Picture “makes a mockery” of 24-week legal limit for abortion

A young mother who released a photograph of her daughter born prematurely at 24 weeks, says she wanted to show that Adelaide was “not a foetus” but “a fully-formed human being”.

Emily Caines (25) and her husband, Alastair (29), from Yeovil in Somerset, say they hope the photograph, which shows their baby reaching up and letting out a cry, will open up the debate about abortion.

“Our hospital was amazing and did all they could, but Adelaide suffered complications which made it impossible for her to survive…but many babies born at 24 weeks do live,” says Emily.

Believing Adelaide’s birth makes a mockery of the 24-week legal limit, Emily adds, “To think that a baby like her could be legally terminated on grounds of a lifestyle choice to me is horrifying.”

The latest research by EPICure, which studies population survival rates, shows that a record number of babies live after being born at 23 weeks – a week before the legal limit for abortion.

The statistics reveal that at least 120 babies born during week 23 of a pregnancy have survived in the past four years. It is estimated that the real number of 23 week old babies who survived is likely to be higher, as the research was based on a sample of 25 hospitals which answered a freedom of information request.

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