If you are a mother-to-be, one of the biggest and most sensitive questions on your mind is probably, ‘Does my baby feel pain?’ This is a very deep topic. Even within medicine, there are different opinions on this. Some doctors and scientists say that babies don’t feel pain until 24 weeks (6 months). But others say that they can feel pain as early as 12 weeks (3 months). So what’s really going on? Let’s talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.
What are the different opinions on this?
It's difficult to give a direct answer to this question, because we can't ask a baby in the womb, "Does it hurt?" So researchers have had to study the baby's body development, especially the development of the brain and nervous system, and come to some conclusions through that.
In the past, up until the 1980s, doctors thought that even newborn babies couldn't feel pain. The reason was that their brains weren't fully developed. But now that view has completely changed.
Scientists are now talking about a concept called `nociception.` Simply put, it is the ability to detect damage . It is a little different from pain. Because it does not require awareness. But it is now accepted that the stress response that this `nociception causes in the baby's body can affect the development of his brain.
The world's leading medical organizations, for example, the American and British Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, RCOG), are of the opinion that the baby is not capable of feeling pain until 24-25 weeks . However, there are opposing views. Let's look at both views clearly.
| Myth 1: Pain is felt only after 24 weeks | Myth 2: Pain can be felt as early as 12 weeks |
|---|---|
| Important connections develop between the cortex, the part of the brain primarily responsible for memory and thinking, and the thalamus, the part of the brain that carries sensations such as pain to the cortex, after 24 weeks. | It is not clear whether the cortex is absolutely necessary for pain perception. It is possible that pain is perceived through other primary parts of the brain. |
| Although a baby under 28 weeks may seem to respond to painful stimuli, it is often just a reflex or hormonal response. It is not real pain. | Pain receptors begin to develop on the skin surface as early as 7 weeks, and connect to the brain by 12-15 weeks. |
| The neural connections that distinguish between a harmless touch and something painful develop late in pregnancy. | Parts of the brain, such as the thalamus and brain stem, which are involved in consciousness, begin to develop in the first trimester. |
Imagine, this debate is further complicated by the fact that with the advancement of medical science, it is now possible to keep a baby alive even if it is born as early as 22-23 weeks. Doctors now accept that babies born at such a low gestational age feel pain.
How does this matter affect other decisions?
This issue of fetal pain has directly impacted abortion laws and fetal surgery around the world.
Decisions about abortion
This 'fetal distress' has been used to determine the time limits for legalizing abortion in many countries. Some countries restrict abortion after a certain number of weeks of pregnancy for this reason.
But if we look at the data, most abortions in the world occur very early in pregnancy. For example, according to data from the CDC in the United States, more than 93% of abortions occur before 13 weeks . Less than 1% occur after 21 weeks. The debate among scientists about these time limits is still ongoing.
Fetal Surgery
Sometimes, surgery is needed to treat certain birth defects while the baby is still in the womb. This is what we call `fetal surgery`.
Do doctors think about pain during a surgery like this? Yes, definitely.
Often, the anesthesia given to the mother during these surgeries crosses the placenta and affects the baby. But some scientists say that this alone does not completely eliminate the pain or pressure that the baby may feel.
Therefore,In surgeries performed after the second trimester (after 13 weeks), doctors usually give the baby a painkiller directly. They also give the baby a medicine to keep him still during the surgery. The main reason for this is to prevent the strong stress reaction caused by the surgery from adversely affecting the development of the baby's brain and nervous system.
Giving anesthesia directly to the baby in this way is considered safe for both mother and baby . Side effects are very rare.
Take-Home Message
- There is still no clear consensus in medicine about when a baby in the womb feels pain . While some say after 24 weeks, others say it can be as early as 12 weeks.
- The main reason for this debate is the uncertainty about which parts of the brain need to be developed to feel pain.
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Nociceptionis the ability to detect harm. Although it does not require consciousness, the stress it causes can affect a baby's development. - If a baby is undergoing fetal surgery, doctors will definitely use painkillers to reduce pressure on the baby and minimize potential damage to its development.
- This is a very complex and sensitive topic. If you have any questions or concerns about this, it's best to talk openly with your doctor about it.
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