Abortion Time Limit

The law of England& Wales states that the mother's life is to be saved if there is a direct conflict between saving mother or baby.

Interested to know what you mean by horrified by circumstances of late abortion? Like discovering your baby has a huge health problem maybe? I used to be a midwife and have performed 20wk abortions for 'gross abnormality of fetus'. I would never support your stance and would actively oppose it.

I wouldn’t sign for ten weeks. That’s too low. But I’m inclined to feel a reduction is needed. I lost a baby at 26 weeks. I was told he would die shortly after his birth and I should be prepared to hear him cry. Luckily the doctor gave me an injection which knocked me out so I never knew. I was told he was perfect. This was 45 years ago and the hospital only had one incubator which was already occupied.

Now, with modern help babies regularly survive well before 24 weeks. Perhaps the law could be amended to ensure that abortions are only in really exceptional circumstances as Paddyann has stated mostly happens now.

My dgm told me that when my dm went into labour in 1946 ( my birth) she told the GP ( who was RC) that she wanted none of ‘that nonsense’ if there were a problem and that her dd’s survival was to be put above that of the baby’s

Here is a situation that doesn't currently exist but could if abortion laws changed. Back in 1945 my mother very nearly died and my sister very nearly died during her birth and my sister was pretty frail for a while afterwards. Five years – and one (natural) miscarriage – later my mother was back in hospital a few weeks prior to her due date to deliver me. My father, arriving at visiting time, was wheeled off to a private room where he was asked if he wanted his wife's life saved or the baby's life saved, if "push came to shove", as it were. In fact, we both survived an emergency Caesarean section but it was touch and go and no father or mother should be put through that. If matters were that serious – and they were – they should have had the option earlier, but this was the 1950s. That we all lived was mostly down to luck, good genes and wonderful hospital care but my sister and I came very close to having no mother and my father came very close to having to raise two daughters on his own. I am glad to be alive and I have tried to live a good life, my lovely Mum also survived and she did live a good life, but I think it would have been right for my parents – both parents – to have had the choice, given my mother's obstetric history, earlier than just a few days before I was due.

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Thank you.

I think that IS the law already ,late abortions are only carried out in extreme circumstances ,certainly not as an alternative to contraception or because the mother cant afford/doesn't want to continue with the pregnancy.The law works well as it stands ,I believe it should be left alone.Just as an aside I have never had or considered a termination...I have had miscarriages some at 7 weeks ,some later and a neonatal death .All were a heartbreak whether viable or not.We invest so much into a pregnancy and I simply dont believe that most women who terminate their pregnancies do it lightly ...but I do think they must have the choice

Ok Paddyann...I guess I am thinking of the minority that do go for late abortions because the law says its o.k. up till 24 weeks - Abortion Act 1967. In 1967 a fetus was not deemed as viable but with modern technology, it now is. It depends whether you believe a fetus has any rights at all I guess?

I don't think anyone should be made to continue with an unwanted pregnancy, but then as you say most do something about it well before 24 weeks.

If, anyone leaves it so late i think an abortion should only be carried out if there are medical issues and the mother is at risk t.b.h.

But there goes the question of whether you believe the baby is a person already or just a non entity until it enters the world?

As I said - a very emotive issue. I am not asking for people to agree with me. Just not to assume I have no idea what I am talking about.

I will leave it there hon....no wish to fall out with anyone.

Surely every abortion performed unless it is a guarantee that the mother or child would die during the birth comes under the heading of 'social reasons' in its broadest sense?

To be honest bluegal I've never heard of anyone having a late abortion for "social reasons" as far as I'm aware the cut off is around 15 weeks ,thats after the 12 week scan for abnormalities.MOST abortions take place before 12 weeks and thats what the records say.Any that are as late as 20 weeks or more are for severe medical reasons only .

Paddy Ann...I don't feel I am wrong at all. I wasn't speaking about people who HAVE to abort for medical reasons and was talking generally about people seeking late abortions for social reasons. OK I get what you are all saying....its the mother's choice but yes, I do know of nurses who have had to witness late abortions - and been traumatised by the fact the babies were actually breathing ..... But that is not the issue. I do think the limit should be reduced. If I am in the minority, so be it but don't suggest I have no knowledge or empathy because you don't know anything about me. And YES, I have also witnessed a doctor saying a baby would not survive and suggested termination ...but the baby DID survive and grew up strong and healthy!

I don't want to get into any arguments about it but as I said, I can see what the OP is getting at even if you don't agree.

PS PaddyAnn....I normally agree with you

Its a strange thing, abortion.
It seems that the process must differ depending on the perceived 'morality' of the reason why its performed.
The mechanics of the operation are the same, whether the pregnancy is as a result of somebody being totally irresponsible, or having other reasons.

Well done to you Goodbyetoallthat (I like your name) in telling your story.

Your sad situation is one that I'm sure most people would empathise with, and rightly so in my opinion.

But I don't see why it is sometimes felt that a woman has to justify her decision to have an abortion. If she feels she honestly does not wish to continue a pregnancy, provided her decision is hers alone and not the result of coercion, I think that should be reason enough.

I think it's very sad, and wrong, that some women terminate pregnancies, not because they don't want the baby but because they do not have the financial means or family and social support needed. But I do recall that when teenage pregnancies were more common there was a lot of tut tutting about the housing and financial support given to young mothers.

I am in my fifties & had an abortion when I was 17.
I was young, naive & terrified. The medical profession treated me like some sort of "loose woman".
My mother made it quite clear that if I continued with the pregnancy I could not stay at home & I had nowhere to go. She was adamant that I would be seen as "damaged goods" .
I have since gone on to have a family but still shudder when I read about the pro lifers & their intransigent views & think of that frightened 17 year old.

Craicon please let us know how your campaign is going. I think it is obvious from most posts on this thread that GNers have a depth of understanding and compassion about abortion and the necessity of providing legal and safe access for women.

Definitely won’t be signing any petition to reduce the time limit on abortions but will be campaigning to repeal the 8th over here in Ireland, later this year.
It pees me off how many men (especially Priests) think they have a right to an opinion regarding women’s reproductive systems. They can feck right off.

That was to Blugal

As far as I’m concerned, there is no logical link between when a foetus might be viable and the upper limit on abortions. Babies born well before 24 weeks are not left to die- where on earth did you get that idea from? Complete rubbish. Nurse and doctors are allowed to opt out from abortion procedures. What appals me is that GPs can opt out from prescribing contraception or referring for an abortion.

You have absolutely no right to do this.

As early as possible as late as needed.

I think your focus is wrong. Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Please focus on reducing the numbers of unwanted pregnancies by promoting responsible relationships with safe sex and contraception.

I don't judge any woman who has an abortion for whatever reason - I've never been in that position - "There but for the grace of God go I".
As other posters have said, the number of late abortions is very very small - and goodness knows what the circumstances must be for those women.
As for reducing the time limit to 10 weeks - that would mean going back to the butchery of the back street abortionists - I certainly wouldn't sign any petition.

Its a big no from me too.
Every case is not the same and should be treated so. You can,t put all your eggs in the same basket. Have you seen a termination ( I think not). It may be due to the mothers health in a life death situation. You se every case is different. Like I said its a big no from me!!

As far as I know, nurses can decline to work during abortions if they feel it is morally wrong.

Bluegal I think we established that the majority of terminations take place before 12 weeks and only in extreme cases are they allowed at 24 weeks .Would you like to volunteer to tell someone they MUST carry a baby for another 6 weeks or more if that baby was likely to die as soon as it was born or to be in a state incompatible with life? That is surely the cruelest thing any human can do to another.

Some people on this thread seem to be suggesting that there is a huge epidemic of late abortions in this country. This is simply not true only a tiny number are carried out after week 19.

In the UK2016
98.3% of abortions were carried out between week 3 and 19
1.6% were carried out between week 20 and 23
0.1% were carried in week 24 and beyond

I believe that a compassionate society women should not be forced to give birth to babies with major abnormalities that they lack the capacity to care for, nor should women be forced to risk their own lives if a major medical complication occurs that could even result in death.

Who can forget the poor woman in Ireland who was forced to die of sepsis because medical staff were terrified to be blamed for any procedure that might be termed an abortion
www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/14/ireland-woman-dies-after-abortion-refusal