Can fetus's..?
Question:
Please tell if it's from personal experience or information from a group and what group.
Because my pastor, doctor, etc is also an acceptable answer.
"Duh because it's obvious" is not an acceptable answer.
Answers:
There is so much conflicting info depending on what side you're on.I guess the best answer is "maybe." Here's some interesting info from http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_pain.htm:
"Many physicians and researchers of fetal development believe that synaptic connections within the fetus' brain are necessary to perceive pain. These are not formed until the third trimester, when fewer than 1% of all pregnancy terminations are done. For example, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, CA wrote that babies born before 30 weeks’ gestation lack "functional pain perception." They suggested that this is one indicator that "fetal perception of pain is unlikely before the third trimester." 17
Some mental and medical professionals suggest that a fetus cannot feel pain, no matter how far developed. For example, Stuart Derbyshire, a psychologist at the University of Birmingham, UK, is an expert specializing in how the brain feels pain. He wrote that there is "good evidence that fetuses cannot experience pain." According to World Science, he argues that the complex medical processes necessary for the experience of pain cannot begin until the jolt of life outside the womb kick starts them. Thus, a fetus -- no matter how advanced in development -- cannot feel pain. The presence of pain in newborns is not a sign that a fetus at the same gestational age can feel pain.
World Science comments:
"The brain circuitry for processing pain seems to be complete by 26 weeks' gestation, he wrote. But true pain requires not only development of the brain but also development of the mind to accommodate the subjectivity of pain."
"This mental development occurs only outside the womb, he added, through the baby’s actions and interactions with caregivers. The chemical environment in the uterus encourages sleep and suppresses higher-level brain activity necessary for pain perception, wrote Derbyshire, who uses brain scans frequently in his research." 18
Others, mostly pro-life advocates, believe that a fetus as early as 7 weeks after conception can feel pain. Thus, they believe that a fetus can feel pain part way through the first trimester, when most abortions are actually performed
Some of the experts' opinions may be so heavily biased by their pro-life/pro-choice stance that they are incapable of making objective observations.
Many women seriously consider this factor when they are deciding whether or not to have an abortion. They are reluctant to submit to an operation that would be painful to the fetus. Women deserve to have precise information on which to base their decision. Unfortunately, emotional factors seem to intrude in this, as in all other matters related to abortion. Information is very easy to find. But its accuracy is difficult to evaluate.
Pain in an adult, child, newborn or late-term fetus originates as an electrical signal in some of the body's pain receptors. This signal is sent via nerve pathways to the spinal column, then to the thalamus - an egg-shaped structure within the brain. Finally the signal is transferred to the cerebral cortex where it is sensed as pain. In a fetus, the pain receptors develop around 7 weeks after conception; the spino-thalamic system at about 13 weeks. However, the connections to the cortex are established only after about 26 weeks into pregnancy. Some pro-life advocates believe that pain can be felt by the fetus when these systems are only partly formed. Most pro-choice advocates believe that the complete system has to be "wired up" before the fetus can feel pain - i.e. sometime after about 26 weeks into pregnancy.
The first direct scientific study of pain in premature babies involved 18 preemies aged 25 to 45 weeks after conception. According to World Science:
"Brain scans taken while babies were having blood tests registered a surge of blood and oxygen in sensory areas in babies’ brains, according to the researchers, showing that the pain was processed in higher levels of the brain."
"A key brain area involved, called the somatosensory cortex, helps process sensations from the body surface and is also linked to pain sensation in adults, according to the researchers..
" 'Repeated painful procedures are a significant stressor and lead to increased sensitivity to other non-painful procedures,' said Maria Fitzgerald of University College. The researchers said the study points up the need for better pain-control methods for infants.
They insisted, though, that the study says nothing about pain in unborn children." 19,20
There are more citations at the link above. Hope that helps.
Other Answers:
A fetus has excellent senses. They can and do respond to changes in their environment. Eat spicy food, they move around a lot. So, I'd suspect that a fetus could feel pain.
Of course,they're alive in there aren't they?
They feel pain.
Studies show that during abortions, the fetus's heart rate skyrockets and the fetus shows signs of distress. If no pain was involved, that wouldn't happen.
Yeah I think they definatley can! I don't know from what point in the process it would start though. From personal experience, my first son was a whiner from the get go! He used to kick and punch me from the inside if he felt too "cramped" by my position lying down and such. What a wimp!
Source(s):
Personal experience
i cant say that they do feel pain or not but I'm guessing pain as when they are born if you were to smack the bottom of there feet to get them to cry they feel the pain and cry. if they cry cause of getting smacked on the foot right after birth then they would have to be able to feel pain while still in the womb. i couldn't tell ya when they start to feel pain. but id sat it is when ever all of there brain and nerves are fully functional.
More Questions and Answers
- Does size really matter?
- I Have Another Important Question For Women..Does breaking hymen have something to do with mentruality?
- is there a way to help keep my privates fresher longer?
- a question for the ladies?
- WOMEN AND DOCTORS ONLY: Help! There is a tampon stuck inside me- what do I do?
- How can I orgasim more quickly during sex?
- can the clitorus be desenceitized from using shower head on pulse setting?
- Can You...?