Abortion
To examine the issue of when life begins.
Key Word: Abortion
• An abortion is an operation to remove
the embryo/ foetus from the womb.
When does life begin?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdCQ9NxxyTo
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDnBU4y0pm4
Key Terms
• Embryo – weeks 1-7 of the baby’s development
• Foetus – name for a growing baby from week 8
Growth of the Foetus
Week The Foetus’s Development
No.
1
Growing bundle of cells enter
uterus
3
Eyes, ears and blood vessels
begin to form
4
Heart starts beating
6
All major organs present in
rudimentary form
Week
No.
The Foetus’s Development
7
Embryo is the size of a grape
9
Fingernails begin to form,
eyelids close over eyes
10
Baby about 2.5 inches long
11
Baby can move its thumb to its
finger; the two halves of the
palette fuse; vocal chords in
place
12
Form of the genitals is
established
13
Skeleton begins to turn to bone
14
Circulation is effective with the
heart pumping 28 litres a day
Week
No.
15
The Foetus’s Development
Baby thought to be aware
of loud external noises.
Head hair, eyelashes and
eyebrows visible
16
Mother begins to feel the
baby's movements. Thumb
sucking begins
19
Baby is half the length it
will be at birth
20
Baby develops a pattern of
activity and sleep; arms
and legs reach relative
birth proportions
22
Small chance the baby
would live if born now;
lungs immature
Week
No.
The Foetus’s Development
24
Half of babies born
at this stage survive
given sophisticated
care
25
80% of premature
babies survive at
this stage
26
Lungs sufficiently
developed to survive
28
Baby responds to
mother's voice
29
Baby settles in to
head-down position
Week
No.
The Foetus’s Development
3034
35
Pupils show reflex
response to light
37
Growth slows or stops;
baby is about 16-18
inches long
38
Birth, although only 5%
make their 'due date',
and 8-12% wait another 3
weeks
Baby orientates
spontaneously towards
light; begins practising
breathing movements
and can get hiccups
When do you think life begins? Explain
your reasons.