Q. What are some of the symptoms of pregnancy?
A. The symptoms of early pregnancy include a late period, tender or swollen breasts, frequent urination, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, backaches, and food cravings. Everyone experiences pregnancy differently, and some women have new or different symptoms with every pregnancy. A pregnancy test is the best way to find out for sure if you are pregnant.
Q. How and when can I find out if I'm pregnant?
A. We provide pregnancy tests that are greater than 99% accurate, and are effective 10 days after conception. Test results can be read in four minutes. If you think you might be pregnant and are late for your period, please call or chat to make an appointment for a test. If you think you might be pregnant and your period is not late yet, please call or chat to speak to a peer counselor about when you could expect an accurate test result.
Q. When can I get pregnant?
A. Women have become pregnant while using condoms or hormonal birth control methods like the pill, the patch, or shots. Each contraceptive method has a different failure rate, and nothing other than abstinence will guarantee that a woman will not become pregnant. Generally a woman is most fertile 15 days before her next period, but each woman's body is different.
Q. How can I find out how many weeks pregnant I am?
A. A rough estimate can be made at your CareNet appointment using a pregnancy wheel with calculations based on the date of your last period. The most effective way to determine exactly how pregnant you are is through an ultrasound.
Q. What is the "morning after pill"?
A. The morning after pill is a type of oral hormonal birth control taken after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. The pill must be taken within 72 hours of intercourse. Researchers have not identified exactly how it works. One possibility is that it interferes with the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. It has a failure rate of about 25%.
Q. What are the different kinds of abortion?
A. The abortion procedure depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
- from 4 to 7 weeks of pregnancy: a chemical abortion such as RU486 (known also as the "abortion pill") where 2 drugs are given to the woman. The first pill stops the growth of the pregnancy in the uterus. It can also stop those that are developing in the fallopian tube. The second pill empties the uterus.
- between 6 and 14 weeks: there are two kinds of surgical abortion - dilatation and curettage (also called the suction curettage) or dilatation and evacuation. Essentially, with both methods, the uterus is emptied using suction and medical instruments.
The only way to accurately tell how far along you are in your pregnancy is with an ultrasound.
Q. Are there any risks with abortion?
A. As with any surgery, there are both physical and emotional risks. Risks may include infection, heavy bleeding, tearing or damage of the cervix, and damage to the uterus. Some women experience negative psychological effects.
Q. What kind of psychological effects?
A. Psychologists have diagnosed post abortion stress in some women. This is where the symptoms of depression, grief, anxiety, and low self esteem persist for years and a woman finds it difficult to function as she once did.
Q. Before I knew I was pregnant I used drugs and/or alcohol, will there be something wrong with my baby?
A. Babies exposed to any form of drugs during pregnancy may be at risk of premature birth, birth defects, or other developmental issues. It's difficult to predict the likelihood or severity of problems that may occur. However, if a woman stops taking drugs and alcohol within the first trimester (3 months), the effects on the baby's health are reduced. Talking to a CareNet medical professional may help provide answers for your individual situation.
Q. I've been told because of an existing medical condition I present a high-risk pregnancy. Is this true?
A. If you have a chronic health problem or a special concern, it is recommended that you seek medical advice and support as soon as possible to bring your body to its healthiest point while carrying a baby. The healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be also.
