About your unborn baby
Have you ever thought about what is growing in your womb? From the moment of conception a unique human being has existed in your womb. From conception until birth nothing is added to your baby except time and growth.

When your unborn baby was first conceived he was as small as a grain of sand. By the time you became aware of your pregnancy, your unborn baby had developed and grown in many wondrous ways.

Where is your baby in his development?

Conception:
Father's sperm enters mother's egg; a new human has come into existence.

5-9 Days:
Baby's sex is be determined but not necessarily detectable.

14 Days:
Baby signals his existence by causing his mother to miss her menstrual period.

21 Days:
Baby's heart begins to beat.

28 Days:
Arms and Legs are beginning to develop.

30 Days:
Blood flows through baby's veins.

35 Days:
Five fingers can be discerned on hand.

42 Days:
Brain waves can be measured; all major body systems are developing; skeleton is formed.

8 Weeks:
1 1/8 inches long; brain completely formed; all body systems are present.

10 Weeks:
Baby moves tongue, swallows, makes fist, sucks thumb.

12 Weeks:
3 inches long; weighs one ounce; finger and toe nails are developing; actively kicks.

4 Months:
6-7 inches long; four ounces; facial features are present; complete set of vocal cords present.

5 Months:
10-12 inches long; one pound; mother definitely feels baby's movements; with special care, baby can survive outside womb.

6 Months:
11-14 inches long; 1 1/2 pounds; eye lashes are formed.

7 Months:
14-17 inches long; 2 1/2 pounds; completely developed; recognizes mother's voice.

9 Months:
Normal time for birth to occur.

About the Abortion

Abortion procedures vary according to the stage of pregnancy. Each procedure is painful for both the mother and her unborn baby. Abortion procedures include:

Menstrual Extraction:
An early suction abortion.

Suction D & C (dilation and curettage): the most frequently used procedure, performed up to the twelfth week of pregnancy. After the cervix is dilated, a suction machine nearly thirty times more powerful than a vacuum cleaner dismembers and removes the baby.

D & E (dilation and evacuation): performed the twelfth through sixteenth weeks. Similar to a D & C, but forceps are used to dismember the baby and crush his head so it can pass through the suction tube.

Saline (salt solution) or Prostaglandin (hormone): performed after the sixteenth week, injected through the mothers abdomen into the amniotic sac. The baby is delivered vaginally after a painful labor; baby may be born alive.

Hysterectomy: performed after the twenty-sixth week. The same procedure as a Caesarian section, the mother's uterus is entered surgically, the baby is removed, and often left to die.

D & X (dilation & extraction): performed the fourth to ninth months. The baby is delivered legs first, except for his head. Suction is used to remove the baby's brain so his head can be collapsed and removed.

During pregnancy your body is changing to meet the needs of you and your baby. Physically and emotionally you may not be feeling well. That's normal. Most women experience some discomfort, doubts, and anxiety, even during planned pregnancies.

With so many physical and emotional changes taking place, this is a difficult time to make a life changing decision. Because of your untimely pregnancy, you may feel scared and confused. People may encourage you to end your pregnancy to resolve your situation. Remember, pregnancy means you carry a living human being in your womb. If you decide to end your pregnancy by abortion, you will also end the life of your unborn baby.

About the Aftermath

After an abortion, many women experience one or more of the following consequences, some of which may take several years to surface.

Physical:

• Excessive bleeding, may require blood transfusions.

• Perforated uterus or damage to other organs.

• Chronic and acute infections.

• Intense pain.

• Incomplete removal of baby or placenta.

• High fever, convulsions, shock, coma.

• Increase in miscarriages, ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, premature births, and stillbirths.

• Irregular pap smears; breast cancer.

• Infertility.

• Death.

Emotional:

• Feelings of helplessness or isolation.

• Frequent or uncontrollable crying.

• Sadness, grief, remorse

• Guilt; anxiety.

• Shame and fear of others finding out.

• Distrust and feelings of betrayal.

• Bitterness, anger, resentment

• Broken relationships.

• Denial.

• Nightmares and flashbacks.

• Sexual problems (frigidity or promiscuity)

• Inability to tolerate the sound of a vacuum cleaner or dentist's drill, because it sounds like the suction machine.

• Alcohol and/or drug abuse in order to forget.

• Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again or fear of future pregnancies.

• Avoidance of situations and people which bring children, pregnancy, or the abortion to mind.

• Depression; mental breakdown.

• Fear of punishment from God.

• Difficulty forgiving others.

• Thoughts of suicide.