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
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 34
>>
He feels happy at seeing his baby for the first time on the screen and takes scan pictures to work to show his colleagues.
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
>>
5-7 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 26
>>
Her mother has all the scan photos of her grandchildren up on her bedroom wall and her other children love seeing them.
She had 2 normal pregnancies, despite endometriosis, before 3rd pregnancy. 3rd pregnancy: 12-week scan detected problems with baby's heart and kidneys. Specialist scans - cardiac scan confirmed baby's heart undeveloped. CVS found no genetic cause. Pregnancy ended surgically at 14 weeks. She experienced gynaecological complications after termination.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 32
>>
He was very moved by the sight of his daughter and felt relieved that the doctors' diagnosis was right.
His wife's 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. Since termination he and his wife (EAP07) have had another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 12
>>
She and her partner paid to have extra photographs of the baby's 12-week scan.
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
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 17
>>
Explains why she decided not to hold her baby after she was born.
After birth of first child she had 3 miscarriages. 4th pregnancy did not 'feel right'. Nuchal scan arranged privately, baby was small for dates. Had two more scans to investigate baby's size and due date. Specialist scan at 21 weeks, then heart scan and then amniocentesis. Doctors suspected diaphragmatic hernia but amnio identified chromosomal abnormality (Wolf Hirschhorn syndrome). Pregnancy was ended by feticide and induction at 24 weeks. (Since the interview she has had another baby.)
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 04
>>
She has kept a special box for her baby's teddy and photographs.
She had an early termination, 2 miscarriages and a normal pregnancy. Her 5th pregnancy was ended by induction at 21 weeks - baby had Down's syndrome detected by amniocentesis. Since then she has had another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 20
>>
Explains why she didn't want to see photographs of her baby though she was willing for photographs to be taken and kept with her medical notes.
She has had two children (1st and 5th pregnancies), 2 miscarriages and 1 stillbirth. She has ended 2 pregnancies. 2nd pregnancy: anomalies detected at dating scan, so she was scanned regularly. By 18 weeks multiple abnormalities evident- sent for amniocentesis. Pregnancy ended by induction. Post mortem identified multiple pterygium syndrome - a genetic disorder caused by both parents having recessive gene. 4th pregnancy: IVF treatment, scanned at 10 weeks and anomalies detected- sent for amniocentesis. Pregnancy ended at 17 weeks. Amnio identified Down's syndrome.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 24
>>
She wanted to treat her baby with respect and was glad she decided to see him.
Mother of 1 child, she had a miscarriage in 1997. She has a heart condition and takes warfarin (heparin during pregnancy). 3rd pregnancy: 7-week scan confirmed pregnancy viable. 12 week scan no problems found. Nuchal scan at 13 weeks found baby had shortened femur, no tibia or fibular on right leg. Specialist scans confirmed lower limb deficiencies. Pregnancy ended at 17 weeks by induction.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 30
>>
She decided to leave her photos of the baby in the kitchen so that members of her family could choose whether or not to look at them.
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.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 28
>>
Explains why the scan photographs of her son matter to her and give her comfort.
She has polycystic ovaries so took clomid. Experienced 3 miscarriages then conceived twins. 5th pregnancy: 11-week scan detected twins. Nuchal scan at 14 weeks indicated twins had Down's syndrome. 2 CVS tests done at specialist centre, Down's confirmed in one twin. Selective reducation of one twin by feticide at 15 weeks. Other twin continued to term.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
5-7 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 27
>>
The photos of her baby are all she's got and even though they show some facial abnormalities she is glad to have them.
Her 2nd pregnancy: she felt unwell throughout pregnancy. 12-week scan confirmed pregnancy viable. Amniocentesis identified Down's syndrome. Pregnancy ended by induction at 19 weeks. She had another baby 2 years later.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 35
>>
He and his wife didn't mind seeing their baby wrapped up in a shawl but thought it was inappropriate to put her in a pink dress.
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
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 09
>>
The photos of her baby were vitally important to her in the early days.
Her 2nd pregnancy: 20-week scan found baby had anomalies. Preliminary diagnosis after specialist cardiac scan was that baby had serious heart defects. Pregnancy ended by induction at 24 weeks. Post mortem revealed baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and an unbalanced chromosomal translocation (Robertsonian translocation of 13 and 14). Genetic counselling found that mother and her mother are carriers of a chromosomal disorder or translocation of the chromosomes. Since termination she has had another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 09
>>
Describes how she hadn't wanted to leave the hospital because she knew she wouldn't see her baby again but that her partner eventually insisted.
Her 2nd pregnancy: 20-week scan found baby had anomalies. Preliminary diagnosis after specialist cardiac scan was that baby had serious heart defects. Pregnancy ended by induction at 24 weeks. Post mortem revealed baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and an unbalanced chromosomal translocation (Robertsonian translocation of 13 and 14). Genetic counselling found that mother and her mother are carriers of a chromosomal disorder or translocation of the chromosomes. Since termination she has had another baby.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
3-4 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 05
>>
She had chosen not to see her baby but knowing that a photo had been taken she became quite desperate to see what she looked like and was upset.
Her 2nd pregnancy: 20-week scan detected neural tube defect. Specialist scan confirmed encephalocoele. Pregnancy ended at 23 weeks by feticide and induction. Post mortem identified Walker-Warburg syndrome - a genetic abnormality. 3rd pregnancy: nuchal scan revealed baby had anomalies, and by 19 weeks scan showed hydrocephalus. Pregnancy ended at 20 weeks by induction. Walker-Warburg syndrome identified at post mortem. Both parents are carriers of recessive gene. 4th child born in 2004.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 01
>>
She had wanted one photo as a record but did not like it when staff took a roll of photographs of the baby.
Mother of 4 children. She became pregnant for 5th time in 1993. Amniocentesis detected the baby had Down's syndrome. The pregnancy was ended by induction at 19 weeks.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
1-2 years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 38
>>
She got upset when her aunts took photographs of her baby to send to their families.
Mother of 1 child, married to her first cousin. 2nd pregnancy: 12-week scan normal. 20-week scan detected anomalies in the baby's brain. Specialist scan confirmed multiple abnormalities. Pregnancy ended at 20 weeks by induction. Post mortem indicated baby had proliferative vasculopathy with hydrocephaly (Fowler syndrome). Sent for genetic counselling, established she and her husband carriers of gene responsible for syndrome. She was pregnant at time of interview.
Topic
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
>>
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
>>
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
Photographs and other mementoes of the baby
Pregnancy & children
>>
Ending a pregnancy for fetal abnormality
>>
8+ years since pregnancy ended
>>
Interview 28
>>
Explains why the scan photographs of her son matter to her and give her comfort.
She has polycystic ovaries so took clomid. Experienced 3 miscarriages then conceived twins. 5th pregnancy: 11-week scan detected twins. Nuchal scan at 14 weeks indicated twins had Down's syndrome. 2 CVS tests done at specialist centre, Down's confirmed in one twin. Selective reducation of one twin by feticide at 15 weeks. Other twin continued to term.
Mail to a friend