Can I choose not to have tests in pregnancy?
Can I choose not to have a termination, if disability is detected?
Where can I get support and advice?
Do I have to make an informed decision?
What does termination of pregnancy involve?
What is the legal situation?
What support is available for people considering termination of pregnancy?
Who can I contact for more information?

Can I choose not to have tests in pregnancy?
You have a legal and moral right to refuse either screening or diagnostic tests in pregnancy. A screening test will show whether you have a higher risk of having a pregnancy affected by disability. A diagnostic test should usually give you a definite diagnosis of whether your pregnancy is affected by disability. There are two reasons for having screening and diagnostic tests. One is to get information, so that you are prepared for the birth of your baby. The other is to discover whether your pregnancy is affected by a disability in order that you can decide on a termination of pregnancy. If your personal or religious beliefs are opposed to abortion, you should think carefully whether you want to have a screening test in the first place.
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Can I choose not to have a termination, if disability is detected?
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. But in practice, you may face pressure from healthcare professionals to rethink your decision, and to opt for testing or termination. But you have a right to make your own choices.
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Where can I get support and advice?
NHS doctors and nurses should adopt the 'non-directive' approach to counselling. They are there to give you information, not to advise you what to do. Talking to other people who have already gone through similar situations may be helpful. This website contains stories from disabled people and their parents, and from women who have made decisions about termination of pregnancy. You may also find it helpful to talk to the Antenatal Results and Choices support group, or to groups associated with different disabilities.
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Do I have to make an informed decision?
Having to make a choice is difficult. Many people do not want to have to take the responsibility. Some people may prefer not to think too hard, or to get information. This is understandable. Nobody can force you to investigate the options fully. However, the goal of this website is to provide full and balanced information, to help women and men to make informed decisions, with the hope that this will make it easier to live with the decision at a later date. We believe that if you can think through the options and risks carefully, and come to a considered decision, it may reduce the chance of making a decision which you later regret.
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What does termination of pregnancy involve?
If you are less 13 weeks you will probably be given a dilatation and evacuation (D&E) under general anaesthetic. Mifepristone is also given as a means of inducing a termination.

If you are more than 13 weeks pregnant, you will almost always have to go through labour to deliver your baby.

In some hospitals there are obstetricians who can perform terminations under general anaesthetic after 13 weeks.
If you are more than 21 weeks pregnant it may be suggested that the baby is given an injection to ensure that the baby dies before the pregnancy is induced. This procedure is usually done in a specialist fetal medicine centre.

At the time of writing more hospitals are giving a tablet of Mifepristone 24-48 hours, for optimal effect, before admission to hospital. If you find this to be too long a wait you can ask for admission to hospital 12 hours after taking the tablet. There is a 1% chance you may begin labour earlier than expected. If there are any signs e.g. a show or pains, do go straight to the hospital. If, after taking the tablet, you have any concerns do contact your doctor or midwife.
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What is the legal situation?
Laws in the United Kingdom protect the right of a woman to choose to terminate her pregnancy. The Abortion Act was first established in April of 1968 and permits the termination of pregnancy subject to certain conditions, such as, "termination is permitted when there is substantial risk that the child would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped." According to the Abortion Act, all abortions ought to be performed by registered practitioners and women seeking an abortion should only do so by their own free will.

According to this law, then, no woman should be discriminated against on the grounds of having had a termination, regardless of her reasons for seeking it. Basically, the Abortion Act protects the right of every woman to have autonomy over her body and her reproductive choices.
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What support is available for people considering termination of pregnancy?
Being able to talk to others who have been in the same situation can be very helpful. Antenatal Results and Choices is a national charity which gives information and individual support to parents in circumstances similar to yours. If you would like to talk to someone who has been through the experience of a termination following the detection of an abnormality, please contact the ARC Helpline on 020 7631 0285
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Who can I contact for more Information?
Antenatal Results and Choices
http://www.arc-uk.org/
More information, real testimonies and support.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service
http://www.bpas.org/
Provides information about what to do if you choose to end your pregnancy. It gives balanced information about the procedures, services and testimonies. It also provides counselling and other services.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
http://www.rcog.org.uk/mainpages
Additional information on specific issues such as late termination of pregnancy, guidelines and standards for medical practice.
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