Giving the reason why surviving siblings of aborted babies may feel grief and guilt, particularly when the abortion is done after the third or fourth month, researchers said:
“In the presence of prenatal life, young children do not separate the concept of “fetus” from the concept of “baby”. The conceptual difference between the two is a medical and social construct of adults and is not easily understood by children whose approach to the world is concrete.”
Furlong R M, Black R B. Pregnancy Termination for Genetic Indications: the Impact on Families. Social Work in Healthcare 1984, fall; 10 (1): 17 – 34
