Your CSSS can give you advice on pregnancy, infant care, breastfeeding, nutrition and vaccinations, as well as on schooling, childhood behaviour and family life. Future parents have access to prenatal classes, postnatal sessions and breastfeeding clinics.

Before pregnancy

Fertility and assisted reproduction

Some couples have difficulty conceiving a child. In the fall of 2008, the Government of Québec announced that it would cover the costs of certain assisted reproduction treatments.

The costs of medical consultations and procedures and the drugs used in ovarian stimulation, artificial insemination and the three cycles of in vitro fertilization are now covered by the public system. The covered services are those which are required for:

  • egg or ovarian tissue retrieval;
  • in vitro fertilization;
  • pre-implant genetic diagnosis;
  • fresh or frozen embryo transfer;
  • medical recovery of sperm.

To access assisted reproduction services, you have to see your general practitioner, who will diagnose and attempt to identify the causes of your infertility. Your GP may suggest particular things you can do to increase your chances of conceiving. If necessary, you will be referred to specialized services for a more thorough investigation or access to the appropriate treatments.

For more information, consult : 

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During pregnancy

Follow-up examinations

If you are pregnant and don't have a family doctor, you can contact your CSSS.

You can also contact one of the hospitals with an obstetrics department in Montréal or prepare to deliver with the help of a midwife at one of Montréal's birthing centres.

  • Côte-des-Neiges Birthing Centre
    514-736-2323
  • Birthing Centre of the West Island HSSC
    514-697-1199 

Prenatal classes

Prenatal classes help future parents prepare for childbirth and create the best possible conditions for the mother, father and unborn child.

These classes are an opportunity for parents-to-be to get answers to the main questions that can arise during pregnancy and to discuss and share experiences with other expecting mothers and fathers. 

The subjects covered in prenatal classes include:

  • becoming parents; 
  • information on the course of pregnancy;
  • lifestyle considerations; 
  • nutrition of the mother and the newborn;
  • preparing for delivery;
  • labour and delivery;
  • caring for the newborn;
  • breastfeeding; and
  • returning home after delivery. 

You should try to register as of your 12th week of pregnancy by calling your CSSS, where you will be given all of the relevant information and be told whether or not there is any cost involved. 

The meetings usually start between week 20 and week 25 of the pregnancy and last a few weeks. 

Programme OLO

The OLO (eggs, milk and oranges) programme also provides low-income mothers-to-be with free healthy food and vitamin supplements. OLO seeks to improve the nutrition, health and well-being of pregnant women so that they can give birth to healthy babies. 

If you would like to take advantage of this programme, ask your CLSC.

For more information on the programme OLO, consult the website of Services Quebec (in french only).

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After pregnancy

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding clinics are available for mothers, mothers-to-be, and their immediate families. These clinics give them an opportunity to ask experts about breastfeeding, as well as provide a place to talk and share with other mothers.

To find out what breastfeeding meetings are scheduled in your neighbourhood, contact your CSSS. New mothers can also learn more about breastfeeding from the Fact Sheet for Nursing Mothers.

See also the page on the subject of the Healthy Living section of the website.

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Adoption

Adoption in Québec

Regardless of whether you are single, married, in a civil union or a common-law relationship, you can apply to adopt a child in Québec. However, the following conditions generally apply:

  • the adoption must be in the interest of the child;
  • you have to be at least 18 years old;
  • you usually have to be at least 18 years older than the child you want to adopt, unless the child in question is the child of your spouse;
  • the biological parents must consent to the adoption of their child, unless they have abandoned the child or the court has stripped them of their parental rights;
  • children who are 10 or older must be consulted on the adoption;
  • children who are 14 or older must consent to the adoption.

For more information on adopting a child in Québec, contact your CSSS.

International adoption

To adopt a child abroad, you have to go through an certified agency, i.e., a Québec agency authorized by the Minister of Health and Social Services to handle the adoption process on your behalf.

The process is supervised by the Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale, which coordinates the activities and the formalities involved in adopting children from other countries.

In rare cases, it is possible to adopt without going through a certified agency, but you still have to apply to the Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale and be authorized by the Minister of Health and Social Services before taking any further steps. Without that authorization, the adoption may never be recognized in Québec.

For specialized international adoption services, contact the CSSS Jeanne-Mance (514 521-7663) or the West Island HSSS (514 697-4110).

Finally, for more information, see the section on adoption on the Éducaloi website and the website of the Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale.

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