Police investigate death of unborn baby after woman took 'pills by post' abortion drugs while 28 weeks pregnant - four past the legal limit

  • Abortion laws were relaxed due to coronavirus so women could take both pills at home
  • Women can use these pills at home up to the 10th week of their pregnancy
  • A Midlands coroner is investigating the 28-week death and police have been informed
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Police are investigating after an unborn baby died after its mother took abortion drugs at home while 28 weeks pregnant. 

The woman was four weeks past the legal termination limit in England and 18 weeks past the ten-week limit for taking the abortion pills at home under new measures.  The baby was stillborn.  

Abortion laws were relaxed due to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing women to take both pills at home. 

Abortion laws were relaxed in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing women to take both pills at home

Abortion laws were relaxed in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing women to take both pills at home

The measures were put in place so women didn't have to go to a hospital or a clinic.   

A Midlands coroner is investigating the 28-week death and police have also been informed, The Sun reported.  

Women can use these pills up to the 10th week of their pregnancy. The termination limit in the UK is 24 weeks. 

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) runs the 'pills by the post' service. 

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service confirmed it is investigating the case along with eight others

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service confirmed it is investigating the case along with eight others 

It confirmed it is investigating the case along with eight others where women were beyond the ten-week limit, The Sun reported.  

Before the new measures were introduced, abortions in England could only be carried out in a hospital by a specialist provider or a licensed clinic. 

They needed to be approved by two doctors to certify that it did not breach the terms of the Abortion Act 1967. 

The measures will last for two years or until the coronavirus pandemic ends.   

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