Batting back and forth with other bloggers, the subject of abortion came up once again. The most overused phrase in this debate is 'life begins at the moment of conception.'But is that true?
Like many assumptions conservative Christians make, the idea of life beginning at the moment of conception isn't particularly scientific. The idea of when 'life' begins is often called 'ensoulment' by Christians - and when in the process of gestation that takes place is hotly debated between the religious and the rational.
Many Christian sects specify unequivocally that life begins at the moment of conception - it's part of Catholic dogma (which, unlike Catholic doctrine, is inarguable.) Ironically, however, this contradicts the Bible, which clearly states that a life begins at the moment of (or some time after) birth.
One of the problems of claiming that life begins at the moment of conception is that is often doesn't. The majority of fertilized eggs never implant in the uterine wall - a woman could be 'pregnant' for days or hours and never even know it.
Likewise, it's difficult to argue that life begins even after that, as up until the second trimester, a full third of most pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. In Britain, most pregnant women don't announce their pregnancy until the twelfth or thirteenth week as the chances of disappointment are so high.
Following the start of the second trimester, most babies are in there for the long haul. To many couples, this is when it feels like you're 'really' pregnant. However, some scientists argue that even this milestone shouldn't be considered the 'start' of life, as a baby isn't 'viable' until much later - as early as the 21st week, but generally much later.
However, advances in medical science are making that period shorter and shorter, although it's doubtful (and probably undesirable) that this would ever made a first trimester fetus viable.
The final milestone scientists consider is the period at which point a fetus develops the capacity for feeling pain - generally around the 26 week period. However, as premature babies are being successfully delivered before this stage is reached, it's generally lost it's significance in terms of the abortion debate.
Conclusion
So does life begin at the moment of conception?
Scientifically speaking, I'd say almost certainly 'no'. However, to many pregnant couples, the answer is almost certainly 'yes.' Scientists might disagree, but for many couples, 'life' begins when they stare at a positive pregnancy test or start thinking of names. That's what makes a miscarriage so upsetting.
However, other couples don't consider a pregnancy 'real' until that twelve-week milestone, or when the baby first kicks. After my wife and I went through two miscarriages, on pregnancy number three we certainly didn't hold our breath until the start of the second trimester - and the result was our beautiful Baby Boozer.
So given that the majority of fertilized eggs never get implanted, and a significant percentage of early pregnancies aren't viable, I think a rational person would probably accept that 'life' doesn't begin until the fetus has some chance of making it out into the real world.
For some, that's the start of the second trimester. For others, it's the moment a fetus is considered viable. Thanks to advances in medicine, the gap between those time lines is rapidly diminishing anyway, so soon both camps will share a general consensus on the issue.
That's why, from an objective, rational point of view, I think abortions up to the twelve week mark are tolerable. That's why I'm in vehement opposition to bills like 2008 Colorado Amendment 48, which tried to define a person's life as beginning at the moment of fertilization (which would have not only banned abortions, but the morning after pill, IUD and many other forms of contraception.)
However, following the 12 week mark, I think I'd agree that abortions start stepping onto shaky moral territory. Life begins, as far as I'm concerned, from the moment a baby could be born and stand a reasonable chance of surviving (with appropriate medical attention.)
Certainly, this is just my opinion - but unlike the concept of 'life begins at the moment of conception,' it's an opinion I've reached rationally, by examining the facts. It's also the opinion of most scientists and thinking people.
However, I reached that opinion fully aware that there's nothing truly objective when a pregnancy is concerned. As I wrote earlier - life truly 'begins' when a mother-to-be decides it does - whether that's the moment she sees the positive pregnancy test, views the heartbeat on an ultrasound or even just cradles her baby in her arms for the first time.
The Cake Metaphor
Take eggs, flour and milk. Mix them all together and pour the mixture in a tin. Place it in the oven at 350 degrees and cook for half an hour. But during that cooking time, consider: When does it become a 'cake?'
- Does 'cake' begin at the moment the eggs, flour and milk are whirred together in the food processor?
- Does 'cake' begin at the moment the cake begins to rise? Or when the gooey mixture becomes sponge?
- Or is it only 'cake' when it emerges from the oven, golden brown and smelling delicious?
