Learn the Simple Facts
Fertilization and Conception
When a male’s sperm meets a woman’s egg, a new and unique individual's life begins. This new little human is called a zygote, which is a single celled human being. A human is only a zygote for a short period of time, about 36 hours, before the cells begin multiplying. This little human is now an embryo.
Life in the Early Stages: Embryo
An embryo is an unborn developing human being from about the second until the eighth week of gestation. (Remember this next time you hear someone day “its an embryo, not a baby!). This little embryo will then travel down the woman’s fallopian tubes and begin the process of implantation. Implantation is the process of the embryo implanting in the mother’s uterus. This can take about a week to complete.
Here are some quick facts about an embryo!
Around 18-21 days the baby’s heartbeat begins beating and the eyes begin forming!
Between 24-28 days little arm and leg buds begin to appear and muscles begin to form.
At 28 days our little baby is a quarter of an inch long, 10,000 times bigger than the baby was when they were a zygote! Baby is growing fast!
At 6 weeks brain waves can be detected and lungs begin forming. This is when most women find out that they are pregnant!
Between 6 and 7 weeks the little muscles that began forming around 24-28 days begin actually working together.
At 7 weeks the baby’s reflexes begin to kick in, the skeleton is formed and so are the little ears!
At 8 weeks our little baby graduates from the embryo stage and begins entering the fetus stage just as the fingers and toes are defined. At 8 weeks our baby can feel pain and this is when most women have abortions.
Abortion facts
The majority of abortions happen when the baby is under 9 weeks old. This means that brain waves may already be present, the baby can possibly feel pain and the baby’s heartbeat will cease if an abortion is performed.
The abortion that takes place is called a chemical abortion which is done by the abortion pill.
Before we continue please note that if you or someone you know has taken the first abortion pill and regrets it, it may not be too late to save your baby. Get information on the abortion pill reversal by clicking HERE.
The Abortion Pill
A chemical abortion consists of two steps. The first step is taking a pill called RU-486, otherwise known as mifepristone. Mifepristone blocks off a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is an essential hormone that is naturally produced in the mother to uphold the lining of the uterus. When progesterone is blocked, the lining of the uterus will begin to break down, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the baby. The baby will then die from lack of oxygen and nutrients.
It is important to note that the effects of mifepristone can be reversed if one administers progesterone. Click HERE to learn more.
Once the baby has passed, within the 24-48 hours the woman will then take a second pill, misoprostol. This will cause cramping, heavy bleeding and contractions in an effort to remove the embryo from the uterus, often being expelled into a toilet and flushed. This whole process can take anywhere from a couple of hours to about a week. After this process is complete, the woman will continue to bleed and cramp for 9-16 days following.
The risks and effects of the abortion pill
0.5% of women require hospitalization
8% bleed longer than 30 days
Women often will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers, headaches, and even maternal deaths have occurred.
Increase risk in ectopic pregnancy
The Simple Life in the Womb
Life in the womb is one of the most exciting and mind blowing processes we as humans might ever know. Biologists have studied life in the womb for some time now and needless to say it is not so simple. However, it is important to understand life in the womb in simple terms so that we may understand the inherent value and dignity of each human life from the very beginning.
Life in the Early Stages: Fetus
By dictionary definition a fetus is “an offspring of a human or other mammal in the stages of prenatal development that follow the embryo stage (in humans taken as beginning eight weeks after conception).” A baby will remain in the fetus stage until the baby is born. A ton of amazing things happen in the 32 remaining weeks of pregnancy.
Here are some quick facts about a fetus!
At 9 weeks the little baby’s eyes are fully present, the baby has a little nose.
At 11 weeks, the baby is two and a half inches long and weighs three quarters of an ounce.
At just 12 weeks the fetus can suck his or her thumb. The baby’s lungs and brain growth are also complete.
By 13 weeks the baby’s auditory sense is present! Baby also goes from four inches to six inches between weeks 13 and 16. At this point the little heart that began beating between 18-21 days is now pumping 6 gallons of blood per day.
At 16 weeks the little baby can hiccup and mom can feel the baby move within her.
At 28 Weeks the Baby's eyes partially open and eyelashes have formed. The baby’s central nervous system begins to direct rhythmic breathing movements and control body temperature.
By Week 29 the Baby kicks and stretches
At 30 Weeks the Baby's hair grows and red blood cells are forming in the baby’s bone morrow.
At 31 Weeks the Baby's rapid weight gain begins. About a half of a pound each week!
By week 32 the Baby practices breathing and toenails are visible!
By Week 33 the Baby detects light
The little baby's pupils can change size in response to a stimulus caused by light. And the baby’s bones are beginning to harden!
Week 34: Baby's fingernails grow to the end of the fingertips.
By week 37 your baby has a firm grasp.
At 39 weeks the Baby's chest is prominent and Fat is being added all over the baby's body to keep him or her warm after birth.
And finally, at week 40 its time to welcome this new little baby into the world!!
Abortion Facts
A baby is in the stage of a fetus for the majority of the pregnancy, both the second and third trimester. The baby will grow a ton between the two trimesters, therefore, depending on size, there are two types of abortions. If the baby is in the second trimester, the abortion procedure will be a Dilation and Evacuation procedure, or a D & E abortion.
The Abortion Pill
A chemical abortion consists of two steps. The first step is taking a pill called RU-486, otherwise known as mifepristone. Mifepristone blocks off a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is an essential hormone that is naturally produced in the mother to uphold the lining of the uterus. When progesterone is blocked, the lining of the uterus will begin to break down, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the baby. The baby will then die from lack of oxygen and nutrients.
It is important to note that the effects of mifepristone can be reversed if one administers progesterone. Click HERE to learn more.
Once the baby has passed, within the 24-48 hours the woman will then take a second pill, misoprostol. This will cause cramping, heavy bleeding and contractions in an effort to remove the embryo from the uterus, often being expelled into a toilet and flushed. This whole process can take anywhere from a couple of hours to about a week. After this process is complete, the woman will continue to bleed and cramp for 9-16 days following.
The risks and effects of the abortion pill
0.5% of women require hospitalization
8% bleed longer than 30 days
Women often will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers, headaches, and even maternal deaths have occurred.
Increase risk in ectopic pregnancy