Late-Term Abortion for Fetal Anomaly: Vietnamese Women's Experiences

Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality: a meta-ethnography of women’s experiences

“…29,34 They also find it challenging to labour/recover in wards with women who had positive pregnancy outcomes. 31 The brutal transition between the state of pregnancy and non-pregnancy contributes to feelings of devastation. 27,33 For women giving birth to their baby after a medical termination, the transition between "saying hello and goodbye" 27 within the same encounter is inconceivable.…”

“…33 The magnitude of the discrepancy between pregnancy expectations and outcome only furthers women's distress. 31 Following the termination, women contemplate their loss, often yearning for their child long after the termination. 31 The mourning process is ongoing and women accept that this is a "lifelong affair" 28 with the pain subsiding but never disappearing entirely.…”

“…31 Following the termination, women contemplate their loss, often yearning for their child long after the termination. 31 The mourning process is ongoing and women accept that this is a "lifelong affair" 28 with the pain subsiding but never disappearing entirely. Women lose the immediate future they had imagined, having often gone to great lengths to prepare for the baby's arrival.…”

“…Women lose the immediate future they had imagined, having often gone to great lengths to prepare for the baby's arrival. 30,31 A loss of reproductive self-esteem is also observed, with some women feeling that they have failed to bear a healthy child, and failed themselves and those around them. 31 Assault on the self Pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality also represents an "assault" on the self 34 and undermines women's sense of security.…”

“…30,31 A loss of reproductive self-esteem is also observed, with some women feeling that they have failed to bear a healthy child, and failed themselves and those around them. 31 Assault on the self Pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality also represents an "assault" on the self 34 and undermines women's sense of security. 27,30 Many women start their pregnancy with a (false) sense of security that "their baby would be fine", 30 and the pregnancy normal.…”