What Does an Embryo Feel? And What Conditions Must Be Met for the Sensation of Pain?
The topic of pain perception in embryos (the term used for an unborn child up to the end of the 8th week of pregnancy) and fetuses (from the 9th week of pregnancy onward) is viewed from different angles by researchers and is subject to controversy.
There is clear evidence of an astonishing prenatal (before birth) development in the child – including first sensory impressions and learning experiences. For instance, research has shown that unborn babies strongly respond to their mother's voice, and the foundations for learning the mother tongue may already be laid. Positive emotions and stress in the mother can also affect the unborn child, as evidenced in the child's hormone levels and heartbeat.¹
Looking at the embryonic developmental phase: as early as the 5th/6th week, the heart and circulatory system are developing, and the nervous system is forming. By the 7th/8th week, the brain is developing. Both hemispheres of the brain are detectable on day 40, and electrical brain activity from day 44. By the 8th week, the spinal cord is formed, the first impulses are processed by the brain, and neural pathways are connecting.
Some researchers suspect pain perception occurs only from the 20th or 24th week of pregnancy or even after birth. According to Stuart Derbyshire, pain requires intelligence and pain awareness. Reactions of embryos or fetuses would only be reflexes.² ³
Other medical professionals believe that, due to the early development of the central nervous system, pain perception is present quite early. Prenatal psychology points to studies showing how fetuses behave during a puncture.⁴ The American Society of Anesthesiologists and the North American Fetal Therapy Network recommend that babies in the womb receive pain-relieving medication during invasive surgeries.⁵
In the end, we do not know for certain how and what children in the womb feel. Different disciplines play a role in the assessment and ongoing research.
🧡 If you’re asking yourself this question and are currently considering a possible abortion, it’s best to take your time to carefully weigh all your thoughts and feelings. You deserve to pursue what matters to you.
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