rafwife

MPs will vote today on controversial proposals to reduce the upper time limit for abortion. Do you think the limit should be reduced?

The government's bill proposes no change -- but MPs have tabled amendments which would cut the current limit of 24 weeks to 20 weeks or less.

Labour leader Gordon Brown said last week that he supports the 24-week limit, while Conservative leader David Cameron has said he favours a cut.

But MPs do not divide along party lines as the issue of abortion is treated as a "conscience" one in Parliament, meaning MPs are not told how to vote by their party leadership.

Is 24 weeks too late to have an abortion? Do you think the limit should be reduced to 20 weeks or less?

The Current Law

* States that elective abortions for social reasons can happen up until 24 weeks.

* States that medical abortions (including reasons such as mental health and disabled babies) can occur at ANY time in a pregnancy.

The new bill would have seen a reduction in the time allowed for elective social abortions, not medical ones.

Wobbles

Can be a touchy topic this one.

*Breif and tired opinion*

Less & far less than 20 weeks to be honest I think 12 is acceptable if people must ...there are other options at the end of the day if childs mother is not ready for whatever reason. I think higher if there is reasonable reasons like rape, child abuse, illness but I mean VERY exeptional cases to allow this procedure to be carried out anywhere past 12 weeks.

rafwife

They vote has come back, and the 24 week limit is staying.....for now.

Interestingly, 90% of all abortions are done before 13 weeks. Only 2% are carried out after 20 weeks.

Also, 39% of babies born premature at 24 weeks survive. With such a high rate of survival, I think abortions at 24 weeks are ridiculous.

TashaAndBump

This is a very contraversial topic so I'm almost inclined to stay away...

Instead I shall say my piece and then leave:

Babies born at 24 weeks have a reasonable chance of survival, and the methods of abortion used at such a late stage can be barbaric - Also, the mother still needs to give birth and go through labour at this stage so I do not see what possible cause they could have to kill the baby rather than give it up for adoption (except in some extreem medical cases of complications developing in the pregnancy).

I will not go into my views on abortion in general, but with regards to abortion post 20 weeks, I believe that to be very wrong - the limit should be lowered because it is in effect terminating a fully developed baby (so what if it is still inside the womb??!)

Abortion post 20 weeks, should only be performed following a medical referral, because of complications whereby it could be dangerous or unfair to the mother or baby to continue (i.e. if the baby would not survive / would be very ill or disabled, or if the mother could die were the pregnancy allowed to continue.) It should not be used as a selective method of delayed contraceptive - to me it seems to be the same as a woman giving birth and then killing the baby because she "wasn't ready" or "didn't want it".

These are simply my opinions and I know others may differ. I can understand why so many of you have voted but left no comment... However other opinions that may be expressed in this thread are likely to upset me so I take this opportunity to step out... (It's a very touchy and personal subject! You're a brave woman for raising rafwife...)

Regards x

psycholisa

Here´s my thoughts for what it´s worth. I think the limit should be 12 weeks. 3 months is a long time to decide whether you want to keep a baby or not. 6 months is far too long, as Tasha said a baby born at 24 weeks has a good chance of survival.

Okay I´ll shut up now!!!

Carley

Abortions in general make me

I think abortions at 24 weeks are wrong, this coming from a mum who has had a son at 24 weeks.

Carley

I agree, not past 12 weeks unless there's a medical reason and the baby wouldn't live. It's wrong to kill a baby who could live, very wrong.

genkigemini

Wasn't Angel born at 24 weeks?

Geez... I must agree with the other girls that 3 months is plenty of time to choose. Maybe even 4 but geez... 24 weeks! That is insane. Just adopt your baby out if you already waited that long...

sweetsammi

Unless someone has a genuine extreeeemly good reason/special circumstance i.e health probs etc i personally dont agree woth abortions..and i especially feel strongly about reducing the time someone is able to go ahead with it..At 24weeks some babies are being born prematurely- and surviving! There-fore to think someone could take away this child's life just because he/she is an inconvienince i feel is very sad. It makes me physically sick when i see these documentaries on it. And has me in tears. Abortion shouldnt be allowed past 12weeks and even then i think it should only be for health reasons. Too many people are using them as a form of contraception- This is another life for goodness sake! x

Faerie

In France it's 12 weeks, personally I think that is a very good time limit. It makes me sick that people can abort a baby so late. I would only support late abortion if there was a very clear health risk to the mother and/or the baby is clearly so severely ill it would not have a "life" outside the womb. I can't comprehend that there are any personal reason bar health ones that could make a woman have to choose to abort the baby so late. Saying all that, although it's not a choice I can imagine myself ever making, I do also believe women have the right to choose abortion - they should just make their minds up earlier!