So when DOES Life Begin?

When does life begin? It can be argued that there are people on this earth for decades who still don't have a life. Or maybe they just don't have much of a life. But for the sake of argument, let us concern ourselves solely with when does life begin for a fetus within a woman's womb.

First we must define what is life. For instance, a person in a vegetative state breathes and has normal automated bodily functions, but their brain has no activity. So is this life? Or must there be brain activity along with breathing and a heartbeat? And conversely what of those who have no outward functioning, relying on machines to pump blood and stimulate breathing, but we know they are alive inside their minds? Can we say that brain activity without motor function is not life?

For the sake of argument, again, let us say that life is when there is any of these activities within the human body. If it breathes, has a heartbeat, emits brainwaves, can hear and react, all of these, are measures of the existence of life.

When does a fetus / baby first breathe?

While in the womb, the fetus will draw in and expel out amniotic fluid beginning some time in the third trimester. This "breathing", however, is not for the intake of oxygen. The baby gets its oxygen through the umbilical cord. The fetal breathing is believed to be important in the development of the lungs. The first breathe of oxygen comes after delivery.

When can a fetus first hear?

There are some suggestions that a fetus can hear, and react to that auditory stimuli, at about 8 weeks. The earliest scientific study has the reactions at 27 weeks.

When can a fetus first see?

It is hard to test for vision in utero, but premature babies have shown visual acuity around 31 to 32 weeks. However, a fetus within the womb will react to light, though the eyelids are still fused, prior to 26 weeks. They will shrink away from a needle, or even use a fist to "attack" it at 16 weeks (a usual time for an amniocentesis). And twins can find each other at 20 weeks.

Can a fetus dream?

The answer from researchers is "yes." They experience rapid eye movement from about 23 weeks on. And their expressions vary from pleasant reactions to unpleasant ones, indicative of inner mental or emotional activity.

How about taste? Can a fetus experience taste within the womb?

The structures for taste are existent in a fetus at about 14 weeks. Researchers believe that the ability to taste begins at this time and is evident from preferences and the ability to differentiate tastes immediately after birth.

How early can you detect a fetal heartbeat?

The fetal heart beat can be first heart about 22 days after conception. And throughout the pregnancy and development of the fetus, the heart will quicken or slow down in reaction to both forces within and outside the womb.

Can a fetus smell within the womb?

Since the latest research has discovered new information about the olfactory organ within humans, not much has been tested on fetal sense of smell. What is known is that the nasal organ develops at about 11 to 15 weeks. Some recent research suggests that with the nasal passages literally bathed in amniotic fluid and no fewer than 120 different chemicals are found in this fluid. Some testing shows babies reacting to coffee ingested by the mother. And they believe the development of the nose and its sense of smell explains how a baby is drawn to the scent of breast milk.

Can a fetus react to touch, as a baby does?

The fetus reacts in various stages of pregnancy to touch, from 8 weeks (the cheek) to about 32 weeks (the entire body).

Have brain waves been measured in a fetus?

The first detectable brain waves occur somewhere around the 9th week. The brain itself begins its development from the 5th week on.

What else has been said about fetal development that might suggest life?

At 21 days, the baby has its own circulatory system and pumps its own blood throughout ts body. At 7 weeks, fetus have been photographed sucking their thumbs. At 11 weeks the fetus has fingernails. At 18 weeks the vocal cords work.

So, the question is "when does life begin?" And the answer is, I don't know for certain.There are all kinds of indications that life begins sometime during pregnancy while the fetus is still within the womb. And there are arguments against that. Some say life begins when you can think for yourself. But that is so vague as to not be taken seriously. Some say its when you breathe air for the first time. Why is air, however, to be defined as the definitive source of life?

I know for me that I hold a belief that life begins within the womb. But that is my own personally held truth. For someone else, my arguments will not be convincing. However, I also believe in erring on the side of caution. What if people are wrong about life beginning after delivery? What if in the future, some measurement or communication can be done while the fetus is still within the womb, and it is determined that life exists prior to birth. Would you want to be responsible for committing murder through ignorance? Not me.

Sources:

Life Before Birth: The Fetal Senses

http://www.birthpsychology.com/lifebefore/fetalsense.html

The Brain From Top To Bottom

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_09/i_09_cr/i_09_cr_dev/i_09_cr_dev.html

Facts Of Fetal Development

http://www.prolife.com/FETALDEV.html