Unplanned pregnancy: Making a decision

An unplanned pregnancy can happen to any woman. If you are in this situation, you may be feeling shocked and emotional. Every woman reacts differently to learning she is pregnant.

You have three options when you become pregnant:

continue with the pregnancy and become a parent;
continue with the pregnancy and place the child for adoption;
terminate the pregnancy (abortion).

You may feel undecided about what to do about this pregnancy and you may feel that you need time and tools to reflect on your decision.

Assistance and tools

To help you with your reflection, you can consult Outils d'aide à la décision (Tools to help you with your decision - in French only) created by the SOS Grossesse organization.

You can also contact one of the three following pro-choice organizations:

SOS Grossesse Estrie (in French only): 819-822-1181 or 1-877-822-1181 (toll free)
Grossesse Secours Montréal (in French only): 514-271-0554
SOS Grossesse Québec (in French only): 1-877-662-9666

You will have the opportunity to speak with caseworkers who will assist you with making a decision in a neutral and non-judgemental way. You will also be able to obtain accurate information on the different options and avenues for reflection so that you can make a decision that is right for you. Although these organizations are located in certain municipalities, they can be contacted by people from all over Quebec.

The possibilities

Continue your pregnancy and become a parent

If you have not already done so, make an appointment with a health professional for pregnancy monitoring. This can be with a front-line specialized nurse practitioner (SNP), a midwife, a family doctor or an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Sign up on the Ma grossesse portal. The team will contact you to assess your needs and direct you to the appropriate services.

You can also consult a pharmacist for advice on, among other things, taking a folic acid supplement, which is generally advised during pregnancy.

For more information, see the Pregnancy and parenthood page.

Continue with the pregnancy and place the child for adoption

If you have not already done so, make an appointment with a health professional for pregnancy monitoring. This can be with a front-line specialized nurse practitioner (SNP), a midwife, a family doctor or an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Sign up on the Ma grossesse portal. The team will contact you to assess your needs and direct you to the appropriate services.

You can also consult a pharmacist for advice on, among other things, taking a folic acid supplement, which is generally advised during pregnancy.

Contact the adoption service of your territorial establishment for information on adoption. To find this service near you, see the Finding a resource that offers adoption services section.

You will find more information on adoption on the Adoption in Quebec page.

Terminating your pregnancy

See the Abortion services page for information on the services offered.