Woman Advocates for Clearer Terminology After Medically Advised Abortion

Rosanna Brown, a woman from Hampshire, is calling for increased awareness and understanding surrounding medically-advised abortions, a procedure she underwent in 2023 when her son William was diagnosed with Chaos syndrome, a rare and life-threatening condition. The decision to terminate the pregnancy was made after medical professionals advised that continuing it would pose risks to both her and her baby.

Brown described the experience as deeply challenging, exacerbated by what she perceived as a lack of adequate training and support for medically-advised abortions within the healthcare system. She noted that the terminology used for her loss, referred to as a "late miscarriage" on official forms, did not accurately reflect the circumstances. "I made a choice here, I didn't naturally lose my baby," Brown stated, emphasizing the distinction and the need for accurate labeling to validate her experience and grief.

She highlighted the emotional toll of navigating this process without proper terminology, which can lead to feelings of isolation and invalidate the grieving process. "It's such a complex and lonely thing to go through and it's so much harder if you can't tell the truth of what happened to you," she said. Brown believes that for many parents, a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) is the most compassionate choice they can make for their child.

Approximately 5,000 women annually are offered TFMR, a figure higher than those experiencing stillbirth and neonatal death. Brown is campaigning for the proper use of the term TFMR, which she feels was inadequately applied in her case. She encountered the term only months after her loss while seeking community and support.

Jane Fisher, chief executive of the ARC Charity, stressed the importance of using the correct terminology. "It describes the reality of the situation and I think that's important both for parents to accept what happened but also for us to break the stigma and taboo around this particular loss," Fisher explained. She added that without accurate language, healthy grieving can be significantly hindered.

Both the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS spokespersons affirmed that women facing such difficult situations deserve comprehensive care and support. Major abortion providers offer counseling, and the NHS provides mental health support following decisions to terminate pregnancies.

Brown and her husband have since welcomed a daughter, but they continue to honor their son William. Ahead of Baby Loss Awareness Week, Brown has published a guide, "The Silence Of TFMR," to assist others who have gone through similar experiences. She pushed back against advice to not let the experience define her, stating, "I am defined [by it] and am quite happy to be. I need to find ways to keep tapping into that identity of parent to him because that's the only way he gets to exist, in this world."