Baby Surprises Mom by Surviving Abortion

March 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Women living in Berwyn, Cicero, IL and the surrounding area may appreciate knowing that abortions performed early in a pregnancy sometimes fail. A British woman discovered this by surprise recently when she discovered that her unborn fetus was alive in her womb after receiving a surgical abortion.

Jodie Percival of Nottinghamshire, England, said she and her fiancee made the decision to get an abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, FOXNews reported recently.

Percival's first son Thane died of multicystic dysplastic kidneys — which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys of an unborn baby — and her second child Lewis was born with serious kidney damage and currently has just one kidney, the Daily Mail reported.

“I was on the (birth control pill) when I became pregnant,” Percival, 25, said. “Deciding to terminate at eight weeks was just utterly horrible but I couldn't cope with the anguish of losing another baby,” she told the Mail.

A short time after the abortion, Percival felt a fluttering in her stomach. She went to the doctor for a scan and discovered she was 19 weeks pregnant.

“I couldn't believe it,” Percival said. “This was the baby I thought I'd terminated. At first I was angry that this was happening to us, that the procedure had failed.”

Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing health editor for FOXNews.com, said Percival's situation is actually quite common. “Women that have early terminations in weeks six, seven and eight -- many times the pregnancy is so small that doctors miss removing the baby,” Alvarez said. “The danger is that the failed attempt can damage the baby.”

Another scan a week later confirmed the baby also had kidney problems, but doctors told the couple the baby was likely to survive, so they decided he deserved another chance at life. In November, Finley was born three weeks premature. He had minor kidney damage but is expected to lead a normal life.

Women in Berwyn, Cicero, Stickney, North Riverside, IL and other cities can learn more about the facts about abortion by calling WomanCare Services at 708-795-6000, or visit http://www.womancare.org.

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WomanCare Services, of Berwyn, IL provides help to women with unexpected pregnancies. You don't have to wait to be seen by one of our team members. Often, you can make an appointment for the same day. Our consultations are confidential. Call 708-795-6000.