A group of Irish women have broken their silence to describe the pain of having to travel to the UK for an abortion.
The four women spoke to the Irish Times about their difficult decision to terminate the lives of their unborn children, due to the severity of the conditions the babies were diagnosed with, in the early stages of pregnancy.
“These were terminations of babies that were incompatible with life,” Ruth Bowie, who travelled to Birmingham for an abortion, told the Irish Times.
When Bowie underwent a private scan in the early stages of her pregnancy it was discovered her baby was suffering from anencephaly, a neural tube defect which meant the baby could not survive outside the womb.
Working as a healthcare professional, she was particularly well-informed about her unborn child’s condition. She was faced with two options. She could either continue with the pregnancy, the baby would die as soon as it was born, or make arrangements for a termination in the UK.
Bowie clearly recalls breaking the news to her mother, whom she describes as a devout Christian.
“She was so shocked – not by our awful news, but by the fact that we had to travel to the UK for a termination . . . Even our own [healthcare] colleagues don’t realise that in our situation, we have to travel . . . I’ve worked in healthcare for long enough to realise that bad things happen to people everyday and that the world is simply an unfair place – but to have to travel like this? That’s cruel.”
“Having to walk around Birmingham for five hours when you’ve just ended your baby’s life, you’ve had an anaesthetic and are bleeding and cramping . . . I believe in a loving, caring, understanding God and that I won’t be damned for what I did . . . I want to say to people who would judge us – Where is your compassion? Where is love in all this?,” she told the newspaper.
Among the other women who spoke to the Irish Times were Arlette Lyons, who had a termination after her baby was diagnosed with Patau syndrome and a cystic hygroma. Jenny McDonald (29) unborn child was diagnosed with triploidy, where the baby has 69 chromosomes instead of 46. The child had no fluid around her and no evidence of kidneys. McDonald had a termination at 25 weeks. Amanda Mellet, was 21-weeks pregnant when her baby was diagnosed with Edwards syndrome and was given a prognosis of death shortly after birth, if not before.
A debate in the Irish parliament took place yesterday over the proposed plans to allow limited access to abortion in Ireland.
The Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in the case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill 2012 calls for the termination of a pregnancy to be available "where a real and substantial risk to the life of the pregnant woman exists" and to "make provision for the prevention of any curtailment, hindrance or preclusion of such treatment that may arise as a result of the pregnancy of the woman".
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.dickmac | Oct 11, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT
This is 100% WRONG ! Science has proven that LIFE BEGINS at conception. For anyone to take this totally innocent, defensless LIFE is WRONG.
DanOLoingsigh | Apr 22, 2012, 12:04 AM EDT
seanomelb - so when will the SC ruling be reflected in law? Who can do this...only spineless politicos!!
seanomelb | Apr 21, 2012, 08:22 PM EDT
Playing the blame game and deriding politicians or attacking Ireland's moral compass in such sensitive matters is counter productive and meaningless.
DanOLoingsigh | Apr 21, 2012, 05:07 PM EDT
The Irish Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that abortion was lawful if the mother's life was at risk. This judgement has not been codified into law, due to weak- kneed politicians, but it still stands...fortunately for the legislators most who need abortions can just take the plane to ‘godless England’, thus preserving the myth of Irelands moral superiority…you can be sure that people ‘in the know’ will always obtain terminations for their partners and daughters, but who speaks for the ‘X’ case girl or little Anne Lovett?
Nicoletta | Apr 21, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT
seanomelb, thanks for your considered reply. I have heard several people who were the result of a rape speak. They overwhelmingly are so thankful that their mothers chose to have them. One woman, Pam Stenzel I think, who was adopted, says that she would love to meet her mother to thank her for allowing her to live.
seanomelb | Apr 21, 2012, 08:05 AM EDT
That's very true Nicoletta many women are forced into abortions and many women are forced to have babies.As I stated before I personally do not believe in abortion(most cases)for very personal reasons.Why must a raped women or pubescent child not have a right to a termination they are certainly not babies "made in heaven".AS for using contraception,the pill,condoms,RU486 and other methods to prevent pregnancy is surely more acceptable than returning to the good old days of forced poverty due to ridiculously large families and makes for a better society.I'm not quite with you Nicoletta although we can agree on some points.Regards
Nicoletta | Apr 20, 2012, 09:12 PM EDT
seanomelb, I appreciate the politeness of your comment. I was aware that abortion is illegal in both the north and south. Any doctor will tell you that life begins at conception. Therefore you will know that the killing of that life at any stage is gravely wrong, if your conscience is well-formed. Many poor women are pressured by boyfriends, families or circumstances to have an abortion and come to bitterly regret it as their conscience kicks in and they realize the gravity of what they have done. Namely, had their own child killed or even killed it themselves now, using the abhorrent RU486 drug. Lord have mercy on us all.
IrelandNorth | Apr 20, 2012, 08:31 AM EDT
If it's up to a woman to decide whether to have an abortion or not does the fertilised ovum/embryo/fetus/baby not have a say in the matter? Down with Matriarchy! Down with Feminist tyranny! Life begins at Conception! The Nazi's tried Eugenics. It didn't work! Avoid abortion - practice immaculate contraception [coitus interruptus] now. Sexual continence for all - practice White Tantra now!
STEVENSTAR | Apr 20, 2012, 07:40 AM EDT
@@@@@ciaradexy | Apr 19, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT Steven, women dont get themselves pregnant so maybe you should be telling men to put a rubber on it?>>>>>>>>>> HOW ABOUT PUT A RUBBER OVER YOUR MOUTH DEAR!! YOUR GETTIHG FAR TOO MOUTHY FOR MY LIKING !!!
seanomelb | Apr 20, 2012, 02:25 AM EDT
Nicoletta abortion is not legal in Ireland. The problem is the moral justification for abortion.Then we have the scientific notions on when a fetus is legal person,all very complex and as a stated it's someone else's conscience not yours or mine do we have the right to make decisions for others.Then there are the backyard abortions putting lives in danger.I am reminded at this stage of Ireland's most famous case "the nurse Cadden affair" nurse Cadden was an illegal abortionist to the rich and famous in Ireland.Nurse Cadden was found guilty and sentenced to death(Commuted) mentally unfit she was committed to an insane asylum and conveniently died allegedly from a heart attack.
sirpeter | Apr 19, 2012, 09:01 PM EDT
They can never say the babies had no chance.Even if the child has a million to one chance.It's still a chance.Unless where a real and substantial risk to the life of the pregnant woman exists I cannot condone abortion.There obviously was no substantial risk to the life of the women.So they can get angry all they want I will never vote for abortion.
Nicoletta | Apr 19, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT
Seanomelb, i used to be of the same mind as you but if you consider what abortion really is, the killing of an unborn child, how can that ever be legally justifiable?
Nicoletta | Apr 19, 2012, 07:17 PM EDT
Francisquinn, when I was pregnant with my son he kicked so hard in the womb that my ribs were sore. He once managed to kick a cup and saucer off my stomach! At just 6 weeks old I believe, an unborn child' heart is beating regularly. At 12 weeks, even the fingernails and toenails have appeared. The baby can move around and even suck his thumb!
seanomelb | Apr 19, 2012, 06:47 PM EDT
I do not believe in abortion(in most cases).I also believe that I have no right to interfere with the decisions made on abortion by others ,it's their conscience and I'm sure a difficult decision to make.
ciaradexy | Apr 19, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT
Steven, women dont get themselves pregnant so maybe you should be telling men to put a rubber on it?
ciaradexy | Apr 19, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT
Nicoletta, stop preaching. Some of us dont believe in god as we are realists. Catholic priests rape kids maybe thats why theyre so anti abortion? More kids for them to abuse. irish women will just keep going abroad for abortions. This ruling will change nothing.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 19, 2012, 04:20 PM EDT
GREAT !!! WELL KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED NEXT TIME AND STOP GETTING PREGNANT !!!
Nicoletta | Apr 19, 2012, 03:41 PM EDT
Many women who choose to end their disabled baby's life bitterly regret their decision. Far better to go to term and let nature decide the course of that child's life. When that child dies they can grieve naturally. Gods ways are the best ways and the only way for Catholics.
ciaradexy | Apr 19, 2012, 12:22 PM EDT
Francisquinn, if you feel something when you put your hand on a pregnant womans stomach, its wind. A foetus grows in the womb. Mairint, its not up to you to decide if a woman wants to continue her pregnancy. Im pretty sure youre not raising a loads of other peoples disabled children.
mairint | Apr 19, 2012, 10:02 AM EDT
How the writer couches her words to draw sympathy for the actions of these mothers. Tragic that they considered that they should have their children killed in the event they would be born with severe disabilities. So many times women have been told their baby is "incompatible to life" yet they refused to have it killed. Some of these babies were born normal (I saw one of these myself in Canada - normal, healthy). If the babies are allowed to be born, if they then die of their physical condition, at least their mothers can mourn their loss with clear consciences. That is part of the pain of life and one can draw strength from it knowing you have done your best. On the other hand, to know you have taken the life of your own child causes a deep pain that never goes away, whether it was done in England or anywhere else. There are a few organizations that have been established to help women deal with their post abortion syndrome, Rachels Vineyard for instance, established by Dr. Theresa Burke and a priest. These mothers have been used to push abortion into Ireland. Not an historical fact to be proud of. Surely they would not want to be part of furthering the pain of other mothers and the subsequent death of many babies. That is not the way to help. Thank God the vast number of young people in Ireland do not want their brothers and sisters killed either to avoid a disability of as a social 'choice'.
mikehoulihan | Apr 19, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT
This is propaganda, encouraged and sanctioned by Irish Central.
francisquinn | Apr 19, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT
Very unfortunate.....we all feel for these poor women....but how convenient the author talks about sincere women in a terrible situation....but how many cases of aborition will be permitted due to an "inconvenience" Aborition is killing....no matter how you look at it.... Just put your hand on a pregnant women's stomach and feel the kicking.....and you will know that life exists...
francisquinn | Apr 19, 2012, 09:25 AM EDT
Very brave women. Time for the world to know how draconian Ireland is under Roman church laws