When does human life begin?

At 5 days? At about5 days the ball of cells implants itself in the wall of the mother’s womb.

At 24 days? The foetus is developing rapidly, it has a spine, and spinal cord, and it’s heart beats. In a few days the brain will begin to function, and the foetus will have its own blood type.

At 35 days? The foetus has developed muscles & begins to move, the nervous system is developed & the stomach produces digestive juices.

At 45 days? The foetus has developed a skeleton and the buds of mild teeth. The brain function may be measured.

At 8 weeks ? At eight weeks the unborn child is called a foetus and is approximately half an inch long. The arms and legs have formed, and lengthened, fingers and toes have developed - fingerprints already engraved on them. Veins are clearly visible, kidneys and liver are functioning. The nostrils are plugged up with protective material and the eyelids and palms of the hands are sensitive to touch. Milk teeth are budding in the gums and ears may bear a family resemblance.

At 13 weeks ? The foetus is approximately cm long. The nose, lips and ears are easily recognisable and the facial features resemble the parents. Reflexes are strong and movements are graceful and flowing. Sex organs are visible and primitive sperm and egg cells are present. Fine hair has begun to grow on the head and the sex of the foetus is easily discernible.

At 20 weeks ? The foetus now weighs approximately one pound is about approximately one foot tall or around 31 cm in length. The skin is no longer transparent but is opaque and sweat glands are developing. Loud noises provoke activity and the fetus frequently responds to sounds that are too loud or too low for adults to hear.

At 30 weeks ? The fetus weighs approximately 2 ½ pounds and is about 38 cm long. Permanent teeth are present in the gums, the eyelids open and close, eyes look around. The mother’s voice is heard and recognised by the foetus. And it grip is so strong it is capable of supporting it’s own weight with one hand. The foetus is usually capable of living outside the womb and is considered to be premature if born at this point. Antibodies build up, hiccups occur and the child has as many brain cells as it will at full term.

At 40 weeks \ birth ? This marks the end of the normal gestation period. The child is now ready and able to live outside the mother’s womb. After birth, the child is still dependant on its parents for survival for some time to come. It cannot rationalise or be self aware for approximately another 18 months.