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Original poster

Anyone watching the abortion programme tonight?

35 replies

dogwalker · 20/04/2004 18:54

or is it just too morbid and horrible to even think about watching? I'm not sure yet - I think it may be too upsetting.

OP posts:
LipstickMum · 20/04/2004 18:55

I don't think I'll watch it, plus it's on too late for me

Original poster
dogwalker · 20/04/2004 18:56

It is on a bit late - but I think there'll be a lot of discussion about it tomorrow one way or another.

OP posts:
Original poster
dogwalker · 20/04/2004 18:56

Just popping out.

OP posts:
bundle · 20/04/2004 18:56

when is it on?

LipstickMum · 20/04/2004 18:57

1105 channel 4

baldrick · 20/04/2004 19:00

I dunno, Radio 2 talked about it today, and think would find it a little sad....possibly, but possibly not

Original poster
dogwalker · 20/04/2004 19:07

Yeah I think it's a difficult one - do you watch or don't you? I think I will 'cos if I don't and people are talking about it tomorrow I won't know what's happened.

OP posts:
twiglett · 20/04/2004 21:07

message withdrawn

Nutcracker · 20/04/2004 21:13

Definatly not

Levanna · 20/04/2004 23:38

Dh just called me about 15 mins ago to let me know it was on. I walked in to see an abortion being performed....so I walked out again! Can't give any constructive views on it as I saw so little - I hope it was based on more 'discussion' than graphics like that though? I feel incredibly sick .

musica · 20/04/2004 23:41

I watched it - but hated every minute of it. Not just the gratuitous images, but the interspersion with film of the presenter's bump, always comparing the baby to the abortion....

Bearing in mind the presenter was 'pro-choice' I thought it was presented in a morbidly emotional way - very few facts, lots of smoochy music as she swam in the swimming pool, film of her bump underwater, filming her baby swimming underwater. I am definitely against abortion, and I felt the programme was just an excuse to show horrible images, and be 'groundbreaking' by showing an actual abortion. I wish I hadn't watched it.

nikcola · 20/04/2004 23:44

i watched it and cryed all the way thgrough as if people didnt feel guilty about having a abortion anyway,

mears · 20/04/2004 23:45

I watched it and thought the whole issue was handled well. It is interesting that something that is classed as legal is thought not to be suitable to be discussed or seen on TV.

The termination shown was on a 4 week pregnancy which does not have identifiable fetal parts. Julia Black who made the film was critical of the use of pictures by the prolife movement of aborted fetuses at 21 weeks. Although they were gruesome they did not persuade her that abortion at that stage was wrong. What carried more weight was the 3D scan of a fetus which you could see was a baby.

I found it to be an interesting programme and not as shocking as the papers would have made you believe.

nightowl · 20/04/2004 23:50

i came upon it accidentally. Im not against abortion..i nearly had one myself and just couldnt do it, but i so wish that i hadnt just seen that. I am in floods of tears. That is the most distressing thing i have ever seen in my entire life. I just went and sat by my baby and broke down. i cannot believe how bad i feel.

nikcola · 20/04/2004 23:53

i had my abortion when i was 13 weeks so my baby would of had arms and legs if i had of seen that i couldnt live with myself

nikcola · 20/04/2004 23:55

5 weeks after my aboortion(wich i regreated at the time) i got pg with dd and im soo glad i didnt do it again, i would never do it again but i think ladies should have the choice,

lou33 · 20/04/2004 23:56

Mears, i felt the same as you.

nightowl · 21/04/2004 00:02

im not an easily shocked person but that programme has really hit home with me... i came so close to aborting my baby and my doctor was the one that said "technically yes it may be the sensible thing to do in your situation..but is it what you really want?" as i sat and broke my heart in front of her. Ive silently thanked her every day for those words. i am so upset, im still crying.

mears · 21/04/2004 00:03

Having re-read my post I think many of you will think i am really hard hearted talking about an 'interesting' programme.

As a midwife I deliver babies, but I also look after women in theatre having terminations (abortions). They are done under general anaesthetic before by suction 14 weeks. Our unit probably does approx 25 termination a week and are now doing 'medical'ones where tablets are taken instead of surgery, but at an earlier stage. I see many different women having terminations for a variety of reasons. I have diffculty with women who use abortion as a method of contraception i.e. multiple terminations, but I also have sympathy for the women who feel they have no other choice. I think society does need to know what happens for women to really know what they are choosing. However, I can understand why it is easier not to know.

nightowl · 21/04/2004 00:08

i dont think you're hard hearted mears. I still believe even after watching it that its up to the woman concerned and i would never condemn any woman that chose that. It has just affected me very badly when i look at dd and think what i nearly did.

nikcola · 21/04/2004 00:17

im the same nightowl, ive been stering at dd thinking thank god i didnt have a aboryion life is so precious but if a woman really cant have a babey then i think it should be her choice but i think it should be iligal to have terminations after 12 weeks

nikcola · 21/04/2004 00:17

sorry im so tired i cant spell

nightowl · 21/04/2004 00:26

My partner left me when i wasnt very far gone and for weeks i hardly ate, i cried from the minute i woke up until the minute i fell asleep and i was totally unable to function. He was very flippant about it all and couldnt understand why i just didnt "get rid". hes never seen her and probably never will and right at this moment i feel very bitter towards him and his attitude. I never understood why people wouldnt have an abortion until i was in their shoes so to speak, but to me, it was the most terrible decision i have ever had to make.

maisystar · 21/04/2004 00:30

nightowl. how old is your dd? my ds in 3.5 and has never met his father basically cos he wasnt interested.

nightowl · 21/04/2004 00:34

she's 3 months maisystar and an absolute delight. it wouldnt be so bad but her father has another child whom he loves to bits and he wont even see dd. I practically begged but he never turned up.