Contraception and abortion

Press, 1 August 1977, Page 16

Contraception and abortion

Sir, —Doctor Dobson might note the “Midwives Chronicle” (Brit.), Oct. 1969 (Vol 82, No. 981), p. 336. There Dr L. R. C. Haward, principal psychologist at Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester, writes that one of the fundamental changes occurring in pregnancy is that of the relationship between the expectant mother’s ego and her id. As pregnancy advances, the id become stronger. “Old problems and anxieties, long buried, are gradually revived to produce many of the kinds of emotional problems met with in pregnancy.” This relationship begins to change in the first trimester of pregnancy, reaches its peak in the seventh month and then gradually reverts to its original level about a month after the birth of the child. This is shown by changes in the dream pattern of sleep. Dr O. P. Quadrens, a Belgian scientist at the Born-Bunge Research Foundation at Antwerp, demonstrated these through all-night electroencephalogram recordings of women for the whole period of their pregnancies.—Yours, WYBOURNE

July 27, 1977. [These letters were referred to Dr John Dobson, who replies as follows: “The evidence presented by the A.N.Z. College of Psychiatrists surveyed the available studies of mood changes in pregnancy. These showed a prevalence of depression throughout and after pregnancy of about 10 per cent. The rare studies of women becoming pregnant showed a clear difference between planned and unexpected pregnancies. I still seek references to relevant studies on which S.P.U.C. based their submissions.”]

Sir, — Mrs Jill Preston’s resolve to keep the abortion issue in the political arena should concern us all. As a candidate for the Hospital Board in the forthcoming elections she should know what the people of Christchurch want. Surveys in three Christchurch electorates being conducted as part of a New Zealand-wide survey show that the public reject even the most liberal interpretation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission by a margin of at least three to one. Views as restrictive as her own are held by less than 10 per cent of the population. Interviewers consistently report being surprised by the large number of people who tell

them it is a question they have thought about a great deal. They have also been relieved to find almost none of the hostility which they expected. Mrs Preston talks about responsibility. The people of Christchurch know better than her where that responsibility is justly placed. The decision and the responsibility for it must be given not to Parliament, hospital boards or abortion panels but to the individuals involved: mother, father and doctor. —Yours, etc., ALAN L. WILKINSON. July 28, 1977.

[This correspondence is now closed.—Editor]