When Does Human Life Begin?

This hub is a second part of “Before You Take That Decision to abort Your Child”

I have come to discover that one great parameter that makes the concept of abortion a controversial issue is the differentiated opinion that infers that the fetus is a “tissue” or “mere mass of inhuman flesh in the womb” and not a living being.

This challenege would be resolved by determining when life of the unborn baby actually begins.

In my curiosity, I got a video on abortion and fetal development from Tyler Young and followed same religiously.

In this hub I want to express without bias what I saw in the video.

The Scientific Evidence

Discover magazine of May 2004 with the cover title “When Does viable Life begin?” Science has an answer revealed that life begins at conception. That is at conception we have a living human being when the cell of the man meets with that of the woman with fertilization taking place.

That’s how you and I began with everything that you are today-the hair of your hair, the size of your feet, and shape of your nose among other body parts.

Stages of Fetal Development

Week 7 after conception- the child develops tiny little fingers with distinctive features of a human being.

Week 8- This is the time in pregnancy when many women do not realize they are pregnant. All the body systems are present and the child can breathe and the little baby could suck the thumb.

Week 10 after conception-The entire structure of the body is completely formed.

Week 12 after conception- vigorous activity shows individuality which include curls toes, makes fist, opens mouth and practices breathing.

Week 15 after conception-the baby is 4 inches long and could make facial expressions. The palm and feet resemble that of a new born baby.

Week 16 after conception- The baby swims and somersaults in the womb and the mother begins to feel the movement of the child for the first time.

From conception, all we have is the baby developing and growing. All the baby needs is time and nourishment to become an adult.

Tyler Young once said “birth is not a change in ones fundamental nature but a change in residence and dinning habit”.

The Impact of Advancement in technology

Advancement in technology has given us more opportunity and easier means to spy in greater details the life in the womb. Even the secular media is calling to attention to how modern science is helping peoples’ opinion of life in the womb and about abortion.

For example, The News Week magazine, June 2003 has a cover article titled “Should a fetus Have Rights?-How Science is changing the Debate!

From these evidences we could appreciate the fact that a fetus is a developing human from usually three months after conception to birth.

However, a pregnant woman would not tell the husband that she is carrying a “tissue” or “lifeless object” in her womb and no one would ever tell any pregnant woman that.

Is the Fetus a Tissue or a Living Being?

This issue of referring to the unborn child as a tissue perhaps has something to do with the book of C.S. Lovett in 1971 on Teens Pregnancy.

In a portion of his book, he said “aside from the moral issue, it has been my experience that abortion solves the problem with the least amount of bad side effects….

The Surgeon’s scalpel removes the “tissue”, and God’s forgiveness removes the guilt feeling.”

Innocently I ask, if what the woman has in the womb is a Tissue, why would anyone feel any guilt and shame at all after an abortion? Why the need for God’s forgiveness.

Does the fetus feel Pain?

The challenge of abortion has also revolved around the question “is it the child or the choice?”

There was a baby aborted between 19-22 weeks poisoned with saline injection and left to die. I was curious to ask “Does the fetus feel pain?

A professor of fetality showed that a baby can feel pain after 12 weeks. The baby is sensitive to touch, light, heat and noise.

I came to the knowledge that the difference between killing the born baby and the unborn is the difference in location, size, and stage of development. One is located in the real world; the other is in the womb.

I suggest that we do all to avoid any act or decision that would us in a state of confusion later in life.

Recommended vidoes on fetal development

birthbabyandmom

careflash