life before birth
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Good News Publishers1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187
For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: ESV.
©1985 G
ood New
s Publishers. Redesign: ©2007. Printed in U
.S.A. Cover im
age: ©D
r. Ranier Jonas. O
ther images: ©
Life Issues Institute (ww
w.lifeissues.org), used by perm
ission.
can cause severe birth defects in any child that survives
this self-induced abortion, and severe side-effects for the
mother. Several maternal deaths have been reported due
to the use of this “miracle pill.”
Long-term psychological and spiritual effects include
guilt, anxiety, depression, anger, sense of loss, nightmares,
death scenes, deterioration of self-image, and even
suicide. Cervical lacerations and uterine perforation can
result from suction and D&C procedures. Convulsions,
severe vomiting, and diarrhea are common with prosta-
glandin abortion. Cardiac arrests and maternal deaths
have also been reported.
A life-giving AlternAtive But there is hope for both the mother and the child. If you
have a problem pregnancy,
we want you to know that
God cares for you and the
unborn child growing within
you. He knew about you
before you were even born:
“O Lord, you have searched
me and known me… My
frame was not hidden from
you, when I was being made
in secret… the days that were formed for me, when as yet
there were none of them” (from Psalm 139).
God wants to bring life—not death—out of your difficult
situation. He has already provided lifelines to help you.
Support is available to help you care for your child or
provide a childless couple with a baby. Financial aid,
emotional support, medical services, and, most impor-
tant, a future free of guilt and full of hope for you and
your unborn child can be yours.
Choose life todAy
If you picked up this pamphlet at your local crisis preg-
nancy center, you already know the quality of people who
work there. But if not, you can look in the Yellow Pages
under the heading “Abortion Alternatives” or call toll-free
1-800-848-LOVE (or go to www.nationallifecenter.com)
any time, to find the nearest crisis pregnancy center. You
can find someone who genuinely cares about what hap-
pens to mothers and their unborn babies.
WhAt you don’t knoW CAn hurt you Few women faced with an unwanted pregnancy are told
of the marvelous development of the life growing within
them. In the absence of information, abortion seems to
be the right decision at the moment. But they are not
warned of what will really happen to their baby or of the
possible physical and psychological effects of abortion
that may stay with them the rest of their lives. And they
are rarely told of the alternatives to save the life of their
child.
Some doctors say that abortion is a routine operation
to remove “fetal tissue.” But in truth, it is the destruction
of a living human being. One young woman, who later
regretted an abortion, stated, “The doctor said, ‘A little
fluid out and some fluid injected, severe cramps, and
then the fetus is expelled.’ That isn’t what it was. I felt my
girl thrash around for an hour-and-a-half until she died
a slow death.”
The mother is also exposed to long-term complications.
Incomplete abortions resulting in blood clotting, bleed-
ing, hemorrhage, and infections are not uncommon.
Menstrual disturbance, miscarriage, tubal pregnancies,
and sterility are always risks and tend to multiply with
successive abortions. RU-486 and other abortifacients Image © Life Issues Institute.
life before birth
ConCeption: life begins! Life begins at conception as a single, separate, living
cell. Nothing new is added except oxygen and nutrition.
Fertilization occurs when a sperm and ovum join to form
a single cell, full of life and bearing the unique genetic
imprint of a person who has never existed before. The
DNA in the 46 chromosomes of that small cell contain
full instructions about that new individual’s sex, eye color,
foot size, brain capacity, and other physical traits.
1 Week: implAntAtion On about the sixth day, the growing baby attaches to
the wall of the mother’s uterus. That rich nutrient lining
welcomes the tiny tenant, and soon the child is sending
out the chemical signal that can be detected in a home
pregnancy test. Before the second week is over, the cells
of the child’s body will have already begun segregating
themselves into the various layers that will give rise to the
brain, nervous system, skin, digestive system, muscles,
bones, and circulatory system.
3-4 Weeks: A beAting heArt The baby’s heart begins its first beats as early as 18
days after fertilization, often before the mother even
suspects she is pregnant. Between the third and fourth
weeks, the baby’s head and spinal column become easily
distinguishable, and arm buds appear. Legs will begin to
appear days later. The umbilical cord forms, transporting
oxygen and nutrients to the child.
6 Weeks: brAin WAves Fingers are forming, and the child’s mouth and lips are
apparent. The child begins his or her first movements. At
six weeks, the baby has brain waves that can be mea-
sured with an electroencephalogram.
10-11 Weeks: orgAn systems in plACe The baby has eyelids, fingernails, and fingerprints, and
can grasp an object. The kidneys begin to form urine.
All body systems are in place and active: the baby has a
skeletal structure, nerves, and circulation.
12 Weeks: movements And ChArACteristiCs Though too small to be felt by the mother, the baby
reaches peak frequency of movement during the third
month. The baby’s sex can be visually determined, and
the child’s eyes, ears, and face begin to display distinctive
characteristics.
14 Weeks: A mirACle of development Eyebrows have formed, eye movements are seen. For a
couple of weeks now, this baby has had all the body parts
required to experience pain, including the nerves and
spinal cord.
16 Weeks: mAking his or her presenCe knoWn The baby becomes large and active enough for the mother
to feel movement of turns, kicks, and somersaults that at
some point even become visible to the outside.
20 Weeks: heAring mother’s voiCe In the fifth and sixth months, the baby responds to music,
sudden noises, and voices, especially that of his or her
mother. Over the coming weeks, the baby will increase
seven times in weight and nearly double in height.
23 Weeks . . . or eArlier: viAbility Viability is the time when the baby can survive outside the
mother. Not long ago, viability was at 30 weeks, then 25.
Today, babies at 22 or 23 weeks have been saved, and even
some younger babies
have survived. What will
viability be tomorrow?*
Photography: ©Dr. Rainer Jonas.
Photography: ©Dr. Rainer Jonas.
Image © Life Issues Institute.
2 MONTHS: This
miniature infant
is preparing for
thumb sucking.
Every organ is
present. The heart
beats steadily. The
baby’s fingerprints
are formed and
will never change
except for size.
5 MONTHS: This baby
is sensitive to sounds
and is comforted by
his mother’s voice. He
responds to music and
reacts sharply to pain.
*This chronology of life
in the womb is adapted
from “A Baby’s First
Months,” published by
the National Right to
Life Educational Trust
Fund (www.nrlc.org)
and used by permission.
life before birth
Good News Publishers
Life Before BirthThis tract tells of the development of a child from conception to birth, and the
damaging of abortion.
Bible references: ESV.Package contains 25 tracts. cuRRENT iSSuES
in secret… the days that were formed for me, when as yet
there were none of them” (from Psalm 139).
God wants to bring life—not death—out of your difficult
situation. He has already provided lifelines to help you.
Support is available to help you care for your child or
provide a childless couple with a baby. Financial aid,
emotional support, medical services, and, most impor-
tant, a future free of guilt and full of hope for you and
your unborn child can be yours.
Choose life todAy
If you picked up this pamphlet at your local crisis preg-
nancy center, you already know the quality of people who
work there. But if not, you can look in the Yellow Pages
under the heading “Abortion Alternatives” or call toll-free
1-800-848-LOVE (or go to www.nationallifecenter.com)
any time, to find the nearest crisis pregnancy center. You
can find someone who genuinely cares about what hap-
pens to mothers and their unborn babies.
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