Woman Offered Termination After 20-Week Scan, Stunned by What Happens Next

U.S.NewsPoliticsTechFact CheckSportsGlobalIran WarRussia-UkraineMiddle EastChina And AsiaLive BlogBetter PlanetAll World NewsLifestyleFamily & ParentingEntertainmentTravelPetsAutomotiveRelationshipsScienceHealthPersonal FinanceBetter WorkplacesReaders ChoiceOpinionMy TurnAll OpinionRankingsHealthFinanceProductsEducationWorkplacesCorporate ResponsibilityAll RankingsWatchThe 1600The Royal ReportUnconventionalFrom The PaddockNewsmakersExtraNewslettersDare to DreamEventsEssaysPodcastsVantageInsightsMagazineCEO CircleAnnouncementsLeadershipDev Pragad A pregnant woman from Queensland, Australia, was left reeling after she was offered a medical termination at 20 weeks. After undergoing IVF with the help of a donor, Caitlin Christodoulou and her wife Zoe, both 23, were excited to welcome a baby boy. Caitlin told Newsweek that the advice from health professionals made their “hearts sick.” “Everything around us [went] silent and… it became so serious so quickly,” she said. “All the questions and thoughts were already consuming us but after that, it really hit us how badly all these medical professionals were concerned for our son’s wellbeing and quality of life.” The first-time parents felt excited about their 20-week scan, but looking back, Caitlin had a hunch from her 12-week scan that her baby was measuring small. “Due to it being my first pregnancy, I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “I think subconsciously I knew they were going to tell me he was small, but the excitement was above all to see him again.” The parents-to-be were later told that their baby was measuring below the 1st percentile. Being below the 1st percentile means the baby was smaller than more than 99 percent of babies at the same stage of pregnancy, prompting doctors to closely monitor their growth and wellbeing as it could signal problems with the placenta or underlying genetic conditions. Fetal growth restriction affects 10 percent of all pregnancies, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and is associated with increased perinatal risk. Research has found that growth restriction detected early in pregnancy is difficult to interpret. A 2026 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found some fetuses diagnosed at the 18‑ to 23‑week scans later showed normal growth, but their risk of problems like respiratory distress and preterm birth remained elevated. The research shows that early growth restriction could signal an underlying vulnerability, which is why clinicians recommend close monitoring throughout the pregnancy. For Caitlin and Zoe, they were left in complete shock after doctors couldn't rule out the possibility their baby had a genetic disorder. "Going through IVF and having a donor baby, you get so much information given to you about genetics and family history, but at the same time, there’s so much unknown so we just had so many unanswered questions,” Caitlin said. “At that point, it was really out of our hands and was just a waiting game while we tried to find more answers.” Despite the stream of warnings from doctors, Caitlin and Zoe decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. According to them, scans and measurements had so far found no evidence of any genetic disorders or physical abnormalities in their unborn baby. Caitlin said doctors were basing their concerns largely on the baby's size and, given the uncertainty surrounding his condition, wanted to keep investigating in case an underlying issue became apparent after he was born. “I think the biggest factor for me and [Zoe] was the fact that our baby was so active every scan; he was moving all the time,” Caitlin said. “As mothers from the start of doing IVF to actually falling pregnant, we made a commitment to that child—no matter what care he may need during his life—so we were certain we would not terminate.” Caitlin gave birth to a completely healthy baby boy named Etchoss. Despite what doctors said, Etchoss didn’t need a feeding tube, oxygen or care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after he was born. He also didn’t have any genetic disorders and has reached all his developmental milestones. Now, nearly 7 months old, Etchoss is thriving, and his parents are enjoying motherhood. For other parents who may have received similar messages from health professionals, Caitlin advised listening to that gut feeling. "At the end of the day, they are the ones that see the scary things on the daily and unfortunately, they do see some very unhappy endings for a lot of families,” Caitlin said. “Their opinions do still matter, but ask as many questions as you feel is necessary to determine what the best choice for you and your family is.” Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-SangBy Daniella GrayReporter

0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.A pregnant woman from Queensland, Australia, was left reeling after she was offered a medical termination at 20 weeks.

After undergoing IVF with the help of a donor, Caitlin Christodoulou and her wife Zoe, both 23, were excited to welcome a baby boy.

Caitlin told Newsweek that the advice from health professionals made their “hearts sick.”

“Everything around us [went] silent and… it became so serious so quickly,” she said. “All the questions and thoughts were already consuming us but after that, it really hit us how badly all these medical professionals were concerned for our son’s wellbeing and quality of life.”

The first-time parents felt excited about their 20-week scan, but looking back, Caitlin had a hunch from her 12-week scan that her baby was measuring small.

“Due to it being my first pregnancy, I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “I think subconsciously I knew they were going to tell me he was small, but the excitement was above all to see him again.”

The parents-to-be were later told that their baby was measuring below the 1st percentile.

Being below the 1st percentile means the baby was smaller than more than 99 percent of babies at the same stage of pregnancy, prompting doctors to closely monitor their growth and wellbeing as it could signal problems with the placenta or underlying genetic conditions. Fetal growth restriction affects 10 percent of all pregnancies, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and is associated with increased perinatal risk.

Research has found that growth restriction detected early in pregnancy is difficult to interpret. A 2026 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found some fetuses diagnosed at the 18‑ to 23‑week scans later showed normal growth, but their risk of problems like respiratory distress and preterm birth remained elevated. The research shows that early growth restriction could signal an underlying vulnerability, which is why clinicians recommend close monitoring throughout the pregnancy.

For Caitlin and Zoe, they were left in complete shock after doctors couldn’t rule out the possibility their baby had a genetic disorder.

“Going through IVF and having a donor baby, you get so much information given to you about genetics and family history, but at the same time, there’s so much unknown so we just had so many unanswered questions,” Caitlin said. “At that point, it was really out of our hands and was just a waiting game while we tried to find more answers.”

Despite the stream of warnings from doctors, Caitlin and Zoe decided to go ahead with the pregnancy.

According to them, scans and measurements had so far found no evidence of any genetic disorders or physical abnormalities in their unborn baby.

Caitlin said doctors were basing their concerns largely on the baby’s size and, given the uncertainty surrounding his condition, wanted to keep investigating in case an underlying issue became apparent after he was born.

“I think the biggest factor for me and [Zoe] was the fact that our baby was so active every scan; he was moving all the time,” Caitlin said. “As mothers from the start of doing IVF to actually falling pregnant, we made a commitment to that child—no matter what care he may need during his life—so we were certain we would not terminate.”

Caitlin gave birth to a completely healthy baby boy named Etchoss.

Despite what doctors said, Etchoss didn’t need a feeding tube, oxygen or care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after he was born.

He also didn’t have any genetic disorders and has reached all his developmental milestones.

Now, nearly 7 months old, Etchoss is thriving, and his parents are enjoying motherhood.

For other parents who may have received similar messages from health professionals, Caitlin advised listening to that gut feeling.

“At the end of the day, they are the ones that see the scary things on the daily and unfortunately, they do see some very unhappy endings for a lot of families,” Caitlin said. “Their opinions do still matter, but ask as many questions as you feel is necessary to determine what the best choice for you and your family is.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang