home
a-z of conditions
forums
news
about us
See all conditions
Pregnancy & children
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
Forum
Resources & Information
Subject index
Credits
Full list of topics
The baby and the diagnosis :
Feelings about the pregnancy
Early scans and blood tests
Diagnostic tests - amnio and CVS
The 18-20 week scan and further tests
Understanding the baby's diagnosis
Deciding to end the pregnancy :
Looking for information and support
Ending the pregnancy for the baby's sake
Ending the pregnancy for family & personal reasons
Finding out how the pregnancy will end
The impact of the decision
Ending the pregnancy :
Signing the consent form
Ending the pregnancy surgically
Ending the pregnancy by induction
Going through labour and birth
Deciding whether to see, hold and name the baby
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
Treatment, care and communication
Losing the baby :
Leaving hospital and going home
Deciding whether to have a post-mortem
Saying goodbye to the baby - sevices & funerals
Coping with bereavement - women's experiences
Coping with bereavement - men's experiences
The effects of ending a pregnancy :
Counselling and other kinds of support
Support groups
Deciding whether to have another baby
Men's ideas about their role in ending a pregnancy
Search the whole site
Search in this condition
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
Subject index
Clip
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 07
>>
Describes her realisation at the 20-week scan that something was very wrong with her baby.
Her 3rd pregnancy: 20-week scan detected anomalies - baby's kidneys and stomach couldn't be seen. Specialist scan revealed baby had multiple abnormalities; parents agreed to amniocentesis which confirmed baby's problems were not inherited. Pregnancy ended at 22 weeks by induction. She has since had another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 35
>>
He did not expect to find out at the 20-week scan that there was anything wrong with the baby (she had heart problems).
Father of 1 child. 2nd pregnancy: wife felt unwell throughout pregnancy. Nuchal scan at 12-weeks arranged privately, advised to have CVS - no problems detected. 20-week scan found baby had heart problems. Specialist cardiac scan confirmed baby had multiple problems in heart, stomach and spleen. Pregnancy ended by feticide and induction at 22 weeks. Post mortem confirmed multiple abnormalities. He is undecided about whether he wants another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 31
>>
She was starting to relax when she went for the 20-week scan with her mother but then the sonographer saw signs of Edwards' syndrome.
Mother's 1st pregnancy (father's 4th - he has 3 children from previous marriage). IVF pregnancy, some bleeding, 8-week dating scan at IVF clinic. 12-week scan no problems found. 20-week scan detected choroid plexus cysts (soft markers for Edwards' syndrome). Specialist cardiac scan indicated heart defects- sent for amniocentesis. Pregnancy ended at 22 weeks by feticide and induction. They have had another baby since termination.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 34
>>
The sonographer told them the baby's femur (thigh bones) seemed quite short but didn't explain why that might be significant for their baby.
His wife's 1st pregnancy: 12-week scan no problems detected. 20-week scan detected several anomalies. Specialist scan identified problems with brain development, later diagnosed as Dandy-Walker malfunction. Amniocentesis ruled out Edwards' syndrome. Specialist cardiac scan detected heart abnormalities. Pregnancy ended by feticide and induction at 22 weeks. Post mortem identified multiple abnormalities. He and his wife are hoping for another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 14
>>
She contrasts her feelings about the pregnancy at the dating scan when she was full of hope and then at the specialist scan when she was confronted by
Her 2nd pregnancy: nuchal scan arranged privately - showed baby was small, scan and blood tests found anomalies. Triple test - no problems found. Detailed scan and amniocentesis done together. Scan detected exomphalos. Amnio identified Edwards' syndrome. Pregnancy ended by induction at 20 weeks. She has had another baby since termination.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 12
>>
Says that because all the earlier tests had been fine her mind had closed to the possibility that anything could be wrong with her baby who was diagno
Her 1st pregnancy: 20-week scan indicated anomalies. Detailed scanning showed the baby had severe form of spina bifida. The pregnancy ended by induction at 20 weeks. She has polycystic ovarian syndrome and was taking folic acid before the pregnancy, she now takes a larger dose. One miscarriage since the termination.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
5-7 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 29
>>
They had several scans late in the pregnancy because of her gestational diabetes and they were distraught to discover at 30 weeks that the baby had se
Their 2nd pregnancy: mother had gestational diabetes so had regular blood tests and scans throughout pregnancy. Amniocentesis at 16 weeks was clear. Scan at 30 weeks indicated neural tube defect. Detailed scans indentified alobar holoprosencephaly. Pregnancy was ended by feticide and induction at 31 weeks. Parents declined post mortem. They have had another baby since the termination.
Mail to a friend