Termination for Medical Reasons 

Every year, couples arriving for ultrasounds and anatomy scans learn that their pregnancy is not developing normally. What was supposed to be a happy opportunity to hear the baby’s heartbeat or learn its gender, becomes their worst nightmare. After additional testing that can span weeks, women face the challenge of choosing the option that best meets their needs; early induction, surgical termination or continuing the pregnancy with supportive/ palliative care measures in place at the time of delivery. 

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Here in Southwestern Ontario, many women are counselled in the Fetal Development Clinic at LHSC after being referred by family physicians and midwives from across the province. Some require genetic testing to confirm a suspected chromosomal diagnosis, while others learn their baby’s physical development is not compatible with life after multiple ultrasounds and consultations with specialists at Victoria Hospital. Women describe feeling like they are living in a ‘Twilight Zone’ for while they have been told their baby will not survive, active fetal movement sets the stage for disbelief and reluctance to take the next step. 

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There are many skilled professional staff available at LHSC to assist women and their partners during the diagnostic and decision-making stages but when the pregnancy ends, their roles inevitably conclude. Grief counselling in the community is valuable in assisting couples face the difficult challenges of communicating about their baby’s death while protecting their right to privacy. Many of these troubled pregnancies end between 18 and 24 weeks gestation, setting the stage for unwanted questions and scrutiny. 

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Often, women believe it is in their best interest to return to work as soon as their postpartum symptoms subside, as a way to distract themselves from their complicated grief. It is important to explore the many layers of grief following these pregnancy losses for without examination of their experience, many will encounter high anxiety and renewed traumatic memories when contemplating another pregnancy. 

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Peer support is also valuable, for the opportunity to speak with other parents who have needed to make ‘heartbreaking choices’ becomes a safe space to tell their stories and receive reassurance that their decisions came from a place of love and compassion after learning the prenatal diagnosis. 

 

Please consider contacting the PAIL Network https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/

Or Bereaved Families of Ontario, Southwest Branch https://bfosw.ca/

 

for more information about their support services.

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Counselling Fees

My counselling fees are not covered by OHIP although many have coverage through extended health benefits plans provided by their employers. As a therapist with designation as a Registered Social Worker (RSW), many clients are eligible for reimbursement of fees. Benefits packages through companies such as Sun Life, Blue Cross, Great West Life Insurance and Greenshield Canada can provide coverage for counselling services. Please check your employee benefits package to determine your individual coverage.

Any counselling expenses not covered by third party insurance benefits can be claimed as medical expenses when you file your annual income tax return. As a Registered Social Worker, I am considered an authorized ‘medical practitioner’, allowing you to claim counselling fees as a medical expense.

Clients are not charged for telephone consultations prior to initial counselling sessions. The fee for a 60-75 minute counselling session is $135.00. Payments are generally made by etransfer to jgcounselling@rogers.com after each session. Formal receipts are provided.