Britain’s largest abortion provider has faced criticism for suggesting morning-after pills should be given to new mothers.
The idea was criticised by pro-life campaigner Josephine Quintavalle as making a “negative statement about childbirth”.
The morning-after pill can cause an early stage abortion.
Respected
BPAS, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, raised the issue in a report entitled “Sex and contraception after childbirth”.
It noted that the choices of those who want to become pregnant again relatively quickly, “should absolutely be respected”.
However, it also discussed “Emergency Hormonal Contraception” (EHC), which is how it describes the morning-after pill.
BPAS claimed it is “a safe and effective back-up for women when their regular contraception fails”.
Advanced provision
The report concluded: “Consideration should be given to the advance provision of EHC to new mothers in order that women have it at home if and when they should need it.”
A spokeswoman from BPAS confirmed that “innovative ways to support” women after childbirth could include providing them with “an advance supply of the morning-after-pill” before they left the hospital.
However, Josephine Quintavalle, of the pro-life group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, called BPAS’ position “ridiculous”.
Patronising
She said, “it is absolutely extraordinary and patronising, and it is a negative statement about childbirth”.
“You should send a bunch of flowers when someone has a baby – the message here seems to be ‘you’ve had a baby make sure you don’t get pregnant again’.”