Pregnancy Options Support
We’ve identified the following unbiased* resources to help you navigate this decision-making process:
Pregnancy Options Resources
Pregnancy Options Workbook: A Guide for those facing a pregnancy decision
Choice in Health Clinic Counselling & Health Systems Navigation
Planned Parenthood Toronto (13-29 years old)
SHORE Centre: Emotional Support & Decision Making
Pregnancy Decision Making: Article by Teen Health Source
*What is an unbiased resource?
An unbiased resource is one that isn’t invested in you making a specific decision. They often provide information and tools to help you in your decision-making process.
A biased resource is one that does want you to make a specific choice. They tend to provide support with the goal of convincing or guiding you toward that choice. Sometimes they are direct and explicit about this but other times they’re less direct about it which can be confusing.
Making a decision about a pregnancy is incredibly personal and no one else can or should make this decision for you.
A common example of biased resources are Crisis Pregnancy Centres (CPCs). These are organizations across Canada that are anti-abortion and offer many services including pregnancy options counselling. These centres heavily advertise so people who are pregnant will find them but they won’t clearly state that they are against abortion and won’t refer to abortion services. They have a bias toward people continuing their pregnancies which can interfere with their decision-making process. They will often even go so far as to lie about the safety of abortion and shame people who are considering it.
Unfortunately, CPCs also have a lot of money to invest in advertising so they’re often the first results in any google search for pregnancy support or abortion. To protect yourself, we recommend checking this list of anti-choice organizations by province compiled by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada before seeking support from organizations other than the ones we share above.
What are my pregnancy options?
If you are pregnant you have a few options to consider.
Your first option is between continuing the pregnancy or ending it with an abortion. If you choose to continue the pregnancy, your options are to parent or place the child for adoption. There are many reasons someone might consider each of these different options and it’s okay if you don’t know yet which is right for you.
Can I work with a Birth Mark doula after I make a decision about my pregnancy?
Our Birth and Postpartum doula support is only available by direct referral from community partners based on eligibility requirements.
If you would like to explore options for birth or postpartum doula support, the Association of Ontario Doulas has a Find a Doula database.
Our abortion doula support has no eligibility requirements and can be requested by self-referral here. We know that navigating abortion services is often time-sensitive and involves barriers that place folks at additional risk.
