Frequently Asked Questions and Clarifications: Pregnancy Care Canada

Updated July 2023

Introduction

Pregnancy Care Canada provides comprehensive expertise and mentoring in the field of pregnancy care support. We equip, connect, and empower local pregnancy care centres to serve their communities with excellence.

Below is a summary of who we are and what we do.

Who is Pregnancy Care Canada?

• Pregnancy Care Canada (PCC) is a best practice, Christian, national association of pregnancy care centres (also known as crisis pregnancy centres).
• Currently, there are 79 PCC-affiliated pregnancy care centres.

What do PCC-affiliated centres do?

• Over the past twenty-five years,

234,575 women and men accessed help at PCC-affiliated pregnancy centres.

194,984 client visits for material supplies, such as diapers, formula, & clothing.

20,410 clients helped through prenatal education.

34,748 clients helped through parenting programs.

11,177 women requested and received support after their abortion.

Tens of thousands assisted through phone calls, text messages, and online.

• Pregnancy care centres serve individuals and families impacted by unexpected pregnancies.
• Support is offered free of charge, available to all, and voluntarily requested.
• Before receiving any services, all clients are made aware that the centre does not provide or assist in arranging abortions.
• Staff and volunteers provide medically accurate information on all three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting.
• Centres provide a safe environment for a woman to make a pregnancy decision that is fully informed, evidence-based, and free from external pressure.
• PCC options information is externally reviewed by specialized practitioners in Canada: perinatal nurses, family physicians, obstetricians-gynaecologists, medical ethicists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

FAQs

Q: Do pregnancy care centres prevent a woman from accessing an abortion?

A: No. Pregnancy care centres offer a safe environment for a woman to make a pregnancy decision that is fully informed, evidence-based, and free from external pressure. Centres respect a woman’s right to make her own decision and provide her with medically accurate information on all three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting.

Before receiving services at a pregnancy care centre, every client reads a Limitation of Services form, which clearly indicates that the centre does not provide or assist in arranging for abortions.

If a client chooses to pursue an abortion, the centre will not mislead or obstruct this decision. If a client requests help in obtaining an abortion, she is advised to consult her healthcare professional. She is also encouraged to return for post-abortion support, if desired.

Q: Is the abortion information shared by PCC-affiliated centres medically accurate?

A: Yes. The primary resource used by PCC-affiliated centres is the “Pregnancy Options Guide,” a medically accurate and evidence-informed booklet. This resource has been reviewed by 80 specialized practitioners, including perinatal nurses, family physicians, obstetricians-gynaecologists, medical ethicists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers from across Canada.

Q: Is post-abortion stress real?

A: Post-abortion stress is not a myth. Pregnancy care centres respond to hundreds of women every year who voluntarily seek help for negative post-abortion emotions. Many women look for a safe place to speak about their feelings, and pregnancy care centres provide such a place.

Emotional responses to abortion vary. The response may depend on a woman’s age, the stage of her pregnancy, religious or cultural beliefs, previous mental health, or whether others pressured her into having an abortion.

Deciding to end a pregnancy is never easy. Every woman has a different reason for an abortion, and emotional reactions are common. After an abortion, it is normal to feel relief, sadness, grief, or guilt. These feelings can change from woman to woman.[1]

Each woman experiencing post-abortion stress is met respectfully and provided with the support she is seeking. The nature of support provided is client-led. Support may be one-on-one or in a group setting, providing her with an opportunity to speak about her feelings regarding her abortion experience. If a client requires help beyond the scope of expertise available at the pregnancy care centre, she is referred to a professional counsellor, physician, or a community-based mental health service.

One must not – because of ideological reasons – discount, minimize, or be judgmental concerning the emotional stress some women experience following their abortions.

Q: Are you pro-life or anti-abortion?

A: If by pro-life you mean a shared belief that all human beings have intrinsic value, yes, we are. However, the terms pro-life, pro-choice, and anti-abortion have become politicized, polarizing, and confusing.

Pregnancy Care Canada and affiliated centres are pro-women and pro-information. We believe in giving value to and caring for both the woman and the unborn child. We do this through the provision of practical information and compassionate support.

Some women with an unexpected pregnancy feel like they have no other choice but abortion. We don’t believe this is acceptable. Every woman deserves to understand all her options and also have access to alternatives to an unwanted abortion.

Our goal is to provide a safe place for women and men experiencing the challenge of an unexpected pregnancy to work through their unique pregnancy situation and empower them to make an informed decision.

Q: Do you share your Christian faith with clients?

A: PCC-affiliated centres identify as Christian organizations. We follow a permission-based approach for all support provided. Whether sharing information about pregnancy options or having a spiritual discussion, we ask for permission first and let the client decide.

We acknowledge that everyone has practical, emotional, and spiritual needs, so we provide holistic, comprehensive care to individuals dealing with an unexpected pregnancy. Comprehensive care may include helping with practical needs (such as material supports and education resources), providing emotional support (encouragement), as well as addressing the spiritual needs of an individual (offering to pray).

Q: What is your position regarding political activism?

A: Pregnancy Care Canada is non-political and non-partisan. We focus specifically on the compassionate, respectful provision of support for individuals impacted by an unexpected pregnancy.

We believe it is essential for our affiliated pregnancy care centres to be a safe place for individuals challenged by an unexpected pregnancy or a prior abortion experience. Staff and volunteers offer practical support and accurate information – walking alongside individuals on their journey.

Q: What type of training is provided to pregnancy care centre staff and volunteers?

A: Pregnancy Care Canada equips centre personnel by providing comprehensive training and professional development through up-to-date training manuals, online resources, webinars, leadership coaching, and in-person training.

All personnel working with clients learn accurate information about the options available to women facing a pregnancy decision: abortion, adoption, and parenting. The client care training also includes such topics as understanding the client (e.g., possible abuse, impoverishment, mental health, cross-cultural sensitivity), trauma-informed care, understanding crisis, pregnancy loss, and healthy relationships.

Once the client care training is completed, personnel also receive supervision, mentoring, and ongoing training to ensure they are equipped to serve all clients with compassion and excellence. In addition, our affiliated centres are equipped with policies and procedures to guide best practice standards in client care.

Q: How do you address concerns, if raised, about the information and support provided at an affiliate centre?

A: Pregnancy Care Canada is committed to providing honest, medically accurate, permission-based information on all pregnancy options. Annually, each centre signs an affiliation agreement that reflects this shared commitment.

PCC leadership addresses any concerns regarding compliance with affiliation expectations and provides follow-up and training as required. Non-compliance with our standards would lead to disaffiliation.

Q: Do some centres offer health care services?

A: Some affiliates offer specific health care services, provided in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and appropriate best practice standards. All healthcare professionals provide care within their scope of practice and receive authorization according to provincial regulations from relevant regulatory bodies.

Q: Do you discriminate against certain lifestyle choices? How do you care for individuals who may not share your religious worldview?

A: Pregnancy Care Canada and affiliated centres are committed to caring for every individual with the same compassionate support. Every affiliate agrees to the following statement outlined in our Commitment of Care and Competence:

Clients are served without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, national origin, age, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, lifestyle, or other arbitrary circumstances.

Q: Are pregnancy care centres legitimate charities? Should they have charitable status?

A: Yes. The Canada Revenue Agency states that:

Registered charities are charitable organizations, public foundations, or private foundations that are created and resident in Canada. They must use their resources for charitable activities and have charitable purposes that fall into one or more of the following categories: The relief of poverty, the advancement of education, the advancement of religion, or other purposes that benefit the community.[2]

PCC-affiliated pregnancy care centres serve within this charitable capacity as they compassionately care for the vulnerable. Centres use their resources for charitable activities, benefit the communities they serve, and add value to our society.

PCC-affiliated centres have provided support for hundreds of thousands of women, men, and children across Canada. The cumulative charitable impact – social, financial, familial, pastoral – is significant.

In conclusion, for a woman to truly have a choice regarding her unexpected pregnancy, she must have authentic options to choose from – including the option to continue her pregnancy, receive support, and not feel pressured into an unwanted abortion. In reading through the facts outlined in this document, I trust you have the information needed to determine the validity and societal value of pregnancy care centres supporting vulnerable women, men, and families each day across Canada.

On behalf of Pregnancy Care Canada,

Laura Lewis MD, CCFP

Executive Director

Dr. Lewis has served as the Executive Director of Pregnancy Care Canada since May 2016. After working for 22 years as a family physician, she saw the need for education, support, and practical options for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy. Dr. Lewis has a HonsBComm from Queen’s University, a Medical Degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a certificate of Family Medicine from McMaster University.

Originally published on the PCC blog 
pregnancycarecanada.ca

[1]Rebecca Allen, Kirtly Jones, Femi Olatunbosun, et al, “Abortion: Emotional Recovery,” BC HealthLink, Government of British Columbia, May 2019. (Accessed October 2021).

[2]Canada Revenue Agency, Government of Canada. “What is the difference between a registered charity and a non-profit organization?” (Accessed October 2021).