Jenny Gibb had no idea she was more than three months’ pregnant until her ex-boyfriend persuaded her to take a test.

An advertising executive from Hampshire, she had longed for a child when she married but had been unable to conceive. When the marriage broke up she give up on the idea of starting a family.

“At the time I was 33, very lonely and miserable. I’d just ended a short relationship, there had been a death in my family and I was trying to sell my home. I knew I was putting on weight but put it down to comfort eating,” she said.

Although she went to see her GP, he wasted time by referring her to the local hospital, an appointment nine days away. Then the hospital said that it could not help her as it did not offer a late abortion service. A consultant told her that the British Pregnancy Advisory Service might be able to help.

Ms Gibb contacted the organisation and had to travel to Brighton for her appointments. She was almost 18 weeks pregnant by the time she had the termination.

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