Support and advice for Irish/Northern Irish women seeking abortion

[Enormouse]

Having had a search, I don't think a thread like this exists. (Apologies if it does and I've missed it)

Resources and practical advice for women needing to travel as well as reassurance and non judgemental support.

I'm hoping this will be a safe place for Irish/Northern Irish women to talk.

Resources -

Marie Stopes Belfast Great Victoria Street.

advice from Marie Stopes.

BPAS Ireland. BPAS clinics offer reduced fees for Irish/NI women.

the abortion support network an organisation offering practical and financial help for women who need it.

Good idea Enormous. Would it be better to include 'seeking abortion' at the end of the title? Would the thread come up in a Google search more easily if it did? No idea btw, just wondering and hoping for it to be as accessible as possible.

I'll chat to hq and see what they say purple. I know there was much discussion about the pregnancy choices board about whether to include the words 'abortion' or 'termination' in the title. As that would make it a magnet for trolls and pro lifers.

But I do agree with you. It should be searchable. I'll run it past hq.

That's true. I didn't think about that. It might be best to leave it as it is.

Good stuff hq, I see the titles changed. Thanks.

I guess we can always review it if we get an influx of trolls. Thanks hq.

The Northern Irish Family Planning Association for discussion of options and impartial advice.
I believe they're based in Belfast and offer counselling if you need it.

And www.womenhelp.org and www.womenonweb.org for help with medical abortion.

What a great idea for a thread. I hope the right people get to find this information.

Could we get this thread stickied? It seems like such a wealth of information to get lost...

Hey feeling how are you doing today? You sounded like you were in a better space yesterday.

I was supposed to be taking toddler to speech therapy but I had a bit of an uncomfortable night and was quite crampy. So dp is taking him instead.

I'm hoping to add a few more resources for Irish women today. I'm in NI, hence why everything is northern Irish.

The Abortion Support Network is great, I volunteer for them as a host

I probably won't contribute much here but I just wanted to say thank you for the thread and say something supportive. It can be a difficult decision for so many women and I for one do not judge anyone.

Well done - what great idea for a thread.

sophie that's truly lovely of you .
ASN helped me access my procedure so in my eyes they are wonderful.

They are looking for hosts in Liverpool atm, near BPAS Merseyside. So if any MNer living round there has a couch, futon, spare room they can offer please get in touch with them.

I've just emailed them re being a host. Im in London, so hope I can help.

How do they make sure of the host's safety? The only reason this springs to mind for me was when I was at my appointment last week, I wondered how BPAS could stop an anti abortion protester booking an appointment under the pretence of being someone needing help, and hurting the doctors?

Please don't think I'm trying to bring it down, or derail; I would look to doing it myself in the future, but I don't want to put my family at risk.

No it's a interesting and valid point to raise feeling. I didn't use a host but when I booked I gave my reference number to ASN and they arranged payment of part of it. Then on the day, after I had been scanned and they determined how far along I was, I was taken aside and ask to pay the remainder. I imagine fakers would be rooted out fairly quickly or not show up at all and the grant would be returned back to ASN.

I do wonder if pro lifers ever make it inside the clinic itself? But I guess that's a concern for any clinic.

sophie did they vet you? Do you get to talk to the people you host beforehand?

Hello. Yes, I was interviewed & references taken up on me. The women travelling are not vetted although they are of course in contact with the coordinators during the process so they don't arrive out of the blue. TBH any risk to myself has absolutely never crossed my mind. The women who I have hosted have all been preoccupied, stressed & forced into an awful situation by hostile government laws. I am happy to support them. It works on the basis of mutual trust I suppose.

What a useful thread x

Thank you yonic, paula and Niamh. I just wanted to start something to provide a list of resources and some reassurance to anyone that needs it.

There is a ton of information out there on the web, articles, legal jargon, pro life groups, various clinics, support groups etc. I found it really hard to wade through it all whilst I was in a panic. So putting all the useful stuff in one place makes sense to me.

Nice work Enormouse!
I have been meaning to add a few bits on here too.
Need to hunt out specific links and details first.
In the meantime, if anyone finds themselves here facing a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality, if you wish you CAN self refer to a facility in England who will carry out termination after 24 weeks if necessary. This is information I wish I had known when I needed it.

That is heartening news assassin, for those that are in that awful position. Is it still a private referral?

Well, from what I've read in the papers the NIHRC has won high court permission to challenge the current abortion law in NI. So there is some slow progress being made.

But typically, it's been overshadowed by the SDLP leader describing foetal tests for fatal conditions as being 'never accurate'.

Guys I've started a thread on site stuff suggesting having Mara Clarke for a webchat. She's the founder of the abortion support network. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on that over on site stuff.

Here's a link to that thread webchat idea

So…to update… looks like the web chat will be happening around the 2nd of March.

Great thread. I'm originally from NI, and know of plenty of people who had to 'get the boat'. Well done to all offering support, I'm too far away to assist practically, but wanted to say well done.