Political/World Issues
Life
I recently did a post on abortion. If you read this post you know that most abortions are performed in the first and second trimester. Specifically the 5th to 12th week. I thought I would research the development of babies during these trimesters. These sweet lives are undeniably more than "blobs of tissue".
(The photographs below are of live babies. This content is appropriate for all ages.)
First
trimester development (weeks
since LMP):
From fertilization: a new human embryo exists, already a boy or girl.
(Photo of 5 week embryo)
6 weeks: baby has head, chest and abdomen, is ½ cm long and arms and legs have started to develop.
7 weeks: baby's brain has all the divisions, subdivisions and cavities as in an infant's brain; face and fingers are taking shape and when face is touched, embryo reflexively moves away.
(Photo of 8 week old embryo)
9
weeks:baby
can move hands and neck and may get hiccups.
10 weeks: baby is almost 11/4 inches, makes startle movements and general movements of whole body: all fingers and toes are fully formed, hairs on eyebrows and other areas of face appear.
10 weeks: baby is almost 11/4 inches, makes startle movements and general movements of whole body: all fingers and toes are fully formed, hairs on eyebrows and other areas of face appear.
11
weeks:
baby is a fetus, can sigh, stretch and starts sucking thumb. His/her
face, palms of hands, and soles of feet are sensitive to light touch.
12 weeks: baby is 3 inches long with all major body parts and apart from the tiny size, closely resembles a newborn.
13
weeks:
baby can make complex facial expressions and by end of this week
will be almost 4 inches, having grown almost an inch every week since
10 weeks.
(Photo of 13 week Embryo)
Second
trimester development (weeks
since LMP):
Abortions are performed in the 2nd trimester in some states. Our nearest Planned Parenthood in Spokane WA performs abortions up to 17 weeks. Check the stats for your state or country so you can educate others and save lives!
(These links go to pages without any graphic images)
Abortions are performed in the 2nd trimester in some states. Our nearest Planned Parenthood in Spokane WA performs abortions up to 17 weeks. Check the stats for your state or country so you can educate others and save lives!
(These links go to pages without any graphic images)
At 14 weeks: the fetus is 5 inches long.
15 weeks: baby responds to light touch virtually anywhere on his/her body.
(Photo of 16 week Embryo)
18 weeks: if poked with a needle, the fetus releases stress hormones.
(Photo of 20 week embryo)
20
weeks:
baby is 10 inches long with eyebrows and head hair.
21 weeks: baby has breathing cycles.
22 weeks: baby can hear sounds. His/her skin and all its structures are completely formed. At 22 weeks the fetus may survive outside the womb with specialist care.
(Photo of 22 week old embryo)
18 weeks: if poked with a needle, the fetus releases stress hormones.
(Photo of 20 week embryo)
20
weeks:
baby is 10 inches long with eyebrows and head hair. 21 weeks: baby has breathing cycles.
22 weeks: baby can hear sounds. His/her skin and all its structures are completely formed. At 22 weeks the fetus may survive outside the womb with specialist care.
(Photo of 22 week old embryo)
25 weeks: breathing motions are more frequent, shows blink-startle response.
(Photo of Embryo at 26 weeks)
26
weeks:
eyelids open.
How Could I Help?
"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" Proverbs 31:8
Many people ask me what are some good ways to "do" something about abortion, or to help save these babies, or to minister to the moms. Actually there is endless opportunities to do just that! Here are just a few ideas --
Join your local Crisis Pregnancy Center. (Life Choices Pregnancy Center in Sandpoint.)
Find out if your grocery store offers any "community cards" where you could have a percentage of your grocery money go towards your local Crisis Pregnancy center. (Yokes Market Community Card)
Run for babies! Join a pro-life group that runs marathons for babies. (Life Runners!)
Have gently used baby clothes? Donate them to you local Crisis Pregnancy center. (Earn While You Learn!)
Join Voices of Dissidence for updates on what you can do.
Inform the public! (Created Equal)
Buy The Choice and give to friends.
Contact your legislators! (Idaho's legislators)
Related Posts:
To Be His Witness
Being a Jeremiah in a Jerusalem World
My Ministry to the Jews
Good job, Toni! All that you showed with the photos and stages of development is in my training manual at RealOptions and I just went through that on Thursday. I also had to learn about the different abortion procedures and that was one of the hardest, most painful things I have ever read. I wonder if Planned Parenthood actually explains in detail what the procedures entail to the woman who is making the choice to abort. We had a young Indian woman come in for information this week, and we prayed she would change her mind after learning about the procedure for her stage of development...she actually showed remorse and regret, but left saying she had no choice because of her parents who would never accept her having a child out of wedlock and how her culture is so totally set against young women who have sex outside of marriage...her parents were not even allowing her to date, so she obviously was in a secretive relationship. Her boyfriend was with her and she said he was supportive of her either way. She said she had an appointment at Planned Parenthood (which is actually right across the street from us-- God's planning!) next week. We are praying that her experience with us -- the caring, the presentation of facts, the offer to be a safe haven for her-- will possibly make a difference. We are also praying that her parents, if they find out she is pregnant, will change their attitude and embrace her and her baby.
ReplyDeleteWow. I will be praying for this woman. I am so thrilled to hear how you are making a difference at RealOptions. I know how painful it is to educate yourself on abortion. That's why I did a post on it. I think if everyone knew what abortion really is, there would be fewer of them. Thank you for sharing this. I hope all Maid Arise readers will pray for this young woman. Please let us know if she comes back!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this Toni. It was very well done. Life is so precious, isn't it? Worth saving.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Miss Donna, I will be praying for this young girl!