Genetic or medical termination of pregnancy
termination; genetic; medical; abortion;
No one who conceives a pregnancy expects to have to terminate it for medical reasons, or for a normally happy event to become one of sadness.
There are now a number of tests that are done routinely to check your baby's health before he is she is born, and it comes as a shock for some parents to learn there is something wrong.
- It may be there is a problem with the baby and the prospective parents are faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to continue the pregnancy.
- Or it may be there is a problem with the mother's health and the doctors advise against continuing with the pregnancy.
The decision to terminate or to continue with a pregnancy can be a very difficult time for both of the parents. It is important for women and their partners who are faced with this situation to receive as much information as possible about their baby's condition and the options that are available to them.
Information and support from doctors and nurses and other health professionals can be vital at this time. Hospital or clinic staff may be able to offer you information about the condition that your unborn baby has or they may refer you to a specialist who can give you more detailed information. There may also be an association or a support group where parents can go for information.
Resources
South Australia
- SAFDA (Support After Fetal Diagnosis of Abnormality) has been established in South Australia to support parents and families before and after a termination of pregnancy following the diagnosis of an abnormality. The group is run by parents who have experienced this type of pregnancy loss supported by genetic counsellors.
Contact :
- Anne Baxendale
Genetic Counsellor
South Australian Clinical Genetics Service
Women's and Children's Hospital
Phone: (08) 81617375
Email: anne.baxendale@health.sa.gov.au
Australia
Teddy Love Club
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support for bereaved parents who suffer the loss of their baby or babies due to miscarriage, still birth, termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality, and neonatal death.
http://www.teddyloveclub.org.au/
Teddy Love Club has published a book 'You are not alone' which is available via their website.
Websites
These websites explore the area of termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality from the point of view of people who have been there.
For more detailed information about many of the problems that may affect a baby have a look at the site of the Centre for Genetics Education (NSW) http://www.genetics.com.au/
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see your doctor or midwife.