- May 28, 2023

Fetal Development

On Abortion

Let’s investigate how a child develops in the womb. It may be worth mentioning that, no, a fetus does not look like a literal clump of cells. In a 2022 article from The Guardian, a severely misleading post was published which presented pregnancy tissue (e.g., uterine lining, gestational sac) in place of a developing infant. The images have unfortunately been passed around the internet to combat any idea that a fetus has any visible human-like qualities. Let the following overview serve to counter this, showing that a new human life does in fact develop human-like qualities, and develops them very rapidly.

There are a number of different dating systems for pregnancy, the most commonly used being “gestational age” (ga.), which begins from the start of the woman's last menstrual period and dates fertilisation at two weeks along. “Fertilisation age” (fa.) begins on the day of fertilisation, and “implantation age” begins at implantation.

1. Germinal Stage

This stage begins at conception, when the sperm and egg cell unite in a fallopian tube and become a zygote. It’s interesting to note that, within the first two hours after fertilisation, the zygote releases 2-3 (even up to 5) sparks of light. This is due to an increase in calcium and rapid release of zinc, which joins itself to small molecule probes, creating a microscopic flash of light.[1] The zygote begins to travel to the uterus, and about 24 hours after fertilisation, cell division begins – from one cell, to two, to four, etc. Cells begin to take on certain characteristics, and will separate into two masses, eventually becoming the placenta and embryo.

While journeying to the uterine wall, the zygote develops into a blastocyst, which is made up of three layers: (1) The ectoderm: skin and nervous system. (2) The endoderm: digestive and respiratory system. And (3) the mesoderm: muscle and skeletal system. The blastocyst then attaches to the uterine wall (i.e., implantation). A large number of conceptions will have failed to reach this point, failing to survive through various processes. But if all goes according to plan, the blastocyst essentially takes over hormonal control of the whole uterus, and implantation finishes about 7 days after fertilisation (3 weeks ga.).

2. Embryonic Stage

Weeks 3-10 ga. mark the embryonic period, playing an important role in the development of the brain. At 3-4 weeks fa., a heartbeat can be detected. About 4 weeks fa., the neural tube forms (and with it, brain vesicles form), later to develop into the central nervous system (i.e., the spinal cord and brain). Around 4 weeks ga., the head begins to form, soon followed by distinct facial features. The blood vessel (later to become the heart) begins to pulse, and a heartbeat can be detected later by ultrasound at 6-7 weeks ga.. During week 5 ga., stubs appear that will form arms and legs. It is around this time that most women become aware of their pregnancy (4-7, or more commonly 5-6, weeks ga.).

Around week 7 ga., the embryo begins to develop their first sense – touch. By week 8 ga., fingers have begun to form, the embryo has all of its basic organs (aside from sex organs), and the production of brain cells begins. By 6 weeks ca. (or 8 weeks ga.), ultrasounds reveal the embryo moving, and electrical impulses can be detected (indicating the beginnings of brain function). In week 9 ga., the embryo can suck her thumb, open and close her jaw, stretch, and sigh. By the end of the embryonic stage, cell differentiation is mostly complete. The basic structures of the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system have been established, and rudimentary neural networks begin to form as neurons form connections with other neural cells.

Most abortions take place during the embryonic stage, and a remaining 20% take place later.

3. Fetal Stage

The remainder of the pregnancy is termed the “fetal stage.” Systems/structures established in the previous stage continue to develop. Between 9-12 weeks ga., reflexes begin to emerge, and the fetus begins to make motions with its arms and legs. By the end of the third month ga., all parts of the body are formed. This marks the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, the fetus increases six times in size. The heart grows stronger, body systems develop further, and hair, lashes, and nails form. By the end of the trimester, the central nervous system becomes more responsive, and brain activity resembles that of a sleeping newborn. A baby born at this stage has a slim, but possible, chance of survival. In fact, fetuses born too early have been known to be saveable at as early as 21 weeks ga..

The third and final trimester continues development and growth, and muscles in the lungs prepare for breathing. Childbirth, on average, occurs at 40 weeks ga..

If you’re wondering when pain comes into the picture, there is no consensus. The matter is still debated by medical professionals, who have together argued that fetal pain comes to exist somewhere within the wide range of 7-24 weeks ga. (though later weeks seem to be the most common consensus).

The matter of when "consciousness" enters the picture is also blurry. The very definition of consciousness is already a puzzle in both science and philosophy, but we realise that it probably has something to do with the mind/brain. Fetal brain development starts before many women even realise that they are pregnant; however, larger milestones occur later, leading many to argue that consciousness cannot emerge before 24 gestational weeks.