Anyone else feel let down by the non reduction is abortuin time limits?

[NotABanana]

I think the second scan should be at 18 weeks and abortion should only be available up to 20 weeks in extreme circumstances. No excuse for 24 weeks imho.

when was that caz? that's sick!

nearly 14 years ago now, but still

I am pro choice but I really think the time limit should be lowered to 18/20 weeks max.

It certainly appeared to me that the HCP's involved during the pregnancy with ds were often bemused why I wouldn't choose to "get rid" of the "problem".

Not all, mind, the consultant at my local hospital was lovely. He came to see me and ds the day after the birth and congratulated me... that was lovely.

no it wasn't

apparantly they just said "oh btw we know what's wrong with her,( they ran tests as she also had some serious heart defects) it's DS. If you don't want to deal with her, you can just leave her here when you go home"

If you're getting a termination as late as 35 weeks - you still need to get 2 doctors to sign it off, don't you? Surely the main problem isn't the possibility of a 'late' termination for disability, but the attitude about what constitutes a severe enough disability that 2 doctors would sign it off that late? Maybe the system needs much stricter guidelines about what should be considered very severe abnormalities.

I think there will always be compelling personal circumstances, such as victims of incest or mislaid test results, etc., that could lead to relatively late terminations that many of us, even if nominally opposed to abortion, might feel it was still justified in that individual case. It seems like some injustices/horrible outcomes are inevitable no matter what the rules are.

My 16 yo DD had a termination 2 weeks ago at 10 weeks. It was around 3 1/2 weeks from finding out she was pregnant to having it done. We had to wait a week to see the GP and another week for him to do a letter for her to take to the clinic so she could arrange a counselling appointment I was angry she had to wait for so long especially because it meant she had to have the surgical procedure under general anaesthetic when she would rather have had the medical option. Not that it's any easier but slightly less invasive plus no risk from GA.

When helping her look into her options I was surprised to find it was available up to 24 weeks. I also didn't know that it was available to term for abnormalities. I have found the debate surrounding this issue fascinating and I have to agree that to lower the limit would set a precedent and that women should be allowed the choice of what to do with their own body.

I feel extremely sad, in one way, that my DD didn't go ahead with the pregnancy but, practically, I think she made the most sensible decision. I supported her as much as I could and went with her to the clinic (not full of feckless teenagers as some would expect, but women of all ages) and made sure she understood that she could change her mind at any time. She seems fine about it and is mainly relieved that it's all over. She had a contraceptive implant put in at the same time whilst she was under anaesthetic. I wish I'd advised her to have the implant when she was considering her contraceptive choices before this happened but I don't think it was offered to her and she was put on the pill.

It was a horrible experience and one I wish she, and I, hadn't had to go through. I wanted to protect my baby and my baby's baby and I couldn't

I do think that some of those who are against abortion are sometimes as vociferous in their views about teenage and/or single mothers. My daughter will be judged for having a termination (not that anyone else needs to know) but, if she'd kept it, would have had to put with being judged for having a baby so young and which she could not support financially. A rock and a hard place indeed.

It's a very difficult subject but women should be supported in their choices as much as possible not have their choices limited.

Sorry this is so long but it has helped to write some of it down.

your dd is lucky to have such a supportive mother LurkinAround

Mindalina, you summed up exactly how I felt when I got pregnant at 20 - invaded by an alien who was going to destroy my life.

I have never regretted my termination. I have also never regretted my adored DS, born last year, because this time I was ready. In fact, having DS showed me how right I was to not go through with the first pregnancy.

TBH, my biggest problem with that termination was feeling upset and confused with all the information i got from the media etc saying that I would be devastated forever and never get over the guilt. I thought I was a ticking timebomb, when the truth is I took the right decision for me.

My termination was at 9 weeks, BTW, but I am still against the chipping away of a woman's right to choose. I think campaigners should be honest and just say they want a complete ban - but then, of course, they'd have far less support...