Is Abortion Legal in the U.S.?

Yeh, Ok.  Some of you who already Know the Answer to that Question are going to Think that that is such a Silly Question, yet I've just Recently been Informed that the Question "Is Abortion Legal?" is Typed into the Google Search Engine Globally 90,500 Times Monthly and Locally 60,500 Times Monthly.  So there are a lot of People who do not seem to Know, so here is my Response.

Are you Kidding?  Of Course it's Legal, but many People here in the United States Feel that it should not be.  Here is the Story...

During Most of America's History, Abortion was Outlawed as the Wrongful Taking of an Innocent Life.  In the Mid-1800s, State Legislatures began Passing Strict Bans on Abortion and by the End of the 19th Century, Nearly every State had Laws Strictly Prohibiting Abortion.

In 1973, there was a Supreme Court Case Known as Roe vs. Wade, in which the Court Ruled that State Laws Banning Abortion were Unconstitutional.  This Decision was Based on the Idea that the Woman's Right to Privacy was Legally more Important than the the Rights of Unborn Children.  The Supreme Court Ruled that Unborn Children were not "Persons" and thus, were not Entitled to any Rights Under our Constitution.  As the Result of this Ruling, Laws Banning Abortion in 40 States were Instantly Nullified and the Rights to Life of Unborn Children were no Longer Protected.  Every Year since then, over one Million Legal Abortions have been Preformed in the United States.

This is not a Court Decision, however, that all Americans Agree with.  Many People, Including Christians, are Appalled by how Easy it is to Get an Abortion and by the Legal Protection of what has been Called "Abortion on Demand", which is Basically the Right for a Woman to Get an Abortion for even the Smallest of Reasons.  Sure there was a Clause in the Ruling that Relates to the Woman's Health, yet the Description of what this means and the Definition of the Word "Health" was so Broad that it basically Allowed for "Abortion on Demand", as I have just Described.

Ironically, the Same Groups that now Defend the Right of a Woman to Choose, "Pro-Choice", were the Same Groups that Stood Against it just Over a Century ago.  In the Late 1800s, Mainstream Newspapers, such as the New York Times, Worked to Expose the Negatives of Abortion.  Early Feminists, such as Susan B. Anthany and Elizabeth Stanton Condemned the Practice as a Evil that Victimized Women.  Even the Professional Medical Community Lobbied for Anti-Abortion Legislation in the 1800s.

Perhaps I'll Post more Later on Different Court Cases in our History that Relate to this Subject, yet for now, I just Wanted to Get something Out there in Response to a Question that Apparently 90,500 of you are Asking.

If you Want to Know more about the Pro-Life Side of this Issue, here are some other Posts that I have done on the Subject, with Discussions of the Subject in the Comment Sections.  For the Pro-Choice Side, well....there are lots of other Web Pages, so that you can Learn Both Sides of this Issue, but Please do not Only Read the Other Side.  Here is my Take on the Issue.

Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Rape
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator

Abortion Costs, yet Information Competition is Rigid

Abortion has Emotional Costs, yet these Costs are not always discussed and are often Down Played by those who Work for Pro-Choice Organizations.  Unfortunately, though, there is Considerable Competition when Pro-Lifers try to get this Information Out there and it would appear that the Pro-Life Position is getting Crushed in the SEO War.  That is "The Search Engine Optimization War."

Before I get into the Meat of this Post, I just want to say to anyone who has found this Post,  by some Touch of Luck, by way of a Search Engine, Please do yourself a Favor and Read about Both Sides of the Issue before you make the  Decision to have an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.

Meanwhile, I'm Still Working on how I Feel about the Web Page that I gave a Link to in my Previous Post.  I Suppose that if I Use their Title, I can Help them to get more Hits.  It's Called Pro-Lifers Urgently Need to Engage in the SEO War.

To Quote the Main Theme, "The pro-life movement is making great strides right now.  However, there is one area where the fight for life is not going well at all, and it happens to be one of the most important arenas for evangelizing the culture: the online world."

Now that this has been Brought to my Attention, come to think of it, I've Written Several Posts on Abortion and yet they are rarely ever Hit.  There is just too much Competition out there.  It wouldn't be so bad if the Competition was coming from other Pro-Lifers, but it is not.  There are Far more Pro-Choice Blog Posts, then there are Pro-Life Ones.  I'm Guessing this is because there are lots of Abortion Clinics and Pro-Abortion Organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, that are Advertising their Pro-Choice Ideas on the Internet, so much so, that the Pro-Life Voices are being Drowned Out by them.

I Like the way that the Article puts it..."To put it bluntly: The pro-life movement is getting crushed in the SEO war."  That is the Search Engine Optimization War.

Here is another Quote that I very much agree with...

"I’m guessing that one of the first places women turn when they learn of an unexpected pregnancy is the internet.  And, as you can see, they are bombarded with sites that dehumanize their unborn children and paint abortion as a simple, easy option that will make their problems go away."

The Next Site that I Visited and Looked at is Entitled 5 Things Every Catholic Should Know About How Search Engines Work and from there I found a Link to Google's Handy Key Word Tool.

At First I Thought that I should Use Phrases that are Typed into Search Engines Often, such as; "Abortion Costs, Cost of Abortions, Abortion Clinics" and "Is Abortion Legal?"

Yet I Later Realized that I Might have more Luck with Phrases that have less Competition, such as: "Home Abortion Methods, Early Abortion, Abortion Risks, Abortion Pictures, Abortion Doctors, Abortion Methods, Abortion Side Effects, Chemical Abortion, Abortion Procedure, Abortion Definition, First Trimester Abortion, Process of Abortion, Medical Abortion, Anti Abortion Facts, Pro-Choice Abortion, Types of Abortions, Reasons for Abortion, Is Abortion Legal?, Abortion Timeline, Abortion Statistics, Abortion Types, Abortion Complications and Surgical Abortion."

I have Placed the ones that were Ranked Higher in the "Global Monthly Searches" then 10,000 Hits in Bold Print and the Ones that Ranked Higher then 20,000 Hits have been made Larger.  The Phrase "Is Abortion Legal?" has a "Global Monthly Searches" Rating of 90,500, even though the Information Competition is Low.

Naturally, I would Like Pro-Life People to have this Information more then my Opponents, yet the Purpose of this Post is not for the Sake of Starting an Argument about Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, but simply to get you to Ask yourself, Shouldn't those who are Making this Important Decision have all of the Information and not just that which is Presented by Pro-Abortion Sources?

Before I Close, I just wanted to repeat again to anyone who has, by some Touch of Luck, Found my Page through a Web Search.  Please do Read Both Sides of this Argument before Making any Decision about getting an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.

I have also done a Number of Posts on this Subject.  You can Click on the Abortion Label to the Right, on those Listed below "Favorite Ramblings" or you can Go to the Next Post Down, Abortion Clinics/Should I have an Abortion?, for a Whole List of my Previous Abortion Posts.

Abortion Clinics/Should I have an Abortion?

Here's a Web Page that Concerns me.  It Indicates that there is a Bias in Relation to Search Engines and Abortion.  If you are Considering an Abortion, Please do Read some of my Abortion Posts because it is Important to Hear Both Sides of the Issue before you Decide.  I Sincerely Hope that I have Typed the Right Words in the Title of this Post, in Order to Gain the Privilege of Adding to the Information that you Need in Order to Make this Important Decision.

You can Click on my Abortion Label to the Right if you Like, yet for Easier Access, here is a List of the Titles of the Posts that I've done to Date on the Subject.  This Way you can Pick and Choose the Ones that most Interest you.

Practical
Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Abortion & Rape
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator

Political
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics

I may Eventually do more Posts on this Subject, but for now, I would Also Suggest that you Type in the Words Post Abortion Syndrome, or PAS.  Somehow I haven't Got Around to Posting on that Subject, yet there Definitely is such a Syndrome and a Typical Abortion Clinic may not Necessarily Tell you about it, so it might be Good to Go Ahead and do your Own Research.  If you are Reading this as the Result of a Web Search, then you Obviously are doing some Research and I Commend you for that.

Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy

I Apologize for being on a Little Bit of an Abortion Kick Lately, but if anyone is Getting Tired of the Subject, Please Feel Free to Scan through my Earlier Posts and Use my Labels to Take you to Stuff that interests you.  Though Actually, the Next Post Down is also not about Abortion.

Meanwhile, though, one thing that I Wrote in a Comment Recently that's Interesting is an Analogy Relating to Abortion.

You see, there was a Pro-Choice Person who was Comparing the Options of Parenting, Adoption and Abortion to the Choice that one Makes between several Flavors of Ice Cream and the Fact that no Flavor should be Excluded from the Person who has the "Right to Choose".  Well, there was another Person Present that Felt that Comparing the Killing of a Baby to a Flavor of Ice Cream was a Little Insensitive.  Though I do Understand that no Analogy is Perfect, I came up with a Second Analogy that I Felt Described the Situation a little Better...

There is a Horrible Monster after the Girl and she has three Paths to Choose from as she Runs from it. One of the Paths Appears Easy, for it is Level and even Down Hill in some Places. The other two Paths are Rugged and go Up Hill.

The Problem is that the Easy Path (Abortion) Involves the Killing of a Child who is Tied to a Tree where the Monster will be able to get to her unless the Girl is willing to Climb up one of the Two Rugged Paths in Order to Save the Child.

Unfortunately, the Only Way to Save the Child is through a Climb up one of the Two Rugged Trails up the Mountain and Unfortunately, even the Shorter of the Two Trails (Adoption) involves a Climb that will Last about 5 Months, not 9, because it Takes about 4 Months in Order to Really Start to Show one's Pregnancy.  The Girl is in no way Required to Take the Longest of the Trails and Raise the Child.

Now, in Order to Save the Child, the Owner of the Easy Trail, that is the One who Pays for it's Up Keep (the Tax Payer), has been Considering Placing a Gate in Front of the Trail, so that it would no Longer be an Option.

Is this Fair? I don't Know, but it's Worth Thinking about.

If the Girl Takes the Easy Trail, the Monster will most Certainly Kill the Child.  What I'm Puzzled about is why the Girl has no Desire to Save the Child that is Roped to the Tree and will Surely Die if the Girl does not Make the Climb up the Mountain in Order to Save her.  Perhaps she is Selfish, yet then again, Perhaps it is also because she is Ignorant because no one has ever accurately explained to her the True Nature of the Situation.

Basically what this Analogy is About is Tax Funded Abortion and also Informed Consent.  The First Theme should be sort of Obvious.  The Second Theme, Informed Consent, well, in most States, the Doctor is not Required to Tell the Patient who wants the Abortion about Fetal Development or Post Abortion Syndrome.

Abortion/Pro-Choice/Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"

 After Collecting the Following Information for a Comment on someone else's Blog, I Decided that it was worth Repeating and would make another Good Post, so here it is; what Science has to say about the Fetus being the Woman's "OWN BODY".

"DAY 1 (Fertilization) - The sperm joins with ovum (egg) to form on cell-smaller than a grain of salt. This new life has inherited 23 chromosomes from each parent; 46 in all.  This one cell contains the complex genetic blueprint for Every Detail for human development; the child's sex, hair and eye color, height, skin tone, etc.

"From the very beginning, even the very first cell is NOT the same as the 'mother's Own Body', but instead has his or her own unique genetic identity, so the statement that the mother should have the right to decide what to do with 'Her Own Body' is not based on the facts.

"Biological dependence on does not equal actually being a part of, or the same as, that which it is depended on.  Babies continue to be quite helpless and dependent on their mother's care even after they are born.  Also, just because one living entity is physically affected by another, does not make the two entities only one entity.  Babies that are breast fed continue to be effected by the contaminates and also antibodies from the mother's body through the mother's milk.  Does that mean that the baby is still a 'part of the mother's body' even after it is born?

"as to 'shared biochemistry',......The Umbilical Cord allows antibodies, enzymes and nutrients to pass, but not the blood of the mother and baby.  The blood needs to be kept separate because quite often the baby has an entirely different blood type than the mother."

Another Interesting Thing to Note is that there was a time in our History, in which it was Argued that the Negro Slaves were not "Persons", but Property, just as we are Currently Viewing the Unborn as Property, rather than "Persons".  Whenever we call them "MY OWN BODY", rather than Realizing that the Baby is a Separate Individual and "Person", we are Referring to them as Property, not Person's.

Abortion and Rape (This Might Surprise You.)

On another Blog, I've been Discussing Abortion and more Specifically the Exception of Rape.  Most Pro-Life People do Consider Rape to be an Acceptable Exception in which Abortion should be allowed and yet when I was First Reading the Manual at the Pregnancy Center, where I've been Working, I read some things about the Subject that really Surprised me and that I'm sure many of you may be Surprised by too.

One Interesting Fact is that the Pregnancy Rate for Rape Victims of Child Bearing Age is only 5%, so Most Rape Victims do not become Pregnant.   Also, 80% of Rape Victims Know their Attacker.

Here's what's Interesting, though.  Because Rape is Considered an Acceptable Exception to the Forbidding of Abortion, Many Well Meaning People, Including some Pro-Lifers, will actually Pressure the Victim to Abort the Fetus.  People are so Repulsed by the Sexual Offense, that they Wrongfully Assume that Evil will be Passed Directly to the Child in some way.  It is far too easy to Forget that this is also the Child of the Violated Woman, who may not Share the Same Opinions as those who are Pressuring her to Abort the Baby.

A Woman does not choose Rape, but Abortion is an Act in which she must Willingly Participate.  Women Rarely Report Regretting Giving Life to their children, whatever the Circumstances of the Conception, though Regret of Abortion is more Common than People Realize.  As Odd as it may seem, Forgiving Oneself is Often even more difficult than Forgiving the Rapist. 

Abortion is not an Eraser.  Just because the Pregnancy is Terminated, this does not Cause the Pain of the Rape to go away, but here is the Clincher...

The Abortion Procedure is Quite Invasive and the Hard and Cold Instruments Invade the Same Part of the Body that was Invaded by the Rape.  Since the Rape Victim has Already been Invaded, there are Situations in which the Abortion Procedure can be just like Reliving the Horrible Event all over again and it can be Quite Traumatic.   She has been through one Traumatic Even, Why Add Another One?

And then there is the Matter of Incest.  In these Situations, Abortion becomes the Perfect Cover Up for a Crime that Needs to be Reported and Brought to a Stop.  Too Often such Victims are given their Abortions and then Placed Right Back into the Abusive Situation that Caused the Problem in the First Place.  It is Actually much more Preferable if the Victim is Removed from the Home for Nine Months.  The Nine Month Pregnancy can Actually Work as a Healing Period in which the Girl is Placed in a more Supportive Environment while the Rapist is Brought to Justice and a Suitable Home can be found for the Child.

It is not Uncommon for a Raped Victim to Choose not to Abort, if for No Other Reason, than for the Sake of Proving that she is not Like the Rapist.  Rape Steals People of their Dignity and Carrying a Baby to Term is a Way to Get that Dignity Back, by doing a Very Good and Noble Thing.  Doing a Good an Noble Thing is an Extreme Positive in the Healing Process, unlike Abortion that can Lead to Additional Guilt and Shame, Taring Away all that much More at the Dignity that was Taken by the Rapist.

This is Why there are some who rather than saying Abortion is Wrong "Except in the case of Rape", they will say Abortion is Wrong  "Especially when there is Rape".  I Look Forward to your Comments.

Rupert, a Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator

While considering moving to a little lighter subject, someone sent the most precious story to our Email Box. It's the story of a little fawn delivered Caesarean section from it's mother who was killed by a car. The story and some very precious pictures appear below...

After reading this very precious story, you may also be interesting in the comments because they tell the actual outcome of the baby fawn and also go in an interesting direction.

This tiny deer was delivered by Caesarean section at a wildlife hospital after his mother was killed by a car. Little Rupert, who is so small he can fit in an adultʼs hand, was born after vets failed in their battle to save his mother.

At just six inches tall and weighing just over a pound, he is now in an incubator in the intensive care unit at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire. He has only recently opened his eyes. Les Stocker, founder of Tiggywinkles, said: ʽRupertʼs mother had very severe injuries. We brought him out and got him breathing and then he went into an incubator on oxygen. He is now being fed by a tube.ʼ

Tucked up: Rupert in an incubator.

Rupert pulls a striking pose for the camera Staff are optimistic Rupert, now five days old, will make a full recovery. ʽ"Deer are very, very tricky but this one has spirit. Heʼs an extremely feisty little guy and quite pushy," Mr Stocker said.

Asleep: Rupert takes 40 winks.

If you want to continue reading, the comments went off into some interesting subjects. Aside from just a few comments about Rupert and Animals getting killed on the road, there is also some discussion on Abortion and how often Animals are valued above people and then the discussion went into whether or not Animals have a spirit or soul and will they go to heaven when they die. Also, what distinguishes People from Animals? As you can see the discussion got interesting, so please do feel free to read on.

Christianity Under Attack on All Fronts, even Science

You know, it's truly amazing to what extent anything that has any remote connection to Christianity or Religion is under attack, even within Science. It is not only in the area of the Government, due to the Separation of Church and State, but also in relation to Science.

I remember mentioning one time in the comment section of another Post, the whole scientific fiasco relating to Abortion and Breast Cancer. Perhaps I should get the Brochure on that sometime and do a complete Post on it, but for now, I just think that what I've already said in the comment section of a previous Post is worth repeating. The non-italics is what I've added to it today.


"No matter what the issue, if it is political, than there is research supporting both sides. BB-Idaho actually left a Link in the comment section on one of the below Posts supporting the 'Safe Sex' program."

I hadn't done the necessary research when he left this link, yet the next Post down, below this one, is at least in part, a response to that and illustrates very well how Abstinence, since it is also taught within Christianity, is Under Attack.

"It's just like the issue of Abortion and Breast Cancer. There is research that says there's a link and research that says that there isn't.

"A group of people who study research collected a bunch of the available research and analyzed it, applying high standards as to what was good quality research and what was not and they found problems with the research that supported no connection, yet most of the research that supported the connection passed the test.

"Unfortunately, all it takes in order for those who want to deny the connection and keep this issue in the 'Controversial Mode' is for them to keep repeating their faulty research results and this is listened too, whether there are problems in the research or not."


Aside from Abstinence Education and the Connection between Abortion and Breast Cancer, I've seen this same scenario going on in the Evolution verses Intelligent Design Debate. If one takes the time to listen to what is actually being said, the arguments in favor of Evolution are full of false accusations against those on the other side, such as the discussion that took place on one of the Posts at the "Bring It On!" blog, which came across to me as more accusations between the participants, than actual arguments offered.

Bring It On! - Academic Freedom Legislation: The Creationists Back Door?

Now that I've visited the site again, I've realized that there are duplicate copies of a lot of my initial comments. That's because I kept trying to submit these comments, but was given no message about them being held for moderation. They appeared to just disappear, but apparently, they all went through. Oh well.

If you want to review the Evolution verses Intelligent Design discussion that took place on my blog, just click on the Label for it to the right. Griper did a post on the subject as well and the Link to it is below.

The "Good News" Declared

Abortion & State Sovereignty

I was just getting ready to hit the "Publish Your Comment" button to submit a response to Griper's Post entitled "Principles of Government Corrupted", but than I realized that I was due to Post on my own blog and that what I had just written might actually make a half way decent Post. The basic thesis in the Post I'm now responding to is that the way our government was originally set up offered a greater level of Sovereignty to the States than is currently happening today. The Federal Government has accumulated too much power and more of it should be returned to the states.

Here's my response...

You know, Griper, you've actually got me thinking about State Sovereignty in relation to the Abortion issue. The center I work at, counseling Pregnant Girls, is very highly pro-life and I have read a lot of pro-life materials and seen a lot of things that have been quite an education to me in relation to how Abortion often hurts the women too and not just the babies.

Since I've been working there, I've moved my position, at least on this issue, from a Moderate, to a more Conservative, less willing to compromise one, yet to be really honest with you, even on this issue, I do from time to time remember why I was originally a Moderate. On a personal level, I'll never be torn between pro-life and pro-abortion. I will always be pro-life, yet your Sovereignty of State idea, Griper, has reminded me again of my original more Moderate position. Though I'm still pretty conservative in my thinking on this, maybe we should at least take the time to talk about it.

My original, more moderate thoughts, mostly had to do with the distinction between holding a position personally, as an individual, and holding a position politically, thus imposing it on the group.

You see, here's the thing. Though it's best "Not to Compromise one's Convictions", when we push our "Convictions" too strongly politically, sometimes it back fires.

When I think about this, I remember that all McCain actually said about this issue is that he thinks it should be decided by the states, not the Federal Government.

Sometimes it seems that it's been the Pro-Lifers who push their ideas on a National level, wishing to eventually overturn Woe vs. Wade, or worse yet, make Abortion totally illegal. Living in such a liberal state makes me feel tempted to do the same. In California, there are virtually no laws protecting either the baby or the mother. By the baby, I mean that Abortion is allowed right up until the due date. By the mother, I mean that there are no Informed Consent Laws, forcing Abortion Clinics to be honest with the mother and tell her about all the possible complications that can occur as the result of this operation. Any other operation has this requirement, but Abortion does not. I guess it’s probably not going to surprise you too much when I tell you that there are no Parental Notification Laws either.

Is it any wonder really, that people who live in states such as this will plead with Washington to help their cause?

We need to be careful, though, to not create a situation that backfires into a "You reap what you sow."' issue. As Pro-Lifers continue to push their ideas on a National level, Liberals have been doing the same and now we are faced with Socialism also being pushed on a National level, so what can I say? "We reap what we sow." Maybe we should take more time to think before getting so carried away with our political passions.

In the comment section below, Griper, suggested that it is Ok to rewrite a Post occasionally, or as he put it, "edit a Post from some comments made". Because of his comments, I have done some slight editing of this Post and am now adding this paragraph and the next one.

It has not been the Pro-Lifers who first "pushed their ideas" on a National Level. The first offense in this regard was the very Roe vs. Wade case that imposed Pro-Abortion ideas on the states and forbid them from making their own decisions on whether of not to ban Abortion. Later when the Supreme Court finally gave in with a ruling against Partial Birth Abortion, it was about time that a Pro-Life idea was imposed as well. After all, if there are going to be restrictions imposed on the sovereignty of the states, than it's only fair that both sides have some say in what's allowed and what's not and that the situation is not fully dominated by one side or the other.

On a Constitutional level, though, we need to be reminded that the other issue is the Baby’s Rights, because the Constitution does protect the rights of all people, which brings us back to the discussion we were having in the comment area of my other Abortion Post, entitled "Abortion/Fetal Development", about whether the Baby in the womb is a person. To be honest and fair in our positions, we need to look at both sides of any issue before deciding which side we are on, so please do read my other Abortion Post and the resulting comments. Thanks.

Sorry I'm late again in posting. I keep trying to post about once every 3 to 4 days and keep missing it. I am going to try and do better, yet for now, I guess I'm heeding the advice of most of my commenters who have told me that I should just post when I feel like it, so I guess for now, I'm just taking their advice and giving myself a break.

Abortion/Fetal Development

There is a lot I could say about the subject of Abortion. In one of my comments on my "Lessons for the strong and the Weak" Post, I made the statement; "The fact that what’s killed is definitely alive and definitely a baby is only the tip of the ice berg." I've got so much to say on the subject of Abortion that I don't hardly know where to begin, yet perhaps "the tip of the ice berg" is an Ok place to start, so here it goes.

The information below was taken from a pamphlet put out by Focus on the Family entitled "The First Nine Months". I copied most of it word for word, but have added a few comments. When I added my own thoughts, I have printed them in italics.

Perhaps you've already read about the Fetal Development of Babies, yet the comment section of this post contains some interesting discussion about whether or not the Fetus/Baby is a "Person".

Here are the scientific facts.

DAY 1 - Sperm joins with ovum (egg) to form one cell-smaller than a grain of salt. This new life has inherited 23 chromosomes from each parent, 46 in all. This one cell contains the complex genetic blueprint for every detail of human development; the child’s sex, hair and eye color, height, skin tone, etc.

From the very beginning, even the very first cell is NOT a part of the "mother's own body", but instead has his or her own unique genetic identity, so the statement that the mother should have the right to decide what to do with "her own body" is not based on the facts.

DAYS 3-4 - The fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where the lining has been prepared for implantation.

DAYS 5-9 (1 WEEK) - During this time the fertilized egg implants itself in the rich lining of the uterus and begins to draw nourishment.

DAYS 10-14 (2 WEEKS) - The developing embryo/Baby signals its presence through placental chemicals and hormones, preventing the mother from menstruating.

DAY 20 - Foundations of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system are already established.

DAY 21 (3 WEEKS) - THE HEART BEGINS TO BEAT.

This is when the mother is just barely beginning to realize that she has missed her period.

DAY 28 (4 WEEKS) - The backbone and muscles are forming. Arms, legs, eyes and ears have begun to show.

DAY 30 - (1 MONTH) - At one month old, the embryo/Baby is 10,000 times larger than the original fertilized egg and developing rapidly. The heart is pumping increasing quantities of blood through the circulatory system. The placenta forms a unique barrier that keeps the mother’s blood separate while allowing food and oxygen to pass through to the embryo/Baby.

DAY 35 - Five fingers can be discerned in the hand. The eyes darken as pigment is produced.

DAY 40 - (2 days prior to 6 Weeks) - BRAIN WAVES can be detected and recorded.

Since a person is considered dead when brain waves cease, the presence of brain waves is a sign of life.

WEEK 6 - Liver takes over the production of blood cells and the brain begins to control movement of muscles and organs. The mother is about to miss her second period and has probably confirmed that she is pregnant.

WEEK 7 - The embryo/Baby begins to move spontaneously. The Jaw forms, including teeth buds in the gums. Soon the eyelids will seal to protect the embryo's/Baby's developing light-sensitive eyes and will reopen at about the seventh month.

WEEK 8 - (2 MONTHS) - At a little more than an inch long, the developing life is now called a “Fetus”; Latin for “Young One” or "Offspring." EVERYTHING IS ALREADY PRESENT THAT WILL BE FOUND IN A FULLY DEVELOPED ADULT. The heart has been beating for more than a month (5 weeks). The stomach produces digestive juices and the kidneys have begun to function. Forty muscle sets begin to operate in conjunction with the nervous system. The Fetus'/Baby body RESPONDS TO TOUCH, although the mother will not be able to feel movement until the fourth month.

WEEK 9 - FINGER PRINTS are evident in the skin. The WILL CURVE ITS FINGERS AROUND AN OBJECT placed in the palm of its hand.

WEEK 10 - The uterus has not doubled in size. The Fetus/Baby can SQUINT, SWALLOW AND WRINKLE ITS FOREHEAD.

WEEK 11 - At this time, the Fetus/Baby is about two inches long. Urination occurs. The face has assumed a baby's profile and MUSCLE MOVEMENTS are more coordinated.

WEEK 12 - (3 MONTHS) - The Fetus/Baby now sleeps, wakens, exercises its muscles energeticcally, turning its/his or her head, curling its/his or her toes and opening and closing its/his or her mouth. The palm, when stroked, will make a tight fist (RESPONDS). The Fetus/Baby BREATHS amniotic fluid to help develop its/his or her respiratory system.

WEEK 13 - Fine hair has begun to grow on the head and sexual differentiation has become apparent.

4 MONTHS - By the end of this month, the Fetus/Baby is eight to ten inches in length and weighs a half pound or more. The mother will probably start to "show" now. The ears are functioning and there is evidence that the Fetus/Baby hears quite a bit; the mother's voice and heartbeat, as well as external noises. The umbilical cord has become an engineering marvel, transporting 300 quarts of fluids per. day and completing a round-trip of fluids every 30 seconds.

5 MONTHS - Half the pregnancy has now passed and the Fetus/Baby is about 12 inches long. The mother has definitely began to feel movement by now. If a sound is especially loud or startling, the Fetus/Baby may jump IN REACTION TO it.

6 MONTHS - Oil and sweat glands are functioning. The delicate skin of the growing baby is protected from the fetal waters by a special ointment called "vernix." If the baby born were born in this month and given proper care, he would survive.

7 MONTHS - The baby has uses the four senses of vision, hearing, taste and touch. He can recognize his mother’s voice.

8 MONTHS - The Skin begins to thicken, with a layer of fat stored underneath for insulation and nourishment. Antibodies increasingly build up. The baby absorbs a gallon of amniotic fluid per. day. The fluid is completely replaced every three hours.

9 MONTHS - Towards the end of this month, the baby is ready for birth. The average duration of pregnancy is 280 days from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period, but this varies. Most babies (85 percent to 95 percent) are born somewhere between 266 and 294 days. By this time, the infant normally weighs 6 to 9 pounds and his heart is pumping about 250 gallons of blood a day. He is fully capable of life outside the womb.

This concludes the information taken from the Focus on the Family pamphlet entitled "The First Nine Months".

Does this sound like “No Life” or "Just a Cluster of Cells" to you?