One simple fact can make all the difference in the world for a mother considering abortion.
Recently, a pro-life advocate with Created Equal spoke with a mother outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in St. Louis, Missouri. When he told her that her unborn baby already has a heartbeat, the mother responded with surprise and began to think twice about going through with her scheduled abortion.
“My baby has a heartbeat?” she asked in surprise.
The pro-life advocate assured her that unborn babies have heartbeats as early as 16 days after conception.
Many years ago, scientific research established that an unborn baby’s heart starts beating around 21 days after fertilization. Many sources on fetal development report this, though others link to evidence that the heartbeat begins at about 18 days. In 2016, researchers at the University of Oxford found evidence that an unborn baby’s heart may begin beating even earlier – by 16 days after conception, according to the Daily Mail.
The sidewalk counselor shared these facts with the woman, and told her that her unborn baby already may have “hands and limbs and feet and eyes like yours, and a nose” as well. Arms and legs begin to form between four to six weeks of pregnancy, while fingers and toes begin forming between six and eight weeks. Brainwaves are detectable around 8 ½ weeks, according to the Endowment for Human Development.
The woman seemed surprised by these facts and accepted the pregnancy resource information that the man provided. He told her about a pregnancy resource center nearby and explained how it offers free ultrasounds and the opportunity to hear her baby’s heartbeat. He said it also provides resources up to two years after her baby is born, including maternity and baby clothes, diapers and more.
The woman told him that she did not want an abortion, but she has four other children and struggles financially. Their conversation concluded with the woman saying she planned to leave the abortion facility and head to the pregnancy center to hear her baby’s heartbeat.
“Many parents entering abortion facilities will reconsider their decision if someone is there to show love and speak truth,” said Mark Harrington, president of Created Equal.
Many abortion facilities do not share these simple details with women because fetal development facts reveal the humanity of the unborn child and the barbarity of abortion. And when women learn the truth, many realize that their unborn babies are valuable and choose life.
