Latest Abortion Act

I’m pro choice . I’ve never had an abortion but I know several women who have and it’s a decision that’s not taken lightly at all . And it’s a decision that can cause mental anguish and trauma for many many years after .

Galaxy

I am afraid I wouldn't trust womens rights to anyone who used the ' well if you don't agree with everything we say your abortion rights are at risk'. As I say I have seen that tactic used before.

Not aware of anyone on here saying this, however, I do agree that wherever possible terminations should be done as early as possible.

I also support earlier limits HOWEVER, I think this should be discussed and agreed within the medical profession in consultation with women over 18 and of child bearing age.

I’m afraid, imo, calling women who make that very difficult decision to abort a baby, murderers, is utterly vile!

Tenko, there are also many women who had terminations and remain relieved

If you don't agree to this it will end up like Afghanistan or like America (I don't think those countries are remotely comparable I am just repeating the ideas that have been mentioned in this thread).
This move on decriminalisation ( or at the very least the way it has been carried out) is a mistake and will open a debate on abortion that in this country had been settled for years. For a start many many people now know the differences between limits in our country and most of the rest of Europe.

I've always been pro-choice and always will support a woman's right to her own body autonomy. Not my body, not my choice.

An in-law of my son, who is a fundamentalist christian is posting all over Facebook that the law is being changed to allow abortion up until birth for any reason. I don't know whether she genuinely believes this nonsense (or any of the other nonsense she posts!) but it infuriates me. I don't challenge for fear of causing upset, but I do block her for periods of time.

Allsorts

I think it is murder killing a 24 week old fully formed child. That is just my opinion. Not for any religeous reason. Not wanting a child isn't a reason, if it's for severe health reason that's different but I would still have it.

More and more 24 week foetuses survive after birth, however, the vast majority suffer lifelong health conditions that are very debilitating. It also affects any exisitng siblings lives. I understand that many ot these unfortuanate children are much loved members of the family, but is it fair for mothers who may not have the wherewithal to have the choice taken away from them.

Allsorts

I think it is murder killing a 24 week old fully formed child. That is just my opinion. Not for any religeous reason. Not wanting a child isn't a reason, if it's for severe health reason that's different but I would still have it.

I totally agree. I think it is murder. A baby can live at 24 weeks.

Should always be the choice of the female, but not past 12 weeks, that's plenty of time to make the decision.

Essex girl, did you read my post?
The scans which led to the discovery of fatal issues with the fetus in the situations I described were after twelve weeks.
The decision time after learning this was twenty four hours, because of the time limits.
Sadly, not all scenarios are simple.

Tenko

I’m pro choice . I’ve never had an abortion but I know several women who have and it’s a decision that’s not taken lightly at all . And it’s a decision that can cause mental anguish and trauma for many many years after .

I agree with you Tenko, and know women who had abortions for very good reasons but wished they hadn't needed to do it. One in particular has never been able to get pregnant again for reasons not connected to her abortion but obviously now wishes things could have been different the first time round.
Personally I'm grateful that I've never needed to have an abortion but would have been willing had I felt it necessary.
I can't imagine taking the decision lightly, though I suspect that this may have been the case for some young women in the past, but I think that most would now take the morning after pill if they'd had risky or unexpected sex.

Mother :- My body my choice.
Baby :- My life no choice.

As the product of an unplanned and extremely unwanted pregnancy I was an unloved child which has brought many problems throughout my life. When my contraception failed and I became pregnant again after having my two very wanted and loved children my DH and I took the very difficult decision to terminate my pregnancy. It was a decision I regretted having to take but knew within myself I would have had similar problems relating to the child as my mother did to me. I could not inflict that on anyone. All women should be supported in their choice.

Granny granny 💐

Exactly.

Iam64

Granny granny 💐

Thank you. 🩷

Frannygranny

As the product of an unplanned and extremely unwanted pregnancy I was an unloved child which has brought many problems throughout my life. When my contraception failed and I became pregnant again after having my two very wanted and loved children my DH and I took the very difficult decision to terminate my pregnancy. It was a decision I regretted having to take but knew within myself I would have had similar problems relating to the child as my mother did to me. I could not inflict that on anyone. All women should be supported in their choice.

🥀

Essexgirl145

Should always be the choice of the female, but not past 12 weeks, that's plenty of time to make the decision.

I’ve never had a termination, my choice, however my first pregnancy went undetected for 16 weeks, due to my very unpredictable periods and unstable weight, during this time I was working in London and drinking almost every night.

When I discovered my pregnancy I was horrified, but went ahead with fear and trepidation that I might have damaged my unborn fetus. Thank goodness he was born a little early but fine!!

I remember watching someone die at Dignitas on TV. There's a reason why no TV station has ever shown what happens in an abortion. It's too traumatic to watch - obviously more traumatic than watching someone end their own life.There were 300,000 to 307,000 abortions in the UK in 2024. I cannot believe these were all to do with incest or failed contraception. A woman has the right to choose what happens to her own body. But should she have the right to decide on what happens to another one?
Shouldn't a human, developing baby deserve protection rather than killing?

Iam64

Tenko, there are also many women who had terminations and remain relieved

I’m sure there are . I’m just relating to my experiences .

Allsorts

I think it is murder killing a 24 week old fully formed child. That is just my opinion. Not for any religeous reason. Not wanting a child isn't a reason, if it's for severe health reason that's different but I would still have it.

If that meant a brief life of torment, pain and misery for the child?

89% of abortions are before week 9
93% by week 12

Around 1% are performed after week 20 - usually after a severe anomaly is discovered and investigated after the 20 scan - abortions after 22 weeks are very rare and are only allowed in very limited circumstances of severe disability/life of mother at risk

I knew someone who had a late abortion in the 1980s baby had very severe abnormalities incompatible with life - no separate legs and part of skull missing. Are people really suggesting that she should have been forced to carry the baby to term?

Etoile2701

Allsorts

I think it is murder killing a 24 week old fully formed child. That is just my opinion. Not for any religeous reason. Not wanting a child isn't a reason, if it's for severe health reason that's different but I would still have it.

I totally agree. I think it is murder. A baby can live at 24 weeks.

Let's be honest - the vast majority of babies aborted after 20 weeks (around 1% of the total) are because of severe abnormalities or because the mother is at risk of dying.

Let us not forget the death of Savita Halappanavar who died in Ireland because strict abortion limits meant doctors were unable to terminate a (much wanted) pregnancy that she was miscarrying to save her life because the foetus still had a heartbeat. By the time the foetal heartbeat stopped it was too late for the mother who died of sepsis.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-20321741

I think very few women would go through a late abortion without a very good reason.
Years ago, before we had scans a friend of mine gave birth to her first baby. He was born without a functioning brain and was in hospital for six weeks before he died. If she had been able to know about his condition beforehand I'm sure she would rather have had even a late abortion rather than endure those six weeks.

Pro choice, pro this protective law.