7 Weeks Gestation: A Look at 5 Fingers and Toes in the First Trimester

Today is the March for Life and I’m compelled to share. I’m always passionate about helping to save the lives of unborn babies but it’s particularly meaningful as I am carrying an unborn baby right now.

I’m saddened to see that every single Democrat in the House voted today against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which seeks to impose criminal penalties on abortion providers who do not give medical attention to babies born alive after failed abortions. Granted, this is a very rare scenario but if we are going to talk about what is and isn’t life, such scenarios simply must be taken into account. It has happened and it will happen again. As National Review reports, 15 years ago, such a measure was passed by BOTH parties unanimously so it’s incredible how far down the rabbit hole Democrats have gone on this issue.

It’s upsetting the the issue of abortion is so terribly partisan. I’m not sure what makes valuing life before birth a partisan issue at all, but have met pro-life Democrats who feel ostracized from their Party in this way and it’s a huge shame. The old line that pro-lifers want to “control women’s bodies” is so shriveled and nonsensical that I can’t believe it’s still used in common language in pro-choice circles. Most pro-lifers are truly compassionate individuals who geniunely want to save the lives of babies and for mamas to feel they don’t need to make this harmful decision.

On the bright side, the pro-life perspective continues to gain momentum as science gives us more and more information about exactly what those little humans are doing — and who they are at earlier stages. As a lifelong pro-life activist, even I was amazed by the baby I saw in my womb at a mere 9 weeks pregnant (7 weeks gestation):

That’s only mid-FIRST trimester and you can clearly see my little girl’s 5 fingers (it’s more clear in the actual photo), her head, her body — most explicitly a little human inside my still nearly flat tummy. When people wrestle with the question of “When is a person really a person” — I can’t understand. You know when a person is a person — we all begin in our mother’s wombs. Are you telling me you’d look at this photo of my baby — the size of a cherry — and tell me that’s not a person? A person has toes and eyes and a beating heart and a brain and organs — as does this little being right here. There’s simply no other way to begin. It certainly doesn’t start when we take our first breaths. It’s so common sense, it’s flabbergasting that there’s even debate. But I digress…

Some say trying to outlaw abortion is not the way to go. I too prefer to focus on cultural change as well and would much rather a woman choose life than be forced to do so by law. However, we know that culture often follows the law and were abortion to be outlawed, it would be less and less viewed as an acceptable choice in society. When I speak of abortion, I’m referring to the great majority of them which are preformed on healthy mothers with healthy pregnancies. Extenuating circumstances like rape, great medical issues, incest and other situations can and should be looked at separately.

What’s my point? I’m not at the March for Life but I do stand for life everyday — and I stand for moms not feeling like abortion is their only choice, for providing the support that they need to make the decision that is best for mom and for baby. I stand against women’s magazines and feminist groups trying to send the message that choosing abortion is a totally valid choice without consequence. I stand against what is the opposite of female empowerment — telling a woman she needs an abortion to live the life she wants to live. I stand for adoption, because there are so many families about there looking for newborn babies because they can’t have their own.

Thank you March for Life for continuing this enduring tradition and powerful message — and for everyone who works tirelessly on behalf of the babies and mamas that benefit from the movement.