Pregnant women in Northern Ireland are facing discrimination due to the lack of early scans for fetal abnormalities, according to gynecology experts. Unlike the rest of the UK, where early scans are routine, many women in Northern Ireland discover severe pregnancy complications too late.
Patients who spoke to BBC News NI shared their distress after their “non-viable” pregnancies were not identified until around 20 weeks. In Scotland, Wales, and England, all pregnant women receive antenatal screening to detect anomalies during the first trimester, specifically between 11 and 13 weeks.
The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) highlighted that women in Northern Ireland are receiving late diagnoses, and they should not have to wait until their 20-week scans for critical information.
Heartbreaking Choices
One couple, who wish to remain anonymous, described their heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy after learning about multiple anomalies during a 20-week scan. The woman was over 21 weeks pregnant by the time she could receive medical care. They expressed their deep sense of isolation during this painful experience.
Sarah, not her real name, explained that friends and family believed she had miscarried at 20 weeks. “We didn’t feel comfortable sharing our situation for fear of judgment,” she said. “Choosing to end a much-wanted pregnancy is a horrible situation, no matter how far along you are. We believe that if we had known earlier, it would have been less traumatic.”
She added that the decision to terminate brings significant emotional distress, especially knowing that babies can survive in the second trimester.
Uninformed and Unprepared
Another woman, Emily, also spoke about her devastating experience. “It was heartbreaking to think I could have learned about my baby’s fatal anomaly sooner,” she said. The lack of early screening led her to believe everything was fine until it was too late.
Emily faced the grim reality of being medically induced at 21 weeks to end her non-viable pregnancy. “As someone who had never given birth, this was traumatic and frightening,” she shared. “Being forced into labor at 21 weeks is entirely different from being informed of options at 12 weeks.”
Need for Change
In March 2020, a new framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland was established, allowing terminations without a time limit if there is a substantial risk of severe impairment to the fetus. The RCOG is advocating for earlier scans, arguing that women in Northern Ireland are being discriminated against.
Dr. Caitriona Monaghan, a consultant in maternal-fetal medicine and RCOG member, emphasized that late diagnoses limit women’s options for care and decision-making. “It affects their physical and mental well-being,” she said.
Dr. Fiona Bloomer from Ulster University noted that stigma around abortion in Northern Ireland prevents open conversations about these issues. She expressed hope that the Department of Health would recognize the need for earlier screenings and allocate the necessary funding.
The Department of Health confirmed that scans for detecting abnormalities are currently only conducted during the second trimester. They stated that work is ongoing to determine the requirements for introducing first-trimester antenatal screening for fetal anomalies and inherited conditions. Once this information is gathered, it will be reviewed by the Northern Ireland Screening Committee for future policy decisions.
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