To coinside with the parliment bill that is being voted on at the moment what is your opinion of the age limit of abortions?

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tricky one... I think lowering it would be a good idea. there abortion rates in the UK are very high, and maybe lowering it would lead to people taking more responsibility? and with all the advances in medicine and maternity care, if there were any problems whereby this was needed/wanted as a course of action they SHOULD (not in all cases!) be discovered by 20 weeks?
of course, i am not studying yet so i may be way out, this is just opinion.

I have left it to stay the same.

Women need choice, probably the majority of late abortions at this point for congenital reasons rather than social ones.

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My view at the moment is that the age limit for abortions should be lower. I agree that women should have choice and that the majority may be for congenital reasons later on, but to have a social termination at the later end of the scale fankly disturbes me. This is my view before i do my training, i wonder if my view will change in time or whether it will grow stronger. I would be interested to know what others think and why on this contraversial topic x

if you had asked me last year i would of said it should be lower, but having started my training and being in the community and seeing women who are in this situation has changed my mind. as already said the majotity of late abortions are for congenital abnormalities but some of these womens circumstances are heartbreaking to hear, i dont think we should take the choice away from them.

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GC , you said that so much better than I did!

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Point taken groovychick. I suppose i would be of the view that the earlier the better although i understand that tests etc at a later date may influence decisions. In whatever circumstances it must be a traumatic experience for those concerned x

Also we have to remember that late abortion is no quick fix.

These women labour and birth their babies, that process is incredibly traumatic and distressing for all concerned.

Having been involved with it, only once. I can say it is very upsetting and all we can do is quietly support them through it.

It is a tough subject, and one we're not all going to agree on. There's nothing wrong with that.

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What concerns me is the discussion that the Govt is inviting around this bill gives women of very premature babies false hope. I have read politicians and activists saying babies are surviving at 20 weeks and less, if possible at all it must be incredibly rare, we know from studying physiology.....

As dreadful as it is to have a baby very prematurely, and devestating if babe doesnt make it, it seems criminal to me that these politicians and activists are putting the idea in womens heads that pretty much all babies make it. How can a woman prepare for the loss of a child if she is given false hope of viability?

In terms of the bill I believe in womens right to choose, however never having been in that sitation I dont know how I would feel personally if it were me. Its highly likley that I coldnt go through with it but that depends on circumstances as well as belief in my view.

I went to termination clinic on my gynae placement and it was tough. None of the women I met made their decision lightly and some had some devestating reasons.... one woman whose partner had left her with two small children and no money went out with her friends to shake off her depression, ended up getting really drunk and had consenual unprotected sex and fell pregnant. She cried so much as she felt such a fool and guilty and scared but for her she just couldnt afford another child and was only just managing with the two she had.

Yes she was irresponsible but should she subject herself and her children to more difficulty? She will pay for her decision for the rest of her life as we know from literature, and I could see that she was devestated, so there was no way this was a convenience termination.

Id recommend “Women and Abortion: the past reaches into the present’ (2006) by JoAnn Trybulski. Its a study of womens feelings about terminations and how they carry the guilt and distress around with them for the rest of their life, not all regret their decisions as many felt the decision was right for them but it didnt stop them feeling the pain and loss. Its very moving.

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I think its a tricky onw - for health reasons yes maybe it should remain as it is. But i quite agree with caz that for social reasons it should be lowered. yes, it may be a horrific experience and sometihng that no women takes lightly. and yes accidents do happen - but if a woman does have unprotected sex she can take the morning after pill. I'm not having a go! its just there are options there to help prevent pregnancy if mistakes happen. given all that, i strongly believe women have the right to choice and hopefully we will not end up like some states in the US where its completely illegal!