Termination For Medical Reasons with Jane Fisher and support available through ARC
Our Sam Talking out Loud about Termination For Medical Reasons in partnership with ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices)
My name is Jane Fisher and I have had the privilege of working for the national charity Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) for over twenty years. We are very grateful to Our Sam for dedicating a podcast to a subject that is not often spoken about – termination for medical reasons – or TFMR for short. It is a subject very close to our hearts at ARC as we provide specialised support to parents going through and coping with the aftermath of this incredibly painful experience.
TFMR is a complicated loss. No parent anticipating a wanted baby expects to be put in a position of feeling they have to end the pregnancy because of a prenatal diagnosis, or perhaps a maternal health condition that makes it too risky to carry on. Having to make this painful decision adds another layer of distress and can make some parents believe they are ‘unworthy’ of bereavement support because they decided to have a termination. This makes it vital that the care they receive from their health professionals is individualised, non-judgmental and sensitive. That is why ARC has always worked closely and collaboratively with professionals. We know it can be a challenging area of practice and we want to help equip professionals with all they need to provide the highest possible quality of care.
We hope that the contributions to the podcast from academic Professor Caroline Lafarge, bereaved parents Laura and Haley and me will help listeners learn more about TFMR and consider what can be helpful to parents when they are faced with one of the most distressing experiences in their family lives. There is no doubt that stigma remains around baby and pregnancy loss and that is intensified when it comes to TFMR. We really appreciate Our Sam producing this podcast and so helping to break the silence and encourage understanding and compassion.
ARC is here to offer parents information and support through our helpline, website, volunteer peer support network, password-protected forums, facilitated parent meetings and publications. We are also very much here for staff. We provide a comprehensive programme of training days and workshops and our confidential helpline is open to professionals too. We may not be medically trained ourselves, but we have a deep understanding of this challenging area.
Part 3 – Termination For Medical Reasons with Jane Fisher and support available through ARC
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