We’re thinking about merging this section, what do you think?

[MichaelMumsnet]

Hi all,
We’re doing some work on making the Talk boards more useful and user-friendly for both regular and new users. After looking at some stats for the site, we think we could boost activity on the whole by merging some of the lesser used sections.

We’re proposing to fold the topics in this section into the Pregnancy area.

This should increase the number of topics in the section - and hopefully lead to more posts and responses to members.

[Polyjuice]

These topics were split some time ago with good reason.
For women who’ve been through harrowing antenatal testing for very much wanted babies, and facing upsetting outcomes and decisions as a result, it may be unbearable being confronted with others chatting happily about their easy pregnancies. Nor is it fair to expect them to read through posts where others are contemplating TOP for personal (not medical) reasons. Posters in either category should have the freedom to discuss their circumstances and seek advice without the concern of distressing those in different circumstances. Please keep them separate.
To Me this is also why Pregnancy Choices isn’t in “Becoming a Parent” - if a woman is facing the upsetting decision of a TOP as her personal circumstances aren’t right, she hardly wants to go to that section of the board to seek advice.

[Rosiesandposies1]

I pop on a lot of topics, and I think the merger would be wrong. Yes you have worries on the pregnancy board, but you also have a lot of happy people, and people talking about how tired they are in the 38th week, and here you have people worried about whether their child may survive in the womb that long (sorry to be blunt I don’t want to offend anyone- just trying to get to the point). People worried about all the different things that they have been told are wrong with their babies during their scans. People worried about how they will cope with a disabled child. People unsure if they should carry on their pregnancies after scan results. So it’s a big no from me.

[BertieBotts]

Merge with Pregnancy Choices, not Pregnancy.

[Mamahedgehog]

Yes do merge them. This board gets few responses and many more people look at the pregnancy one. I would always post on the latter even if the post fit better under the antenatal test topic for this reason.

[Treaclepie19]

Completely agree with the other posters.
It was hard enough posting in here in the first place, never mind having to look through all the positive pregnancy posts at the same time.

[PCohle]

I agree that if it has to be combined with another topic then pregnancy choices makes more sense.

That said, I think this is probably one of those less trafficked topics that is so highly valuable to its users that it deserves to remain independent.

However I do think the way "pregnancy", "pregnancy choices" and "antenatal tests" are spread across "becoming a parent", "body and soul" and "health" is pretty confusing and not particularly intuitive.

[Littlebelina]

Hopefully weathergirl

[Weathergirl1]

It was pinned originally - I assumed it being unpinned was because they'd realised what a stupid suggestion it was!

[Littlebelina]

Just going to give this a little bump ( as it's not pinned and slipping down the board). Want to ensure people have chance to comment on this

[KTD27]

@triballeader 👏👏 this

[triballeader]

Please do not merge with those enjoying blissfilled happy pregnancies with no problems.

I am involved in improving care for parents facing babyloss before 20 weeks. Some of the most heartbroken parents we meet are those who find themselves in the awful position of having to make a choice about a pregnancy when it has become clear their baby has unresolvable problems. The grief they feel can be complicated becuase they are the ones who make that choice for their baby. They need this safe space away to communicate with others who 'get' what they are facing, who will not offer platitudes and false hopes, who will offer empathy and understanding regardless of the choice they eventually make and who will be there for them in the months to come.
In all honesty the majority who have wonderful pregnancies do not cope well or respond so kindly to those who do not. Human nature being what it is they can be nasty to those whose shoes they never had to imagine existed let alone have to walk in.

[agirlcalledBede]

Please, don't merge. For all the reasons already explained.

[QuickRedFox]

As others have said, it would be very insensitive to combine this with pregnancy.
It’s a strength that there are fewer topics here. It makes it easy to find threads about the test you are looking for.

[Weathergirl1]

Agree with others. Generally you see well thought out replies in this board. The pregnancy one reminds me of AIBU half the time with the tone of some if the replies 😬

[teacuptale]

I would prefer it be kept separate too. I didn’t want to go anywhere near the pregnancy board when I had my worrying situation.

[YoooHoo]

Another vote for keeping it separate. I found the antenatal tests board so helpful when making the decision whether to have an amnio. I don't think ladies would get the same level of support on the pregnancy board.

[KTD27]

Separate space please. Having had the total nightmare of bad results with an antenatal test and a TFMR I can’t thunk of anything I’d want less than having to have posted and asked for support on a pregnancy board when it became starkly clear I was no longer going to be pregnant.
Please keep a safe separate space for those who need it

[AshGirl]

I agree that merging it with Pregnancy would be a bad idea.

I understand that there may not be much activity on this board, but if someone needs support when making some very hard decisions then Pregnancy is not the right forum for them.

Is there a Pregnancy Choices topic? Maybe that is the right place as that could cover a range of issues including antenatal testing.

[Bluebelltulip]

I don't think this merger would work well. People receiving bad news and making tough decisions will be likely to avoid the pregnancy board. This section is relatively quiet as the majority of pregnancies don't encounter these problems but it is an important space for those that do.

[TheCanterburyWhales]

And again this has not been thought through for the reasons already stated.
I haven't been pregnant for over 16 years but have often found myself reporting abuse and attacks from those who are happily pregnant or those who would never abort a disabled child towards those who are even considering undergoing an amnio or a termination once the test results are in.
I've seen non pregnant women being told "this board is for those of us who are pregnant, don't be upsetting us with your talk of a high chance of X, Y or Z"

Please don't do this.

[Shangrilalala]

Having had extensive antenatal testing, numerous unfavourable outcomes and a couple of terminations, I can’t think of anywhere worse to put this board than pregnancy.

This oasis was hard fought and so very necessary. Please don’t ditch it as part of a streamlining exercise.

[glitterbiscuits]

If I was facing any sort of issue where I thought about antenatal choice I wouldn't want to be on a pregnancy board.

[SophyStantonLacy]

I agree, I think it’s really important to have a separate space for this.

[Littlebelina]

Still a no from me. Pregnancy is very busy and posts tend to fall of sight (ie off page 1) very quickly. I'd be worried that people wouldn't get the replies they need. Also the "emotional" (if that is the right word) feeling of the pregnancy board tends to be different (folks excited about pregnancy, what symptoms they are having Vs people having to make often very hard decisions here). I think (as someone who has had bad news from an antenatal test) that having a separate board is very useful

[MichaelMumsnet]

Yikes. That's what happens when you don't proofread your own posts. Sorry about that, I'll change it - it should be, 'fold the topics into the Pregnancy section.'