higher for a young
woman because she hasn't yet completed her own growth period. It takes twenty
years to grow!
For many young women, the biggest result of early childbearing may be cutting
short their education. Pregnancy is the number one reason that young women drop
out of school; it is often difficult to continue or go back. Although most
teenage mothers do not marry, those who do face a high chance of divorce within
5 years, often after having a second or third child.
Like women of any age, teenage women who have strong supports around them tend
to face fewer problems during and after pregnancy. National studies have shown
that teen mothers and their children do much better when they receive economic
and emotional support from parents and other relatives. They tend to get better
medical care, are more likely to finish school and find work, and are less
likely to rely on welfare.
These issues are very complex. There are no easy answers, but there are some
ways to help get answers:
Get information and encourage education about sexuality and birth control at
home and in school.
Teens and parents can try to talk to each other more often about sex.
Young people need accurate, clear information about all birth control
methods, sexually transmitted diseases, the Morning After Pill, and the
three choices a woman has if she finds out she's pregnant: keeping the baby,
giving the baby up for adoption and having an abortion.
You may want to read to other Facts of Life Netline messages on these subjects.
Or, you can call a local Planned Parenthood organization or Public Health Unit
-- see References/Resources.

Unplanned Pregnancy: Decisions
If you had unprotected intercourse less than 72 hours, or three days, ago and
you don't want to become pregnant, you can read the message on the Morning After
Pill, in the Birth Control section.
If you had a pregnancy test that was positive, that is, it said you are
pregnant, but that pregnancy was unplanned, you might be facing one of the most
important decisions of your life. This message will talk about the three choices
you have:
continue the pregnancy, and keep the child
continue the pregnancy and place the child for adoption, or
end the pregnancy by abortion.
All three of these choices may have life-long implications. Not one is easy.
But it is the pregnant woman's choice. It must be based on your needs and hopes,
on what you decide is right for you now. You must look at what support and help
you will have.
Although there may be important people in your life to talk with first, you
can't make a decision just to please others. You have to live with your choice,
so it must be your decision.
Talking over the possibilities can help sort out your ideas and thoughts. You
may want to talk to your partner, your parents, a relative or a friend. Find
someone you trust who you think will support you -- whatever decision you make.
Or talk confidentially to a counsellor at a family planning clinic.
If you continue the pregnancy, whether you will keep the baby or place it up for
adoption, good prenatal care can make the your pregnancy easier, and both you
and the baby healthier. Taking care of yourself before the baby's born means
eating well, avoiding tobacco, caffeine, drugs and alcohol, getting enough
exercise and rest. You can also read the messages about Pregnancy and Childbirth
or Teen Pregnancy sections of this document, for more information.
Children can be a great joy. They also need a lot of care for many years. Think
about the support and help you will have. Make a budget. Consider your life
goals. What will having a child now mean to you, to your education, career, the
rest of your family? Is this the right time for you to have a baby?
If you want to place the child for adoption, either with a relative or a friend
or someone you don't know, you will need to know your rights and what to expect.
More information is given in the message on Adoption on this page.
The third choice, abortion, is legal and safe in Canada. In Ontario, there is no
cost to you if you have an Ontario Health Card. If you think you might choose to
have an abortion, remember that the procedure is safest and easiest within the
first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Very few hospitals or clinics will do abortions if
a woman is over 20 weeks pregnant, that is, 20 weeks after the first day of her
last menstrual period. Putting off the decision too long can leave no choice but
to continue the pregnancy. You may want to read the message on Abortion (see
main index).
If you want to talk to someone, you can call a local Planned Parenthood
organization or Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.

Pregnancy and Childbirth
When a man's sperm and a woman's ovum, or egg, meet, the egg is fertilized. The
cells begin to divide and grow, and an embryo begins to grow in the woman's
womb.
It takes about 266 days or 38 weeks before a baby is ready to be born. The
expected delivery date is calculated from the first day of the woman's last
menstrual period, even though fertilization probably happened about two weeks
later, at ovulation, or when the woman's egg was released. So we often say it
takes 40 weeks or nine months of pregnancy before a baby is born. These nine
months are divided into three trimesters.
Half of a baby's genes come from the mother and half come from the father.
Appearance, some talents and some diseases are hereditary, or passed on through
the parents' genes. Each baby is unique, however, full of surprises and
potential.
A couple needs to be prepared to have a child of either sex. There is no sure
way to choose a baby's sex. The sex can sometimes be found out by an ultrasound,
but only long after the pregnancy has started.
Most babies are born in hospitals, with the help of doctors and nurses, as well
as special equipment and supplies. Some women choose to have a midwife to help
with pregnancy and delivery. There are anesthetics and medications for safety
and stopping pain. If there's a medical problem, women can have a cesarean
delivery, when the baby is surgically delivered through the abdomen. There is
blood for transfusion if this is necessary, for the woman or the baby. Hospitals
have monitors to find possible problems before they become serious. Delivery
rooms, recovery rooms, nurseries and wards are all designed to make this time as
safe and comfortable as possible for the mother and new baby.
Some women prefer to deliver at home, with a midwife's help. They may want to
have family around and be in familiar surroundings. A delivery at home can be
just as easy and safe as a hospital delivery. Only if there is an emergency, or
unusual steps need to be taken for the safety of the mother or baby is it
important to be near a hospital.
Occasionally twins, or even more than two babies are born, a few minutes apart.
Twins can be identical, if they result from the division of one fertilized egg.
Or they can be fraternal if two eggs were fertilized. The doctor can tell by
listening to the heartbeats and by ultrasound whether there is more than one
fetus.
If you want more information about preparing for childbirth and the actual
birth, you can call a local Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.

Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol and Medication During Pregnancy
If you aren't pregnant yet, but plan to be soon, there are ways to help get your
body ready for pregnancy. Being healthy, eating well, getting enough sleep and
exercise, and avoiding stress can give the fetus the best start and makes
pregnancy easier on you.
While pregnant, a woman's lifestyle -- including any food she eats or medication
she takes -- affects the development of the fetus. Early prenatal care is
important, as most of the internal organs are developed during the first few
weeks of pregnancy.
Prenatal care should begin as soon as possible. Clinics or classes can help with
questions about the best foods to eat, ideal weight gain, good exercise, etc.
Alcohol, smoking, caffeine and drugs can all affect the health of a pregnant
woman and the fetus. Drinking can cause birth defects, mental retardation, and
low birth weight. This includes beer and wine as well as hard liquor such as rum
or gin.
Smoking can lead to a higher risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth
weight, as well as more problems at and after birth. Children who grow up around
smokers are sick more often than children of non-smokers.
Health professionals generally advise pregnant women to try to eliminate or cut
back on caffeine -- found in coffee, tea, chocolate, colas and coffee liqueurs
-- tobacco and liquor during pregnancy.
Most people know that street drugs like cocaine can seriously harm a fetus. But
many people don't know that prescription drugs and many non-prescription
medications can also affect the fetus. If you are pregnant, or trying to get
pregnant, ask a doctor or pharmacist about the possible effects of a drug --
even something as simple as a pain killer or antacid -- before you take it.
For more information, you can call a local Planned Parenthood organization or
Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.

Adoption
Some women who are pregnant know they don't want to have a baby. They may choose
not to have an abortion or may be unable to get one. For these women, giving the
baby up for adoption may be the best choice.
There are different ways to place a child for adoption:
through a Children's Aid Society
through a private adoption agency
through a professional, licensed to do private adoptions.
In some areas, there are special Children's Aid Societies for Catholic, Jewish
and Native Canadians, and Americans. There is no cost to the mother or adoptive
parents. Adoptive parents might pay for services provided by a private company,
but not pay for the child. Counselling and legal services are available to both
the birth mother and adoptive parents.
In some cases, an adoption can be arranged between the birth mother and someone
she wants to adopt her child, for instance, a relative or friend. Even when
strangers adopt the baby, the birth mother may be involved. She can help screen
and select adoptive parents.
The relationship between the adoptive and birth parents is usually up to the
individuals involved. It can include anything from supplying basic health
information for the adoptive parents, to arranging visits by the birth parents
after the adoption is complete. The birth mother may also choose to remain
totally unknown to the adoptive parents.
Both birth mothers and birth fathers of any age have rights. The birth mother
might not want to include the birth father. But, sometimes there are benefits to
the child if his thoughts are included in the decision. More accurate background
and medical information can be given to the adoptive parents and, later, to the
child.
Ontario law* gives the birth mother a chance to think about her decision, even
after she's signed a consent form. She has 21 days to change her mind after
signing the form. In Ontario, there is an Adoption Disclosure Registry. This can
help an adopted child who has reached 18 to contact the birth mother. Reunion
counselling and support are also available. *(Laws may vary in different
Provinces, and States in the US. You can check with your local Planned
Parenthood organization or Public Health Department to find out what the laws
are where you live.)
If you are pregnant and considering adoption, you can also listen to the message
on Pregnancy, in the Pregnancy menu. The choice to place a child for adoption is
not easy. But neither is raising a child, or having an abortion. All may have
life-long implications.
There are people who will help, no matter which choice you make. If you want to
talk to someone, you can call a Children's Aid Society or ask your doctor about
private adoption agencies. You can also call a local Planned Parenthood
organization or Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.

Use your browser's [BACK] button to return to Main Index

Sexology Home Page