Project Description

Fetal Development

Day 1 – fertilization: all human chromosomes present; unique human life begins

Day 6 – embryo begins implanting in the uterus

Day 22 –  heart begins to beat with the child’s own blood, often a different type than the mother’s

Week 5 – eyes, legs, hands begin to develop

Week 6 –  brain waves detectable1; mouth lips present; fingers forming2

Week 7 – eyelids, toes form; nose distinct, baby kicking and swimming3

Week 8 – every organ in place4; bones5,  fingerprints2 begin to form

Weeks 9 and 10 – teeth begin to form, fingernails develop; baby can turn head; frown2

Week 11 – baby can grasp objects placed in hand3

Week 17 – baby can have dream (REM) sleep7

Unless otherwise noted, information on fetal development taken from Keith L. Moore and T.V.N. Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed. (Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Co., 1993).

1. Hamlin, JAMA, 10/12/64.  2. Flanagan, The First Nine Months, 1965.  3. Valman & Pearsson, BMJ, 1/26/80.  4. Nilsson, A Child is Born, 1990.  5. Rugh & Shettles, From Conception to Birth, 1971.  6. P.E. Rockwell, Markle v. Abele, U.S. Supreme Court, 1971.  7. AMA News, 2/1/83.  Full citations available upon request.

Fetal Development, Abortion and Adoption Booklet

Cloning/Stem Cell Research

West Virginians for Life takes the position of supporting the type of stem cell research whereby a human embryo is not destroyed. Therefore there is no conflict with the use of adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. There are 73 known cures and/or successful human therapies so far due to adult stem cells, while embryonic stem cell treatments have yielded none.  To see this in scoreboard form, click here.