Multiple abortions may risk future kids' health

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Women having abortions could be seriously affecting the health of children they may have in the future, research has found.

Having one abortion may increase the risk of a later premature birth by 20 per cent. Two or more abortions may increase the chances by 90 per cent.

Mothers who have had more than one abortion also double their risk of having a very premature baby - earlier than 34 weeks - according to the research.

Extremely premature babies are more likely than full term babies to suffer from a learning difficulty, and some suffer from cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness.

Dr Robbert van Oppenraaij headed the research team which published its findings in a report for the European Reproduction and Embryology Society. the rest