I'm a midwife who works in abortion care. AMA

[GlitteryPoopooplop]

Go ahead. I'll try and answer everything the best way I can. Sorry if this is boring (I love my job and can go on about it a bit.)!

No one is going to abort a healthy baby at 40 weeks just because “they have changed their mind”

That would be a sociopath and I don’t think any doctor would do the operation anyway

The OP stated that she thinks that a woman should be able to 'abort' (if that makes it easier for you all you handle) a healthy perfect baby at full term..40 weeks..42 weeks. For any reason she wants!

It's not about whether somebody would actually choose to do that or not, whether that makes them a sociopath. The OP thinks a woman should have that option.

Do you think a woman should have that option? The law should be changed so a woman can decide at 40 weeks, she doesn't want that fully developed baby anymore? No reason needed.

It's a very simple question.

I honestly believe as early as possibly as late as necessary

Do I agree with 40 week abortions?

If they are needed, yes

No baby should grow up being resented for being born. Could even be abused for being born

Also, why should a baby be born and then shoved into care and probably bounced from home to home?

It is cruel

I also said it wouldn't be just "can I have an abortion?" "yup". I also said we'd have a conversation /counselling about it. I do think it should be an option. There WOULD be a compelling reason if it was to be requested.

This conversation feels like it's going round in circles. I'm going to go back through to see what questions I've missed shortly. Sorry to other people in the thread who I've accidentally ignored!

Thanks, OP. I was 2 days short of 23 weeks.

Yes because some contraception does funny things to your body but ultimately eating more makes you gain weight not using contraception.

Sagradafamiliar

Start a thread on what? Why would I need to start a thread?
Your side is allowed to be put forward as many examples and reasons for having abortion until full term as you see fit, but when I give an explanation as to why some people struggle to feel that it's morally ok I need to start my own thread!

What do you do if you think someone isn’t quite sure but says they are? Can you decline to treat them on those grounds?

It's a very simple question

Yet there is not many people that want to give it a simple answer. Strange.

Are women having more or fewer abortions than say 20 years ago?

Morally wrong, not morally ok, obviously.

I also said it wouldn't be just "can I have an abortion?" "yup".

But why wouldn't it be like that? People on this thread are saying it should be for ANY reason the mother decides, so why should anyone be allowed to question that?

No one is going to abort a healthy baby at 40 weeks just because “they have changed their mind”

Yes, which is why dumb slogans like “as early as possible, as late as necessary” don’t capture what late-term abortion is, really, and what you are really advocating for when you say it.

I thought surgery was surgery, until a woman in China (where I used to live) tweeted (through Weibo) her forced seventh month abortion. The picture still lives on the internet somewhere. Her dead baby was by her side. Presumably they stopped the heart and then delivered it stillborn, which is probably the only way to do it that far along. It was the most horrific, barbaric thing.

It really shouldn’t be done unless in extreme circumstances, and the doctors who provide it will always have mixed feelings about it, unless ideology blinds them.

After Tiller is a brilliant documentary about issues surrounding late-term abortion, from a pro-choice, American perspective. Everyone here should watch it.

@BasinHaircut yes, if I don't think they're ready I'd strongly advise them to go away and come another day. However I have had people who are clearly unsure but go ahead anyway. I really struggle with that.

But why wouldn't it be like that? People on this thread are saying it should be for ANY reason the mother decides, so why should anyone be allowed to question that?

Because its a huge decision which probably warrants a discussion. I'd be doing women a disservice if I didn't talk to them about their feelings surrounding their choice.

Yes. I absolutely believe that women should be able to have an abortion at any gestation, and for any reason.

No this is what you said.

It quite clearly states any time for any reason.

And yes it will go around in circles, as people are going to question why you think it's acceptable to kill a baby at 40 weeks, for any reason?!

It's an extremely bold statement you made.

Why should she have contraception which she knows will make her gain weight if she doesn't want it?

And this statement..I'm sorry but this makes me question, how much training you have.
As the NHS website quite clearly states that contraception does NOT cause weight gain.
If a professional midwife does not know this information and is then not informing women coming in, that they are completely wrong in thinking that, then no wonder women are coming back multiple times!!

I actually think that in some cases where the child will have a very low quality of life or the parents arn't capable/willing to looking after a child with major disabilities, you should be able to end a babies life in the early months after labour.

Who do you suggest carries out this murder? Would you be willing to do it. Don't be so fucking stupid.

The depo injection is known to cause weight gain.

I stand by my statement. any gestation for any reason. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't counsel them and have a discussion. (and probably strongly advise against it in many cases) I still think it should be legally accessible though.

Just to be clear, the NHS DO say contraception can make you gain weight

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/contraceptive-injection/#advantages-and-disadvantages-of-the-injection

Drogo because you want a pro-life/choice debate. Start your own thread then and get it all off your chest. This isn't the place. You're insensitive to put forward your questions when the thread is full of women talking about their termination experiences. You're derailing.

To the poster who said they were is a "risk category" for gaining weight on the Jag, could you explain this further? What causes this risk.

If you start a thread on such a sensitive subject it will always end in debate no matter where you post it.

@Drogosnextwife weight gain is most common in people who are under 18 and already have a raised bmi.

And I haven't given any side or any reasons to support anything. Quote me please.

Sagradafamiliar

What have I said that's insensitive? I agree that abortion is necessary (which I have already said).

I actually think that in some cases where the child will have a very low quality of life or the parents arn't capable/willing to looking after a child with major disabilities, you should be able to end a babies life in the early months after labour.

Horrific. Appalling