To this that the abortion age should be lowered

[Hai1988]

Hi all i just wanted to know what peoples thoughts were on this?

At the moment the cut off time to have an abortion is 24 weeks, but on here there has just been a story about twins born at 23 weeks!!

I think the cut off time should go right down to 12 weeks.

What do you lot think??

i think so too and also dont think people should be having them for non medical reasons. but from previous threads here i think most people here are in favour of them..

Don't know about as low as 12, but yes I think these twin babies, (particularly the little girl born at 23 wks), mean the age should be lowered.

no. doctors have reviewed this one extensively.

one single occurence does not make good scientific evidence, nor does it constitute a moral argument in itself.

I think that it's no one else's business at what point someone has an abortion so there shouldn't be an official limit at all.

Don't agree with you, so YABU. I'm probably in a minority here and I'm sure that plenty will come along and voice their support for you though.

what about people who have to have abortions for medical reasons very late in the day....?

My twins were 23 weekers who survived but I don't think the limit should be lowered.

If a woman is contemplating an abortion post 20 weeks then there is a very, very good reason for her doing so. An abortion at that stage of pregnancy is a very unpleasant experience and not a decision that will have been taken lightly.

No.. it needs to be after the 20 week scan, as that's when abnormalities can be picked up. Also even if babies do survive at 22 and 23 weeks (and having spent 8 weeks in NICU scbu with my 29 weeker I know a fair few who do) there are great risks with such prem babies and its an ethical minefield to go into what quality of life some babies may have. It should be a decision of the parents based on all the evidence and much of that evidence is not available at 12 weeks

AFAIK very few foetuses are aborted at this late stage, and it's mostly because the 20 weeks scan has shown that the foetus isn't healthy IYSWIM. The scan can't really be done any earlier, and people shouldn't have this option taken away from them. It's hardly a decision you would make lightly.

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you ask why 12 i say why 24!!

I am not totality against abortion because in some situations pregnancy just isn't viable, but personally it is something i would never do.

I think that as soon as a baby is recognisable then it shouldnt be aloud, which i know that means before 12 weeks but sometimes women dont know they are pg till later on.

So i thought 12 was a happy medium iyswim

I think 12 weeks is unreasonable. I am 12 weeks and unless I'd had symptoms of pregnancy, could very feasibly not even have realised by now.

Plus, why 12 weeks?

I would lower the age, to 21 weeks (simply based on articles etc that I've read which I accept may not be 100% accurate etc). With the proviso (that already exists) that an abortion can be had above that limit in a limited set of circumstances.

My understanding is that later abortions tend to be for medical reasons, following tests which have shown up abnormalities. They are not ones which "could" have been done earlier, because the abnormalities would not have been known about at 12 weeks.

I think the majority of women who decide to abort for non-medical reasons, or medical reasons which are known from a very early stage, will try to arrange the abortion as early as they can.

Agree what about medical abortion ?And agree with. Duncan as someone who did have late medical abortion I would love to know what you think proposed alternative is. Also 24 to 12 is a big drop(ESP as medical evidence still points at current limit).

When you say abnormality's what do you mean??

But it is not a baby. It is a feotus. It is not a living breathing entitiy. Really, it is a parasite (well it is techincally. It feeds of the host).

LIke others said, a woman would have to have a damn good reason to terminate after 20 weeks. Leave it as it is. If it ain't broke........

It's clear the age babies can survive is getting lower, so I think the age up to which you can get an abortion should also get lower. But after the 20 week scan, so maybe 22 weeks to allow for a scan then a few days of consideration.

It not something I would personally do either- but I would never think my personal decision is more important than someone else's personal decision.

It's clear the age babies can survive is getting lower,

urm..no it isn't.

not according to the governments most recent review of it it wasn't.

How lucky for you hai that you never have to be in that position [sits on hands and thinks but doesn't post other things).

12 weeks is hardly a happy medium, given many people don't even realise they are pregnant until at least 6 weeks then there is a very short time period you are talking about until 12 weeks.

As everyone has said late abortions tend to be for medical reasons, but i also read that there is high proportion of lateish abortions (not as late as 24 weeks) that are young or underage girls who haven't told anyone they are pregnant, what would you propose to do in these circumstances?

Thing is, it can take that long to do and get results of tests.
I thought that most of the later abortions were because of medical abnormalities discovered in tests.
Also, I didn't find out I was pregnant til 10 weeks - I know that's not that common with the tests out now, but it does happen.

Can't think of anything to say that hasn't been said already. So YABU.