Do women really need 24 weeks to decided if they want an abortion?

**Rebdot** · 17-10-2009 20:20

I believe in abortion until 12 weeks, I dont think women need 24 weeks to decide,

Iv heard the later you abort the more dangerous.

Also babies survive at 24 weeks?

This is similar to my other thread but after starting that one and reading posts im curious to know what everyone thinks the limit should be.

**BigRedV** · 17-10-2009 20:25

Well in NSW, you need a very good reason to have an abortion after 12 or 13 weeks. Sometimes women do need until 24 weeks because they might only find out the problems with the baby at the 18/19 or 20 week scan and it takes 2 weeks to get full results back from tests to determine abnormalities.

After about 16 weeks, you would have to give birth so I don't think that would be dangerous.

**Rebdot** · 17-10-2009 20:29

I was asking in terms of abortions due to not being ready for kids ect.

Not medical reason abortions

My mum always said that later abortions are dangerous, maybe just to scare me

**crazymuma** · 17-10-2009 20:29

You know what - some people might just need that long for whatever reasons - maybe they don't find out their is a problem until late - maybe halfway through they discover they have cancer and decide to save their life over the baby so that they can raise the kids they have.

I have never been in that position thank god so I won't judge someone that has

**Ana Gram** · 17-10-2009 20:30

I think it is between the woman, her partner and her doctor.

**aardvark** · 17-10-2009 20:31

Some defects may not be determined until after 12 weeks, or not until after amniocentesis around 15-16 weeks with then up to 3 weeks for a result, and then further defects may be discovered at the 20 week morphology scan.

Say all seemed fine until the 20 week scan revealed major organ problems - like kidney or heart issues which made survival unlikely. A termination should be available if that is the parents wish.

I think that terminations need to be available after the first trimester for valid medical reasons.

I have moral objections to later terminations purely for choice, without a medical basis.

**BigRedV** · 17-10-2009 20:33

Originally Posted by Rebdot

I was asking in terms of abortions due to not being ready for kids ect.

Not medical reason abortions

My mum always said that later abortions are dangerous, maybe just to scare me

Again, you can't just have an abortion in some states after 12 weeks because you don't want a child, there has to be valid medical reason.

After about 16 weeks, you would need a medical reason because you would most likely have to give birth in hospital so I don't think having a termination that late because the child is not wanted would be allowed anyway.

**Rebdot** · 17-10-2009 20:36

Originally Posted by aardvark

Some defects may not be determined until after 12 weeks, or not until after amniocentesis around 15-16 weeks with then up to 3 weeks for a result, and then further defects may be discovered at the 20 week morphology scan.

Say all seemed fine until the 20 week scan revealed major organ problems - like kidney or heart issues which made survival unlikely. A termination should be available if that is the parents wish.

I think that terminations need to be available after the first trimester for valid medical reasons.

I have moral objections to later terminations purely for choice, without a medical basis.

I think that abortions due to "medical reasons" be it with the baby or mother should be available through out pregnancy,

I dont think that more than 12 weeks is needed to decided if you need to have a "choice" abortion.

I have considered abortion and I personally was torn between both choices, to have one- to not have one but I knew I had to decided before 12 weeks.

**Rebdot** · 17-10-2009 20:40

Originally Posted by lozzaaa

Again, you can't just have an abortion in some states after 12 weeks because you don't want a child, there has to be valid medical reason.

After about 16 weeks, you would need a medical reason because you would most likely have to give birth in hospital so I don't think having a termination that late because the child is not wanted would be allowed anyway.

What states dont allow it after 16 weeks?

I know here in Victoria you can have an abortion until 24 weeks, after that is the cut off, and if you need an abortion after that it is only done for medical or mental health issues.

In Vic, after 24 weeks you need to see your Dr to have an abortion and if the Dr supports your medical reason for abortion after 24 weeks you need to get a second opinion from another Dr that support the first Drs decision.