Help! I’m Pregnant –

What Now?

1. Confirm Your Pregnancy

You can use a pregnancy test from the supermarket.
The test will be repeated at the first appointment. 

 

2. If You Wish to Talk to an Unbiased Counsellor

Call Family Planning and ask them to refer you to a counsellor.

If you look for a counsellor by Googling, you might call a number or visit a place expecting unbiased counselling, and discover too late that they are trying to talk you out of an abortion. Remember, they cannot keep you on the phone or in the office. You might have to be impolite, but you can leave whenever you want. And really, if they tricked you into their office by pretending to be unbiased, you do not owe them politeness.

Keep your cell phone handy, and if they try to stop you, remind them that false imprisonment is illegal and you are ready to call the police. If they tell you you are going to hell, remember, they are trying to sell you something, namely motherhood. They will say anything to get you to buy. To leave safely, you can promise them anything and renege, because promises made under duress are not promises at all.

Check this page for places and hotlines people have reported as anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centres

 

3. If You Wish to Terminate the Pregnancy

If you are

eligible for funded health care in New Zealand

 

Check out Abortion.org for information about abortion access in your region.

You will need a referral for termination. Agencies who refer for termination include most GP services, Iwi providers, Youth Medical Services, University Student Health Services, some School Based Clinics and Sexual Health Clinics, and all Family Planning Clinics. If your own GP refuses to refer you, see here.

Appointments for termination referrals with the these services should be free of charge for those entitled to New Zealand subsidized health care .

At the Termination Referral Appointment the patient will be seen by a doctor or in some cases a nurse.

The following may either be done at a single or two separate appointments:

  • A history will be taken including- the date of the last menstrual period

    – signs and symptoms of pregnancy

    – a medical history

    – personal support networks

    – if applicable, the clients preference for either a medical or surgical termination

  • A confirmatory urine pregnancy test will be performed.

Once the pregnancy is confirmed certain tests may be taken which are required by the individual termination of pregnancy (TOP) providers. These include:

  • Swabs will be taken from the vagina for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. These may either be self collected or taken by the clinician.
  • An internal vaginal examination may be performed to assess the gestation of the pregnancy.
  • Routine antenatal bloods will be taken and an HIV test will be offered.
  • If clinically indicated blood tests might also be taken for the level of pregnancy hormone hCG(human chorionic gonadotropin).
  • An ultra sound scan may be ordered which in some case might be for clinical reasons, however some TOP providers insist this is performed.

Copies of all tests will be forwarded to the TOP provider.

A referral letter will be completed. This must be signed by a Registered Medical Practitioner. The letter usually includes the wording “Please consider this client for TOP referral”.

Usually a first appointment date and time with the TOP provider will be confirmed at the referral appointment.

If you are not
eligible for funded health care in New Zealand

 

You can take the same pathway, but you will have to pay as you go.

You can visit a private clinic. You will still need the approval of two certifying consultants.

If you cannot afford an abortion, you can visit or here or here. These sites provide the drugs for medical abortions.

If you access pills from these sites, the worst case scenario is probably that Customs finds the pills and confiscates them.

If you take the pills and police prosecute you, you may get a $200 fine. If you are prosecuted, it may well be a human rights violation. Please contact us.

If you take the pills and run into difficulties, you can seek advice from abortion providers, Family Planning Clinics, and Healthline. Advice given over the telephone is free.

If you go to hospital with excessive bleeding you can always tell them you are miscarrying spontaneously. There is no medical difference between a medical abortion and a spontaneous abortion. You will be charged for the hospital visit.