[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I'm not sure the argument against it is quite that it would be hard to give up the child...more along the lines of hard to go through 9 months of pregnancy (from my experience that is NOT easy at all) and then labour, and then to give the child up. I know we are more medically advanced today too but there is also still risks involved with labour and birth. I very nearly needed a blood transfusion with my latest child :S

A vast amount of the risk is BECAUSE of medical advancement, but that's another debate entirely . Anyway, I do understand that pregnancy takes a massive and permanent toll on the body, and I'm by no means saying that adoption should be a default. Just that I don't think many people even actually put any real thought into it. I don't think it's properly SUGGESTED as an alternative, to those who do feel strong enough to carry on with the pregnancy but don't feel able to care for a child. I don't think it's explained that a newborn being adopted into a good home is all but a certainty, and many think that the child would "just go into care". Basically, I think that anyone going to their GP to discuss an abortion should be given literature on adoption to read before they come to a final decision... but, they're not. In fact, very few questions are asked at all.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

A vast amount of the risk is BECAUSE of medical advancement, but that's another debate entirely . Anyway, I do understand that pregnancy takes a massive and permanent toll on the body, and I'm by no means saying that adoption should be a default. Just that I don't think many people even actually put any real thought into it. I don't think it's properly SUGGESTED as an alternative, to those who do feel strong enough to carry on with the pregnancy but don't feel able to care for a child. I don't think it's explained that a newborn being adopted into a good home is all but a certainty, and many think that the child would "just go into care". Basically, I think that anyone going to their GP to discuss an abortion should be given literature on adoption to read before they come to a final decision... but, they're not. In fact, very few questions are asked at all.

I think you're underestimating the thought most women put into having an abortion. I'm sure the vast majority consider every avenue before they make probably the toughest decision of their life. I'm sure there are very few women who don't look at every aspect.