Where does life truly begin? This is a controversial question that varies in its answer. Abortion is the ending of a life by taking out the embryo or fetus before it can survive outside the uterus. Some people believe that a child’s life begins at a zygote, and others believe that it’s not wrong to take a child’s life before the baby is born. I believe that a child’s life begins at the moment of conception and it should not be taken away from them.
Each child goes through stages of development. There are four different trimesters during pregnancy. All pregnancies are different, and they do not all last the full four trimesters. The first trimester lasts from week two-thirteen. During these seven weeks, the fertilized egg is beginning to divide into multiple cells and enters the uterus. Implantation then occurs, which a ball is formed of hundreds of cells multiply and the ovaries stop releasing eggs. The ball of cells is officially turning into an embryo and the baby is now the size of a poppy seed. Week five the baby has heart beat and the circulatory system begins to form, the baby is the size of a sesame seed. After this, the nose, mouth, and ears form; the intestines and brain are now developing. The baby doubles in size over the next week which makes he/she the size of a blueberry. While continuing to develop, the nerve cells are branching out, and the baby starts moving. Breathing tubes extend from the throat and lungs form; baby is now the size of a kidney bean. Rapidly gaining weight, the baby’s earlobes form. At week ten, the embryo has completed the most critical portion of development. The skin is now translucent; arms bend and nails form. Soon, the baby is almost fully formed and is the size of a fig. He/she starts kicking, stretching, and hiccupping. Week twelve is when the baby’s reflexes kick in. Fingers and toes open and close, toes will curl, and the mouth will make sucking movements. Finally, the last week of the first trimester, the baby’s veins and organs can now be seen. (https://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-week-by-week)
The second trimester begins following week thirteen. After this trimester, morning sickness and the chances of miscarriage is slim to none. The second trimester lasts from week fourteen to week twenty-seven. At the beginning of this trimester the baby is the size of a lemon but will develop and get as big as the head of a cauliflower. Kidneys begin to work. Ultrasounds take place during week fifteen. The baby is now finally kicking, and hair is forming on the head. As the umbilical cord is getting thicker, the skeleton is becoming bone. The baby is at an heirloom tomato stage when all its senses form. Swallowing and full kicks then occur. At twenty-two weeks, the baby now looks like a newborn child. For the rest of this trimester, the baby’s brain is active, they are rapidly gaining weight, and the lungs could function outside the womb with help from a doctor. (https://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-week-by-week)
The third trimester could be the last trimester for some pregnancies. Week twenty-eight through week thirty-eight could bring pain and discomfort for some expecting mothers. During this trimester, the mother might have to go to the hospital and can even go into labor. Eyesight becomes clearer and eyelashes develop. After the baby reaches the size of a butternut squash, the head gets larger to complete the development of the brain. A fluid called amniotic fluid forms around the baby to make more room in the mother’s uterus. The baby could be ready to come out at this time in your pregnancy; Depending on the baby and the mother. Everything on the baby is becoming fully developed. ( https://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-week-by-week)
If the mother hasn’t gone into labor by thirty-nine weeks, they will enter the last stage of pregnancy. This stage of pregnancy is called full term. This will last until the baby arrives. Thirty-nine weeks to forty-one. Most due dates take place during the third trimester. If you make it past your due date, it doesn’t always mean it’s a bad thing. These four trimesters show how much they are growing and developing into a human.
Many controversies over abortion all arise from the different views and ideas on when it is right to abort. The two main categories of abortion beliefs fall under pro-life or pro-choice. Anti-abortion movements are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in response to the legalization of elective abortions. Pro- life is the opposition to abortion. Pro-choice is the idea that you are given the right to choose. However, there are some cases when women are put in difficult situations that make the decision harder. For instance, women that become pregnant after being raped, face the decision of keeping or aborting the unwanted baby. The baby to the raped victim would be a reminder of a horrible memory to them. They might abort the baby out of shame, fear of genetic problems, or the oddity of having a child with a family member. Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person’s consent. Rape is a very violent crime that may unfortunately cause pregnancy. Rape and incest arguably the most common objections used in support of the legalization of abortion. Focus on the family states that about 15,000 abortions are attributed to rape and incest — representing 1.5 percent of all abortions. (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/life-issues/dignity-of-human-life/abortion-statistics)
Pro-life is the belief that all life is precious and should be valued. They believe that even though at the moment of conception there is only one cell, that life begins there. Unlike cars or clocks which parts come together piece by piece, living beings are all one from the start; they gradually form into their full potential. All life has a history of unique genetics that make them who they are with the help of oxygen and nutrition. (https://www.tfpstudentaction.org/blog/10-reasons-why-abortion-is-evil-not-a-pro-choice)
Many people that of different religions are pro-life. Christians and believe that God has a plan for each person’s life. They believe that there is a purpose behind everything that happens in life and the child was conceived because its apart of God’s plan. God says in Jerimiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-abortion/) . The bible also says in Psalm 127: 3-5 “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” (https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-abortion/).
Many Catholics in Orthodox Christians think that morally abortion is wrong. They believe that human life begins at conception. However, they make an exception only if the mother’s life is at risk. They only make an exception if all efforts have been made to save the fetus. This is called “principle of double effect”. This effect states that some actions can have a good desirable outcome which is acceptable even though it might have bad consequences. Another big religion, Buddhism, also oppose on having an abortion. Buddhists think that the Buddha’s scriptures tell how no human life should be taken away from them. Most religions are against abortions. However, if going through with the pregnancy results in death of the mother they might reconsider.
Pro-life believe that choosing to abort is acting against natural law to the human inside the womb. They believe that “pregnancy termination” is contradicting human nature by stopping the heart beat of an innocent child. Statics show that over fifty-eight million unborn children have died since the legalization of abortion in 1973. This is one hundred and fifty babies per hour, and one every twenty-four seconds. Due to the choice of aborting, Americas population is having trouble repopulating itself. (https://www.tfpstudentaction.org/blog/10-reasons-why-abortion-is-evil-not-a-pro-choice) .
Some pro-life supporters believe that abortion violates the human rights of the unborn child. Human rights are rights that are given to a person that cannot be taken away from them by government or another person. The child in the womb can’t fight for their own personal rights. Pro-life supporter believe that the child’s life shouldn’t be taken away from them by an irrational person.
Pro-life supporters believe that there are other options besides killing the baby such as adoption. Adoption is act if legally taking and raising someone else’s child. Adoption is a good option for a mother who cannot financially afford to raise a child. By the mother putting their child up for adoption, it can provide a more stable life and future for the child. Many happily married couples struggle with getting pregnant or unfortunately can not conceive a baby. Therefore, they turn to adoption. So many women choose the awful act of abortion. What many people do not understand is why abort a baby when there are so many loving couples who can not get pregnant. Some women choose abortion over adoption because it can be done confidentially. However, they do not realize an adoption can also be done in a confidential manner. Where her family, friends, and community will not know about the pregnancy. While adoption and abortion are both difficult choices. Some women think abortion will be the easiest and quickest solution to their unplanned pregnancy. One reason they do not consider adoption is simply because they don’t understand the facts about adoption. By choosing adoption, they will give their baby the gift of a wonderful childhood, loving adoptive parents who may otherwise have no opportunity at becoming parents, and the mother has a better chance of moving on from a difficult time.
The other main category to the controversy about adoption is pro-choice. Pro-choice is the idea that you should be able to choose whether you keep the child or not. Pro-choice supporters vary in their views about when is the best time to abort, but they all agree that it should be the girl/woman’s choice. The main difference in the views of a pro-choice supporter is the timing of where life actually begins; up to what point is it still right to abort.
Pro-choice supporters believe that if it is before the child is born that it is not wrong to kill the child. They believe that the fetus cannot survive without the mother. Some believe that it is right to abort up until the baby has a heartbeat. All the views are centered around the baby is not a human until can survive on its own.
Pro-choice supporters believe that the women should be able to use their own rights to make their decision about the baby. They believe that killing the child is the same as refusing to donate your organs; that the right to life doesn’t apply to using someone else’s body. They think that women should have the right to not have somebody else’s will imposed on their body. (https://www.bustle.com/articles/17141-how-to-argue-pro-choice-11-arguments-against-abortion-access-debunked) they also believe that a child that small doesn’t hold human rights, whereas the mother does so she should be the one deciding. Pro-choice believe that the government cannot force them to not abort while the fetus is dependent on the mother. (https://www.thoughtco.com/pro-life-vs-pro-choice-721108) . Women that support pro-choice believe that if women have the right to chose to have children then can they be equally the same as men; men aren’t restricted to that because they can’t have children. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/mother/for_1.shtml)
Pro-choice support the idea that if you aren’t financially stable enough to raise the baby then you should have the right to choose whether you abort it. They also think that if the baby is an accident then it can be a choice to keep it or not. Some say that abortion is the best option for a woman that has been raped or if its incest. They believe that getting rid of the baby would cause relief for the woman and helps her forget what happened. (https://www.boundless.org/adulthood/abortion-and-rape/)
Both of these views, pro-life and pro-choice, have times where the cases can make it difficult for them to make a choice. Some babies are born with disabilities or other diseases that could cause the parent to decide to abort the child. Christians would view the baby as a special gift from God, and that he would never give them something that they can’t handle, whereas others would see the child more ass a burden and not want to keep it.
When women are trying to get pregnant there is many options to take if they are having trouble. Planned parenthood is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a trusted healthcare provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. When a couple decides to have a child without taking birth control. They plan to get pregnant at a certain time in their lives. Furthermore, they determine the ovulation of the female. So she can possibly become pregnant. Many pro-life believers support planned parenthood because they think women have many options, whenever they become pregnant. Catholics call this Natural Family Planning. The Catholic Church supports the methods of Natural Family Planning because they respect God’s design for married love. It actually represents the only authentic approach to family planning available to husbands and wives, because these methods can be used to both attempt or avoid pregnancy.
I am a strong believer in Christ and believe that abortion is wrong no matter the circumstance. I believe that life begins at the moment of conception. Every human has a purpose and was formed by God for a reason. Life is a precious gift and shouldn’t be taken away from anyone because of the selfish acts of an irrational person. If you take away an innocent child’s life, I think that it should be considered murder.
I believe that we should not take advantage of children that small because they are unable to fight for their own life. All unborn children should have an equal right to life. Even if they were conceived in a harmful way. I believe that a baby is a gift from God and is considered a life when the mother finds out she is pregnant. If the mother’s health is at risk and may affect the baby abortion is still not an option in my opinion. The Lord will give him or her hope. God didn’t create abortion and he is against it.
I think teen pregnancy is a big issue. I feel that having sexual intercourse at a young age the girl needs to be aware of the possibility of becoming pregnant. People should be more educated about it and teen pregnancy should never result in abortion. I also feel that people should not put themselves in a situation that they know they could possibly get pregnant. If you take the chances of getting pregnant than I believe that you should have to suffer the consequences of your actions. Killing a baby is no option and should be illegal.
Abortion is a very big issue in today’s word. Supporters on both sides have valid reasonings for their claims. However, people should become more informed about the claims they are making. Through research and data, there is no definitive answer to whether or not abortion is right or wrong.
