It can be intimidating to take in the life change of pregnancy at any time and in any circumstance. However, the added shock of realizing you have been pregnant without realizing it can leave you with many questions:
- What do I do now?
- Will my baby still be healthy if I have been drinking, smoking or using drugs during this time?
- I didn't even know I was pregnant, so what else do I not know about pregnancy?
- I wasn't planning on this. Where do I go for help?
- Is it too late to have an abortion?
- What are my options?
Some of these questions are answered in our other blog posts which you can read HERE. You may also have unique questions that we could answer more specifically in an appointment online or in-person at our office (see link below). It is important to know that there is help and support available to guide you forward through these questions and concerns.
When it comes to the medical aspects of your decisions and gaining an understanding of what this unexpected pregnancy may look like, you will want to look for the right sources to help bring clear, scientific truth.
For example, studies have shown that the exposure to alcohol during pregnancy always leaves a risk of poor brain and nervous system development which can lead to development delays. However, studies found "that drinking only in the first trimester makes the birth of a child with an FASD 5 times less likely than drinking in all trimesters." ¹ That means the risk of these effects are lower the sooner alcohol consumption is stopped. You can decrease the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by cutting off all alcohol today. The less exposure, the lower the risk. So, today is not too late to make a change.
Some other risk factors that can play a role in an unexpected pregnancy can include recreational drugs, smoking, vaping, as well as marijuana consumption. Please talk to you family doctor or speak to a doctor or nurse practitioner at a walk-in clinic to get more specific information regarding the risks associated with whichever of these may be a factor in your pregnancy. There are also some great community resources available.4
No matter what risk factors may be a part of your unexpected pregnancy, the best way to find out the health of the fetus is through an ultrasound. This will allow you to know not just the status of development, but also how far along in weeks (gestational age) you are pregnant. Some women do not have regular cycles that will allow them to calculate this information by their last menstrual period.
It is important to have an ultrasound to confirm the gestational age of your pregnancy in order to know your options moving forward. In Ontario, the option for abortion is available for pregnancies up to 24 weeks gestation. ² Here in Kingston, they are available up to 12 weeks.³ This is why you will need to be sure of the gestation of your pregnancy in order to know your options. The only way to accurately know this information is through ultrasound imaging and measurements. You can get an appointment for ultrasound through your family doctor or by visiting a doctor at a walk-in clinic.
Whether you have this information or not, we would love the opportunity to talk you through your options moving forward. We will go over adoption, abortion and parenting so you can make an informed decision. Click HERE to make an appointment with one of our support workers and they will be happy to help in any way possible. We want to bring clarity through your journey and help you navigate through this process. All services are confidential and free of charge. Allow us to walk alongside you and equip you in this journey of unexpected pregnancy.
By: Carling, BScN, RN
Prenatal Educator
Sources:
¹May PA, Blankenship J, Marais AS, et al. Maternal alcohol consumption producing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): quantity, frequency, and timing of drinking. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013; 133: 502-512
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23932841/
²Sabourin, JN, Burnett, M. A Review of Therapeutic Abortions and Related Areas of Concern in Canada
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2012; 34 (6): 532-542
³Lakeside Clinic (formerly Women's Clinic). KHSC Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://kingstonhsc.ca/obstetrical-care/obstetrical-clinics/womens-clinic.
4If you are pregnant and/or parenting children under the age of six and have been or are currently experiencing a problem with opioids (oxycodone, Percocet®, heroin, Dilaudid®, morphine) or receiving methadone treatment, then the Thrive program put on by Kingston Community Health Centres may be helpful for you. Thrive – Kingston Community Health Centres (kchc.ca)