Fetal Pain Development and Medical Services at Choices
Does a baby feel the abortion? This is one of the most important questions we get asked at Choices. In the past, it was thought that unborn babies did not develop proper nerve cells to feel any pain at all. There was a question if babies even felt pain after birth. Thanks to recent studies, both of these myths have been debunked. Babies can feel pain very early on in their life.
Fetal Development Milestones
The following timeline details the physiological progression of a baby's ability to respond to stimuli:
- 4 Weeks: A baby’s pain receptors begin to develop followed by nerve fibers that carry messages to the brain.
- 6 Weeks: The baby will respond to touch.
- 8 Weeks: The cerebral cortex starts to develop and will eventually grow to have the same number of nerves as an adult.
- 10 Weeks: If a baby is touched at 10 weeks, his/her hands and eyes will open and close.
- 12 Weeks: Not only can the baby smile at 12 weeks, he/she now swallows and responds to simple stimulation of the skin.
- 20 Weeks: All physiological connections are in place to feel pain.
Scientific Insights on Fetal Brain Activity
According to Dr. Paul Ranalli, a neurologist at the University of Toronto, “The fetal brain has the full complement of brain cells present in adulthood, ready and waiting to receive pain signals from the body and their electrical activity can be recorded by standard electroencephalography.”
Medical Services Offered
Choices provides several no-cost medical services to support you during your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Testing
To confirm your pregnancy, start with a no-cost pregnancy test from Choices. We will confidentially provide conclusive results at no cost to you.
STD/STI Services
During your pregnancy test, we also offer limited STD/STI screening. You and your partner receive no-cost treatment if you test positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or syphilis.
Ultrasounds
If your pregnancy test is positive, complete the confirmation process with a no-cost limited ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms viability, the gestational age, and the location of your pregnancy.
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill method and regret your decision, it may not be too late to save your pregnancy. There’s a process called Abortion Pill Reversal, but you must act quickly.
About Our Center
Choices Pregnancy Resource Center does not profit monetarily from your reproductive health choices. We do not provide extended gynecological or prenatal services, birth control prescriptions or devices, fertility testing, abortion services or referrals for abortion.