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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anybody on here is pro-life?

999 replies

Teeandee · 28/12/2018 15:02

When it comes to the subject of abortion I've noticed a high number of people on here are very pro-choice and support abortion. Is there anybody else, like me, who doesn't?

Everybody is entitled to their opinion of course and I don't think badly of anybody who has had a termination and I don't judge. It's only my personal outlook and life experiences that shape my view and was wondering if I really am in the minority here?

OP posts:
MsLucyLastic · 28/12/2018 15:29

IHaveBrilloHair, that must have been so tough to go through. I hope you are ok now and am glad that you made the right choice for you Flowers

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 28/12/2018 15:30

Very much shades of grey here. I know I couldn't abort, but I also know that children who are unwanted can really suffer for it. Sometimes abortion is the lesser of two evils, and not everyone can give a child the life they deserve.

And of course, some babies have medical issues and might never survive outside the womb, and conception circumstances vary wildly.

So I couldn't say I'm pro-life for everyone forever, but I definitely err that way for myself. If it helps, I'm a wavering ex-Christian.

JacquesHammer · 28/12/2018 15:30

IHaveBrilloHair Flowers I’m glad you had the option that was right for you

tor8181 · 28/12/2018 15:30

ive never agreed and will admit i judge people who do have them

i believe its a baby/living person from conceiving

as a mother of 2 who was very lucky to have conceived at all(severe PCOS and have had no periods at all) any pregnancy is a gift(not from god as im a atheist)

if your not willing to follow a pregnancy through then dont risk having sex

JacquesHammer · 28/12/2018 15:31

if your not willing to follow a pregnancy through then dont risk having sex

And what about people who haven’t “risked” having sex? Who are abused or raped?

TooManyPaws · 28/12/2018 15:31

I always think about this quote from a Benedictine nun in these sort of discussions.

To ask if anybody on here is pro-life?
Cassiacassie · 28/12/2018 15:31

tor8181 you want everyone celibate until their late 20s-30s? That’s the age people usually start ttc

Cookit · 28/12/2018 15:31

I’m pro choice but not late term, I’m happy with the current law. Going from a lot of the comments made on the previous thread it seems that means I’m not pro choice.

TwistedStitch · 28/12/2018 15:33

Not every pregnancy is a gift tor8181. Some occur as a result of contraceptive failure, some in abusive relationships, as a result of rape, some mean that the health or life of the woman will be risked, some mean that you won't be able to afford existing children.

tinytemper66 · 28/12/2018 15:33

I wouldn't have one myself and have been in a position where I could have had one and no one would know but went ahead with the pregnancy.
However I believe that as it is a woman's body it is her choice.

Gth1234 · 28/12/2018 15:33

I don't like the idea of abortion on demand, but like a lot of these subjects (eg women dressing provocatively) you just can't get anywhere arguing the point.

Woman's right to choose, whatever the circumstances apparently is the argument you get on this one.

At the moment, the law allows abortion. When they develop technology that allows unborn babies to survive at any stage of gestation, or prove that unborn babies are sentient, or even if the popular sentiment changes significantly, the law will be changed.

WipsGlitter · 28/12/2018 15:34

Very much shades of grey for me.

I have a child with Downs Syndrome (diagnosed at birth). The number of threads on here's where it's all people seem to worry about. There's thousands of things that can be diagnosed and loads that can't but DS is all people care about. Having a child with DS isn't the end of the world but OMG to read the stuff on here...

For me the fear is as we learn more about what causes cancer, Alzheimer's, autism etc etc will people begin to want to terminate them too?

Userplusnumbers · 28/12/2018 15:34

Going from a lot of the comments made on the previous thread it seems that means I’m not pro choice.

But it's a moot point really - so few abortions are happening late term (1-2%) and all the evidence is that these are not 'choice' abortions, but because of severe issues.

NCThisTime · 28/12/2018 15:35

I support whatever other women's choices are when it comes to legislation but the one abortion I had earlier on in life (say 20yrs ago) I regret and if I fell pregnant now by accident or in a non-ideal situation, I couldn't do it again. I also think we need to be more informed of the after effects.

NCThisTime · 28/12/2018 15:36

Not religious btw.

GinIsIn · 28/12/2018 15:37

I absolutely believe in the right to choose, and am firmly pro-choice, however I do feel very uncomfortable with a 24 week limit - my SIL was born at 24 weeks, and she’s 37 now. I think 20 weeks would be better if there weren’t extenuating circumstances, as that’s still a non-viable pregnancy.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 28/12/2018 15:38

Pro choice. However I myself could not have an abortion. I have found myself single and pregnant and the situation has not been ideal but I have given birth to my children and wanted them.
As much as I am pro-choice, I knew someone who has had 8 abortions and someone who aborted twins at 20 weeks because she changed her mind about keeping them and being totally honest, it sickened me. I don't believe it is a decision to be made lightly, as some do.

MakeAHouseAHome · 28/12/2018 15:41

Pro choice here for ANY and EVERY reason.

BoswellandForshort · 28/12/2018 15:41

if your not willing to follow a pregnancy through then dont risk having sex

And what about all those women who never want children? Should they just pack it all in now and head to the nunnery? Hmm

ErrolTheDragon · 28/12/2018 15:41

Pro choice - which includes wanting to support women to not have an abortion if they aren't freely choosing it (bullied by partner/family, financial constraints etc). The quote from that nun is apposite. If someone claims to be 'pro life' and gives no fucks for what the life of the woman and her child is like, that's not a position worthy of any respect at all.

Fuglywitch · 28/12/2018 15:43

I dont agree with abortions after 4 months, except in cases of rape, incest or mothers health/babies health, not compatible with continuing the pregnancy. But i wouldn't shun any women, who did have one. But i cannot understand these women, who openly have repeated abortions, as a contraceptive.

WestBerlin · 28/12/2018 15:44

Pro choice. For me it isn’t about whether a fetus is a life or not, it’s entirely to do with the bodily autonomy of a woman and her right to make choices over said body.

I genuinely do not see it as my business what another woman chooses to do, whether she agonises over the choice or finds it easy. Bottom line is it’s not my life, not my womb, and definitely not my business.

IHaveBrilloHair · 28/12/2018 15:46

Thank you for the kind messages.
11years on and I have no regrets, the father supported me all the way, we still speak daily.

EmeraldShamrock · 28/12/2018 15:47

Definitely shades of grey here. It can't be black or white, especially when the Mothers life is at risk. RIP Savita Halappanavar so on medical grounds yes, late abortion for personal reasons I do not agree with.
My cousin had a late abortion as she discovered the baby had down syndrome, it took her a few weeks to decide so it was a very late abortion, she had to travel to the UK. Personally I found it selfish, Ino I shouldn't and I would never do or say anything, only support her, but it was very sad. We already have a cousin and had an uncle with down syndrome and although there were hard times with operations in their life, they both are full of life. My uncle lived until 55 he had a pt job. My little cousin is 11 she is in mainstream school and is the coolest kid, again her choice.

Cookit · 28/12/2018 15:47

But it's a moot point really - so few abortions are happening late term (1-2%) and all the evidence is that these are not 'choice' abortions, but because of severe issues.
Yes, and they are illegal anyway I understand unless for medical reasons (which I support). I’m not disputing there are few of them and I’m not up in arms about the minuscule number of abortions that would take place should the law be changed. BUT, I don’t agree with the “as early as possible, as late as possible” line and therefore I guess, in the eyes of a lot of pro choicers, I’m not really pro choice.
I guess I’m for “as early as possible, as late as necessary until viability”.