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AIBU?

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Original poster

abortion illegal

163 replies

Eyylaa87 · 29/12/2022 05:12

Posting here for the traffic, im so sorry

Just found out I am pregnant. I am an expat living abroad (Turkey) and although on paper abortion is still legal, I have found out that no clinic or hospital or doctor will perform one without a medical reason to do so. So basically abortions are legal however we cannot access them.

I am 6 weeks pregnant and really do not want to continue with this. I have looked online at travelling to the UK for one however they are around 500GBP which I really cannot afford :( Although I am financially well considering where I live, once my wage and money is converted to pounds I am considered poor. I am terribly stuck and now even considering keeping a baby I am not ready for at all.

Any advice please

OP posts:
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5
ClarathecrosseyedLioness · 29/12/2022 05:20

I'm afraid you don't have any option other than returning to UK, OP, if you want an abortion.

Where is the baby's father in all this?

MolliciousIntent · 29/12/2022 05:21

Can the baby's father help you pay for it? Can you borrow money from a family member?

MagnoliaMix · 29/12/2022 05:26

OP having the baby will cost you infinitely more than 500 pounds.

Original poster
Eyylaa87 · 29/12/2022 05:28

I am with the babies father however together we still cannot afford the amount to get an abortion in the UK :(

I dont have to many family or friends but I think I can ask to borrow off them - only problem is it may take years for me to pay them back. I want to be honest with them, it will take us years with our currency to pay them back (considering the pound inflating everyday here) and I don't know who would loan me money once I have said that

OP posts:
DifferenceEngines · 29/12/2022 05:30

At 6 weeks, can you get medication posted from the UK? You might not have to travel.

MintyFreshOne · 29/12/2022 05:31

You live in the MENA. There is no option
but to travel abroad and I wouldn’t risk getting pills by mail. You’ll have to travel abroad—can you get it free on the NHS? (Sorry not sure of the rules on this). If not I’d research the costs in various EU countries.

(does Turkey allow unmarried women to have children outside of wedlock? Some MENA countries won’t and will prosecute you so another reason to get this sorted quickly)

MintyFreshOne · 29/12/2022 05:33

Sorry just saw your update. What about neighbouring countries? Taking buses, maybe the procedure is cheaper too?

TerfOnATrain · 29/12/2022 05:34

Medical abortion countries near Turkey

TerfOnATrain · 29/12/2022 05:36

sorry ignore, didn’t mean to post, meant to type that in my search.

but since I did, are there any countries closer than the UK that can offer abortion?

Original poster
Eyylaa87 · 29/12/2022 05:36

DifferenceEngines · 29/12/2022 05:30

At 6 weeks, can you get medication posted from the UK? You might not have to travel.

How will I be able to do this? Who can I contact, I have been out of the UK for 12 years and have forgotten everything

OP posts:
picklesandtea · 29/12/2022 05:38

Is it the travel you can't afford or are you saying you'd have to pay for the abortion once you got there?

Original poster
Eyylaa87 · 29/12/2022 05:38

I've just checked in Greece and its 1000 euros, so very similar to the Uk. That alone I cannot afford, on top I will also have to pay travel accommodation etc. Feel really hopeless :(

OP posts:
Original poster
Eyylaa87 · 29/12/2022 05:39

I'd have to pay for the abortion, NHS doesnt cover me as an expat

OP posts:
glittermoomoo · 29/12/2022 05:41

If you've only just found out you're pregnant are you sure you don't want to continue and its not just the shock or are you definitely sure?

You and your partner will have to try and get the money together if you want an abortion.

FaazoHuyzeoSix · 29/12/2022 05:42

a baby is going to cost WAY more than 500GBP. the clock is ticking and if an abortion is the right choice for you then all considerations of cost are irrelevant. take out a loan, borrow from whoever you can or appeal to womens charities, whatever it takes to get this sorted swiftly and legally within the next couple of weeks. any delay will only make it more and more expensive and disruptive. good luck. you will be ok.

ClarathecrosseyedLioness · 29/12/2022 05:42

@MintyFreshOne You are misinformed, Turkey isn't always in MENA by classification. Having said that,

You’ll have to travel abroad—can you get it free on the NHS? (Sorry not sure of the rules on this).

That's Health Tourism and won't be allowed for elective procedures. Unless OP has some reciprocal Health Insurance with OK it will have to be done privately.

OP, maybe you can try Bulgaria or Greece, but you'll still have to pay.

Zanatdy · 29/12/2022 05:42

How will you pay for the baby if you can’t get the money together? As others have said, it will cost more for a baby than an abortion. That said if you don’t have the money, you don’t have the money. Do you have any friends in the U.K? I don’t want to suggest anything illegal (have no idea what rules are on this) but could someone get the pills in the U.K. and get it couriered to you? Hope you can sort something out, really not good that you are being forced to have a baby you don’t want.

glittermoomoo · 29/12/2022 05:42

MagnoliaMix · 29/12/2022 05:26

OP having the baby will cost you infinitely more than 500 pounds.

Yes that's what I'm thinking. Either way it's going to hit you financially.

ClarathecrosseyedLioness · 29/12/2022 05:43

Sorry, UK not OK.

ClarathecrosseyedLioness · 29/12/2022 05:46

@Zanatdy I don’t want to suggest anything illegal (have no idea what rules are on this) but could someone get the pills in the U.K. and get it couriered to you?

No GP/Doctor is going to risk their Registration for such a course of action.

Headoutofplace · 29/12/2022 05:48

You can get 'telemedical' abortion services in the UK, basically get the pills sent to you up to 10 weeks - do you know anyone in the UK you could ask to get them for you and post them on?

Headoutofplace · 29/12/2022 05:49

Sorry, cross posted with PPs

Pothoswithasparkle · 29/12/2022 05:49

You travel to Bulgaria. They do them. Just note that quite a few countries do them until 12th week then it's for medical reasons.

TellMeWhere · 29/12/2022 05:49

Are you british and registered with a gp practice? If you are and have a uk address (on paper) I don't see how they'd know you're an expat to be honest.

I'm also an expat but my GP/NHS profile has had me registered at my parents address since the dawn of time.

If the above doesn't apply then I'd contact these people abortion.eu/#services as a matter of urgency.

glittermoomoo · 29/12/2022 05:49

Headoutofplace · 29/12/2022 05:48

You can get 'telemedical' abortion services in the UK, basically get the pills sent to you up to 10 weeks - do you know anyone in the UK you could ask to get them for you and post them on?

I think they only prescribe them for the person who has the appointment.