Full list of topics 
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer

Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormalityArrow
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
Interview 30  

Interview 30

Age at Interview: 34
Sex: Female
Background: Pregnancy ended in 2002. No of children at time of interview: 2 + [1]. Ages of other children: 4, 1. Occupations: Mother - nurse, Father - building company director. Marital status: long-term partnership. Ethnic background: White British.
Brief outline:Her 2nd pregnancy: felt unwell and sick throughout pregnancy, some bleeding at 6 weeks. 11-week scan confirmed viability. 20-week scan detected heart abnormalities. Specialist scan identified tricuspid atresia and ventricular septal defect. Pregnancy ended by induction at 22 weeks. She has had another child since termination.


To watch or read an interview clip, click on the heading that interests you. Either a video,audio recording or text will open, depending on the clip
To close transcript boxes, click here
To print the interview’s text, click here
It helped her partner to be able to talk to a GP who had personal experience of ending a pregnancy.

 



My partner, probably like most men, doesn't talk easily about his feelings and his emotions and he said to me it's not because he doesn't not think about her, he just chooses not to talk about her.  

When my GP came to visit me a couple of weeks after we'd had the termination, he also mentioned that him and his wife had had a similar experience about 2 to 3 years previous, and my partner could come and visit him in the surgery. He said make a double or triple appointment so that he can have time to talk about things.  

My partner thought that was a good idea. I think he feels that sometimes it is easier to talk to another person rather than talk to me about things. And he found it very, very helpful talking to the GP. The GP is a gentleman as well so it's possibly easier for men to talk to men. And to have the time to talk about the feelings and emotions was, was good for him. 

And also when the GP came to visit me at home we could talk about our experiences and although they were different, it's the same feelings, the same grief and the same loss that you go through, and it's reassuring to speak to somebody that's gone through it and you know you're not alone And you know that you can get through it - it might take a few months, it might take a few years - but if you talk to people that have the same experiences then you're supported. 
Support our work

healthtalkonline.org - Teaching and Learning

Mail to a friend

Send