About the Unborn Child
On this page you will find information on when human life begins, milestones in the life of the unborn child, and resources for learning more about life in the womb. See also the related Questions and Answers page on the abortion for information on how and when the unborn children described here are killed by abortion.
- When does life begin?
- What happens at the moment of conception?
- What's the difference between "fertilization" and "implantation"?
- What are the primary stages of fetal development
- When does the unborn child's heart begin to beat?
- When can the unborn child's brain waves be detected?
- When do fingerprints appear on the unborn child's hands?
- When can the unborn child feel pain?
- What are some of the other milestones of fetal development?
- How can I learn more about fetal development?
When does life begin?
Biology is crystal clear that at the moment of conception (also known as fertilization), a unique organism comes into existence. Since this new life possesses human DNA and is the offspring of human parents, it can legitimately only be described as human life.
Since there can be no question that human zygotes, embryos and fetuses are alive, some have attempted to claim that human beings are not "persons," until some threshold is crossed, such as viability, the capacity to feel pain, birth, or even the first year after birth. The merits of such notions can be debated, but it should be clear that they are not based on science but rather on ideology, philosophy or belief.
As far as observable science is concerned, human life begins at conception.
What happens at the moment of conception?
At the moment of conception, a male sperm unites with a female ovum. The single-celled entity formed by the sperm and oocyte (egg) is known as a zygote.
At conception, the zygote has 23 pairs of chromosomes and approximately 50,000 genes from each parent, which combine to determine all of one's physical characteristics, including sex, facial features, body type, and color of hair, eyes, and skin.
[Back to Top]What's the difference between "fertilization" and "implantation"?
Fertilization, also known as conception, is described above. Fertilization occurs in the Fallopian tube.
After fertilization, the tiny human being travels down the fallopian tube. Implantation, which occurs 8 to 10 days after fertilization, refers to the point at which the baby (now scientifically referred to as an "embryo"), implants in the mother's uterus and begins to draw nourishment.
What are the various stages of development in the womb?
Many stages of prenatal development can be identified, especially in the early days and weeks of life when change takes place at an extremely rapid pace. The following are the primary stages:
- Zygote—A single-celled human being from the moment of conception until the first cell division
- Blastocyst—A human being possessing 40 to 150 cells in the shape of a tiny ball; the placenta will develop from the outer cells, while the body develops from the inner cells.
- Embryo—A human being from the time of the first cell division up until approximately the eighth week of life
- Fetus—A human being from about the eighth week of life up until birth
To this list of stages of human development we might also add newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult and senior—the continuum of human life which begins with conception.
Trimesters of pregnancy
Prenatal development and pregnancy can also be divided into trimesters:
- First Trimester—From conception to 12 weeks gestation
- Second Trimester—From 13 through 27 weeks gestation
- Third Trimester—From 28 weeks gestation to birth
Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy, from conception until the unborn baby's body is completely born, at which moment the child may no longer be legally killed.
[Back to Top]When does the unborn child's heart begin to beat?
A baby's heart begins to beat 18 days from conception, and by 21 days the heart is pumping blood through a closed circulatory system.
When can the unborn child's brain waves be detected?
A baby's brainwaves can be detected at 6 weeks from conception.
When do fingerprints appear on the unborn child's hands?
Fingerprints have formed on an unborn child's hands by 14 weeks from conception.
When can the unborn child feel pain?
By 9 weeks from conception, all the structures necessary for pain sensation are functioning.
A 2005 study published in JAMA and widely reported in the mainstream media claimed that fetuses do not feel pain before the third trimester. However, serious questions have been raised about this study, whose authors include a NARAL activist and an abortionists. This conflict of interest was not disclosed by JAMA.
[Back to Top]What are some of the other milestones of fetal development?
In addition to the unborn child's heartbeat, brainwaves, fingerprints and capacity to feel pain, other important milestones include:
- At 4 weeks from conception, a baby's eye, ear, and respiratory systems begin to form.
- Thumbsucking has been documented at 7 weeks from conception.
- At 8 weeks from conception, a baby's heartbeat can be detected by ultrasonic stethoscope.
- By 9 weeks from conception, a baby is able to bend her fingers around an object in her hand.
- By 11 to 12 weeks from conception, the baby is breathing fluid steadily and continues to do so until birth.
- By 11 weeks from conception, a baby can swallow.
- Between 13 and 15 weeks from conception, a baby's taste buds are present and functioning.
- At 20 weeks, and perhaps as early as 16 weeks from conception, a baby is capable of hearing his mother's heartbeat and external noises like music.
- At 23 weeks from conception, babies have been shown to demonstrate rapid eye movements (REM), which are characteristic of active dream states.
- At six months from conception, a baby's oil and sweat glands are functioning.
- At seven months from conception, a baby frequently "exercises" in preparation for birth by stretching and kicking.
- At eight months from conception, a baby's skin begins to thicken, and swallows a gallon of amniotic fluid each day and often hiccups.
- During the ninth month from conception, a baby gains half a pound per week. Of the 45 generations of cell divisions before adulthood, 41 have already taken place.
How can I learn more about fetal development?
Many resources are available in print and online for learning more about fetal development. Some of the best books and websites include:
Books on Fetal Development
- A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson (Dell Publishing, 2003)
- From Conception to Birth: A Life Unfolds by Alexander Tsiaras (Doubleday, 2002)