It is only offered as a compassionate option when a baby is diagnosed with something that will have a severe impact:

• Life-limiting conditions - A diagnosis that indicates the baby will pass before birth, during labour or shortly after.

• Severe physical or mental impairment - abnormalities are identified from fetal imaging, which would result in serious, long-term handicaps or critically diminished quality of life for the baby.

• Physical health risk to the mother - complications with carrying the pregnancy to term could pose a severe risk to the mother's physical health or life.

Medical

• Medication is given to induce labour so the baby can be delivered. 

• The first medication given stops the production of an essential pregnancy hormone, and you are then given another medicine, usually between 24 to 48 hours later. 

• The medication will lead to the lining of the womb breaking down, which will cause bleeding and the loss of the pregnancy. 

• This can take many hours and be painful, so you will be offered pain relief to help.

• If this happens after 22 weeks, then a procedure to stop the baby's heart is often offered beforehand. 

• You most likely will need to stay overnight. Occasionally, the pregnancy does not completely pass with medication, so surgery is then needed.

Surgical

There are two options for surgical treatment. Vacuum/suction aspiration or Dilatation and evacuation (D&E)

• Vacuum or suction aspiration can be done before 14 weeks and involves inserting a tube through your vagina and into the womb. The pregnancy is then removed through suction. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and you can usually go home the same day.

• Dilatation and evacuation (D&E) is usually used after 14 weeks of pregnancy. It involves inserting forcepts through the cervix to remove the pregnancy. It is usually carried out under general anaesthesia and takes about 10 to 20 minutes. You can usually go home the same day.