One of the most tragic things that can happen to a woman and her loved ones, especially if it is her first baby, is to discover late in a desired pregnancy that something has gone terribly wrong. The fetus is discovered to have a serious or even fatal problem of development or to have a genetic disorder that will leave it seriously impaired. In spite of everything, nothing can be done to give the baby a chance for a normal life - perhaps not even a chance for life itself.

At Boulder Abortion Clinic, we see many women and couples who have this difficult problem. They wanted to have a baby, made plans for it, were happy at the prospect of this glorious fulfillment, only to find out that they face tragedy instead of happiness.

There are generally two kinds of problems with pregnancies like this. One kind involves the observation or discovery of a genetic disorder that predictably would lead to very serious problems for a young child. We include things like Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), Trisomy 18 and 13, and others that are not so frequent or well known.

The other kind of problem is a "developmental" anomaly. The genetic inheritance may be perfect, but the fetus has not developed normally. This can include the distressing "anencephalic" (no brain) syndrome, which is fatal and which permits no normal development, and it includes other kinds of "neural tube" defects such as spina bifida.

There are some people who feel that these malformations and disorders are blessings to be embraced, that dealing with them builds character, that that you should not be permitted to have an abortion under these circumstances. It is Dr. Hern's view that decisions to carry a pregnancy with such problems is a private, personal matter that cannot be regulated by any government, and that couples who decide to terminate such pregnancies should be able to do so without interference from other parties.

For the women and families who come to us with these problems, we are ready to help you get through this crisis safely and with as much support as you need and we can give you. We do not have a fixed notion of what is appropriate for each family. That is why we do not have a routine ritual grieving process that each family experiences. We are ready, however, to arrange for whatever procedures will help you - holding your baby, having a footprint, having a private cremation or burial, having private religious services, or any other special requests that are possible. We also can arrange for specialized medical examination and genetic testing under most circumstances.

During the past twenty-five years, we have helped thousands of families cope with this special pain and crisis. What we have to offer most is the safest possible way for the pregnancy to end and for you to be able to go on with your life, and we also offer our deepest compassion for you as fellow human beings.