Latest Abortion Act

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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 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.

I didn't refer to America, I compared our country's situation to the situation in Europe. They have shorter time limits and don't seem to be in an Afghanistan type situation.

Cossy

Galaxy

Yes women if you don't agree to our beliefs on abortion you will end up like those women in Afghanistan. I mean the women in a variety of European countries who all have a lower abortion limit than here will be surprised to hear that. The tactic of threatening the complete decimation of women's rights in order for people to agree is a tactic very familiar and has been used against women many times.
This is an over reach and has all sorts of implications for women who have been coerced etc, the way it has been done has also not taken the public with them, something that generally ends badly.

Have you seen what happens in the very southern states, in poorer communities, in America? Abortion banned, lots of “pro lifer’s”, who in reality are “anti abortion”. No help whatsoever for those poor mothers, especially black mothers, to help raise these poor babies.

Yes, and let's remember that USA "pro-lifers" are active in UK.

humanists.uk/2025/04/02/how-us-funded-anti-abortion-activism-in-the-uk-now-threatens-us-uk-trade-deal/

I have posted about this situation before.
Two women I knew were expecting a much wanted second baby.
At a scan, both babies were found to have a condition ( different ones) which was not commensurate with life. Both were sent away to discuss this with their family, but time was of the essence.
One woman went for a termination, the other continued with the pregnancy, delivering, eventually, an infant that lived 72 hours..
Which woman was right: both of them were, of course. Each decided what was right for them and their family. No one else should have any say in this, nor use words about " killing babies" in these most tragic of circumstances.

Galaxy

Yes women if you don't agree to our beliefs on abortion you will end up like those women in Afghanistan. I mean the women in a variety of European countries who all have a lower abortion limit than here will be surprised to hear that. The tactic of threatening the complete decimation of women's rights in order for people to agree is a tactic very familiar and has been used against women many times.
This is an over reach and has all sorts of implications for women who have been coerced etc, the way it has been done has also not taken the public with them, something that generally ends badly.

Have you seen what happens in the very southern states, in poorer communities, in America? Abortion banned, lots of “pro lifer’s”, who in reality are “anti abortion”. No help whatsoever for those poor mothers, especially black mothers, to help raise these poor babies.

Well said Cossy.
👏🏽👏🏽

Much better to abort an unwanted baby than bring it into an uncertain world.

Of course it’s better to try and use contraception and if needed have an early termination.

Life is not perfectly planned and all kinds of things happen.

Woman must always have the right of total control over their own bodies.

Adoption isn’t always the answer and certainly doesn’t always work out well.

choice is the answer, and whom am I to criticise or deny this right to any woman.

Calling an abortion "killing your baby" is harsh and hurtful to people who have had this procedure done. There are a number of reasons for having a termination, I'm not against it but think it should be done as soon as possible after confirmation of the pregnancy (I know some people don't have usual symptoms, but if you've suffered rape or a contraception fail, S & D, surely you would be doing a pregnancy test soon after if you really didn't want a baby.)

Most women who have had an abortion feel guilty enough, without calling them killers.

Franski

How is it that when a woman miscarries a wanted pregnancy, she loses 'her baby'
When it's an abortion, it is a foetus, she terminates the pregnancy.
I think there needs to be more honesty around this. A ternination of prsgnancy is a termination (killing) of life, there is no way around that fact. A foetus isnt a mole or a skin tag. Any woman going for a 12 week scan knows that. Better we agree that it is the mother's right to kill that life for her own reasons and nobody's business.

I do agree its a woman's right to kill an unborn baby for reasons of her own.

It's a right I always assumed for myself. I would have terminated an unplanned unwanted pregnancy. In certain circumstances I would have terminated my much wanted and planned pregnancies, killing the baby.

I want other women to have the same choice if they want it.

I am pro choice, women should have autonomy over their own bodies which includes reproduction. Most abortions occur within the first few weeks and most women do not make this decision lightly.

I had no idea that seeking an abortion is a crime. Am I misunderstanding something here? Is this really what is changing? I find it quite baffling.

Yes women if you don't agree to our beliefs on abortion you will end up like those women in Afghanistan. I mean the women in a variety of European countries who all have a lower abortion limit than here will be surprised to hear that. The tactic of threatening the complete decimation of women's rights in order for people to agree is a tactic very familiar and has been used against women many times.
This is an over reach and has all sorts of implications for women who have been coerced etc, the way it has been done has also not taken the public with them, something that generally ends badly.

I’m pro choice. Most terminations happen in the very early weeks, as early pregnancy tests are accurate

Well written Sallywally1. My thoughts exactly. I’m pro-choice - the service should be available for those who need/must use it. I speak from experience.