You do not have to have any tests in pregnancy. Remember, the vast majority of pregnancies will not be affected by disability or by other complications.

Screening tests are designed to find out if you are at a higher risk of having a disabled child, and if you should therefore consider having a diagnostic test. If you know that you do not want to have a diagnostic test, you should think carefully about whether you want to have a screening test.

There are several reasons to have a diagnostic test. Some people just want to get information about any problems or difficulties, so that they can be prepared for the birth of their baby. Other people want to discover whether their pregnancy is affected by a disability so that they can decide on a termination of pregnancy. Termination of pregnancy is the medical phrase for abortion.

If you know that you would not want to choose to have a termination of pregnancy, it may be that you decide not to have a diagnostic test. This is your right. It is a personal decision which reflects your own feelings about disability and about abortion.

Diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis carry a slightly raised risk of miscarriage. In about one out of every hundred pregnancies where a diagnostic test is performed, miscarriage occurs as a consequence.

Even without diagnostic testing, pregnancies affected by disability often have a higher chance of spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.

Having a disabled child can cause distress for parents, siblings and other relatives. It may make life more difficult for the family and the disabled child may lead a more restricted life than average. However, disabled children can also bring love and happiness, and go on to lead fulfilled and successful adult lives.

Terminating pregnancy can also cause distress for parents and other family members. It can lead to grief and guilt, which may reduce with time, but may never go away entirely. However, terminating a pregnancy can also bring peace and relief to those who feel that having a disabled child would be too difficult for them or their family. They may then go on to have a non-disabled child in a future pregnancy.

NHS screening services exist to enable you to make an informed choice. Doctors and nurses should not put any pressure on you, either to have a test or termination, or indeed not to have a test or termination.

The goal of this website is to enable women and men to make informed decisions, which they are able to live with later. If you can think through the options and chances, and come to a considered decision, it reduces the chance of making a decision which you later regret.

In the UK, termination of pregnancy is legal up to the 24th week of pregnancy, on a range of grounds. Termination has to be authorised by two medical practitioners. Approximately 180,000 terminations are carried out in the UK each year. Roughly 1,800 are carried out on the grounds of disability.

After the 24th week of pregnancy, termination is only permitted if the mother's health is in danger, or if "severe abnormality" is detected. This phrase is not defined in the legislation. It is argued that the loophole was intended by Parliament to cover very severe conditions which were not compatible with the survival of the child, for example Anencephaly and other major abnormalities, and which were not diagnosed earlier. Approximately 100 late terminations are carried out in the UK each year.