The Uniqueness of the Fetal Body: A Distinct Human Life
by Fr. Jim Hewes
Introduction
March 30 marks the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s The Gospel of Life. Just days earlier, on March 25, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation—the moment Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb. This prompts a profound question: Was Jesus, at His conception, a mere part of Mary’s body, or was He a separate and distinct human person? This question is relevant not only for Jesus but for every pre-born child.
- Distinct DNA and Genetic Identity
From the moment of conception, a pre-born child possesses a unique, unrepeatable genetic identity, separate from the mother’s body. Each human has an individual DNA code. If the pre-born child were merely part of the mother’s body, their genetic code would match the mother’s—but it does not. In fact, in half of all female pregnancies, the child is male, carrying XY chromosomes, distinct from the mother’s XX chromosomes. One person cannot have two sets of different chromosomes.
- Independent Physical Characteristics and Systems
A pre-born child develops distinct physical features and biological systems independent of the mother. For instance, neither Mary nor any pregnant woman suddenly has four arms, four legs, 20 fingers, 20 toes, two hearts, two nervous systems, two sets of internal organs (livers, lungs, kidneys, etc.), two brains, four eyes, four ears, or two noses. The child develops their own organs, heartbeat, brain waves, and fingerprints—all unique and different from the mother’s.
Moreover, a child in the womb can exhibit behaviors independent of the mother, such as thumb-sucking or movement. The child can be kicking while the mother is not but rather stationary The child can be awake while the mother sleeps, or vice versa. Additionally, the child can experience illness independently of the mother’s health. For example, a mother may be ill while her child remains healthy, or the child may be ill while the mother is perfectly well.
- Separate Blood Supply and Life Processes
The blood type of the pre-born child is often different from the mother’s. Since a single body cannot function with two different blood types, this distinction further proves that the child has a separate circulatory system. The placenta acts as a mediator, not a merger, ensuring both mother and child maintain their own distinct biological processes.
- Impact of External Substances
A pamphlet from New York State’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services warns about the effects of alcohol on unborn babies, citing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The damage caused by alcohol to the pre-born child demonstrates that the child’s body processes substances separately from the mother’s body.
- Life and Death as Distinct Realities
There are documented cases where a fetus has survived briefly after the mother’s death or died while the mother continued to live. If the child were merely a part of the mother’s body, such a separation in life and death would be impossible.
- Legal and Ethical Recognition of Separate Lives
The law acknowledges the distinct humanity of the pre-born child. For instance, it is illegal to execute a pregnant woman on death row because the fetus is recognized as a separate life who should not be punished for the mother’s crimes.
- Emotional and Psychological Evidence
The grief experienced by many women following an abortion reflects the inherent value of the life that was lost. Women who undergo procedures such as tonsil or appendix removal (parts of their body) do not experience the same profound sorrow. Programs such as Project Rachel, Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats, Silent No More, After Abortion, Abortion Recovery International, and many others help women heal from the deep pain following an abortion, further highlighting that what was lost was more than a “part” of their body—it was a distinct life.
- A Right to One’s Own Body
The pro-abortion argument often emphasizes bodily autonomy for the mother but overlooks the autonomy of the developing child. A pre-born female child aborted is denied any future bodily autonomy for the rest of her life. The environment of the womb is not the child’s identity; it is their temporary home.
- A Sacred Space for Life
The womb is designed to nurture life—a space that, month after month, prepares to sustain a unique individual. Every human being once occupied this space. The monthly cycle is a reminder of the life with so much potential—a distinct, individual life separate from the mother.
- A Fitting Analogy: The House and Its Resident
An electric vehicle that is plugged into the house to receive its sustenance is still not part of the house, but only a car. The electric vehicle plugged in, symbolically like the umbilical cord connecting the child to the mother; a child growing within the womb is not a part of the mother’s body but a distinct individual living within her.
Conclusion
The evidence from biology, behavior, law, and human experience points to one conclusion: The pre-born child is a distinct and unique human being, not a mere part of the mother’s body. As Jesus was uniquely Himself within Mary’s womb, so is every child—a sacred life, an image-bearer, deserving recognition, protection, and love.
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For some more of our posts from Fr. Hewes, see:
Death Penalty and other Killing: The Destructive Effect on Us
Consistent Life History: Being Across the Board
Reflections from My Decades of Consistent Life Experience
Abortion and Other Issues of Life: Connecting the Dots
A Personal Reflection on a Just War
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Great and thorough information from article by Fr. Jim Hewes.
Reminding us the unborn child is a separate person. I’ll certainly be looking at his additional articles .
Fr.Jim’s writings led me to 45 years of .dedication to providing alternatives to abortion via Birthright International pregnancy support services.
He continues to find ways to educate and convince both doubters and believers in the truth about our God’s gift of LIFE.