Talking to kids about abortion is tricky. I’ve got six kids, and one day the subject of abortion came up. We had the chance to talk about life in the womb, how babies in the womb can wrestle, (Jacob and Esau), experience emotion (John the Baptist), suck their thumbs, respond to light, sound and external sources of pain, and more. And when my kids are older, we will talk very honestly about the brutality of abortion as well. They need to know truth.
That first conversation was tough! And since my youngest were barely 18 months at the time, and I’m sure the next oldest two don’t remember, it won’t be the last time I have that conversation.
But here’s the thing. I don’t want my kids leaving home without having a solid understanding about life before birth and the harm caused by the choices we make regarding birth control and sex before marriage. The Bible has a lot to say about life before birth (and sex before marriage too, but that is not the topic of this post). And we need to talk about it and back it up with facts.
Now. Before our kids sit in college classes designed to undermine everything they think they know.
Read and discuss all or part of the following information with your kids.
Life Before Birth in the Bible
The Bible has a lot to say about the beginnings of Life. The following Bible verses reference life in the womb.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16).Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust in You even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God (Psalm 22:9-10).
And now the LORD says–he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength (Isaiah 49:5).
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4-5)When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. (Luke 1: 40b-44)
Facts about Life before Birth
Denitions:
Embryo—A human being from the time of the first cell division until approximately the eighth week of life
Fetus—A human being from approximately the eighth week of life up until birth
——————
An embryo’s heart begins to beat between 18-24 days after conception.
28 days from conception a baby has eyes, ears, and even a tongue!
An embryo’s brain waves can be detected six weeks after conception.
By nine weeks after conception, a fetus’ fingernails are forming.
Based on the development of the nervous system, a fetus is likely able to feel pain as early as 8 weeks after conception.
At 8 ½ Weeks the unborn baby’s fingerprints are being engraved. Eyelids and palms of hands are sensitive to touch.
At nine weeks after conception, a fetus is able to bend its fingers around an object in its hand, and sucks its thumb.
At 11 weeks, a fetus is breathing amniotic fluid steadily and will do so until birth.
At 12 weeks, a fetus can kick, turn over, make a fist, open its mouth and press its lips together.
At 20 weeks, a fetus can be startled by a loud external noise.
At 23 weeks, a fetus can demonstrate rapid eye movements (REM).
At six months, fine hair grows on the fetus’ head and eyebrows, and small eyelashes begin to appear.
At seven months, a fetus’ hands can support his entire weight.
At eight months, a fetus weighs more than four pounds.
During the ninth month from conception, a fetus gains half a pound per week. Of the 45 total generations of cell replication that will occur by mature adulthood, 41 have already taken place.
Find more Information about Life Before Birth
Read more:
Facts about Life in the Womb for Kids
Awesome Images of Life in the Womb
Enter this Giveaway for Awesome Life Before Birth resources
To celebrate the release of Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth by Danika Cooley, I am hosting a wonderful giveaway with the rest of the launch team. The giveaway includes a hardcover copy of the book, along with several other books and products your family is sure to enjoy. The total value of the giveaway is nearly $600!
Here is what you could win:
Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth by Danika Cooley – hardcover $9.99 value
Wonderfully made is an excellent book that introduces a young child to the wonder of God’s creation – the wonder and miracle of birth. From conception in the womb through the nine months within the mother’s womb Danika Cooley takes us on a journey of discovery… the discovery of life.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13
Touch of Life First Trimester Fetal Models $89.95 value
Sculpted from real-life photos, these four fetal models representing weeks 7, 8, 9, and 10 after conception have a personality of their own, and the life-like feel of the skin brings home the humanity of the preborn baby in its first trimester of life. Accurately portrayed thanks to medical descriptions and photos, these little samples of life are a great educational tool for helping to understand the wonder of the early stages of human development.
Bible Road Trip Year One Curriculum (includes Lower and Upper Grammar Notebooking Journals $60 value
The Bible Road Trip Year One Curriculum is a 463-page digital PDF download of the full Bible Road Trip Year One curriculum for all five levels, preschool through high school. The Bible Road Trip Year One Curriculum includes the Parent / Teacher Guide and 32 weeks of curriculum schedules for all grades.
$100 Amazon Gift Card $100 value
Enjoy shopping amazon.com with a gift of $100 + an adorable bookmark.
Big Bible Science: Experiment and Explore God’s World by Erin Lee Green (Ages 5-11) $12.99 value
Big Bible Science helps children and those who teach them to explore God’s World and God’s Word through real live science experiments. There are twenty-one different units taking students through scientific concepts such as Gravity, Friction, Animal Classification and the Nervous System.
My 1st Books and More by Carine MacKenzie and Philip Ross (ages 4-7) $15.99 value
Who is God? What does he do? Can I know Jesus? Why did he die? Children always have questions about God. They want to know what it means to be a Christian and who Jesus is. My 1st Books and More gives a year’s worth and more of bible readings, devotions and memory verses.
Living Water in the Desert: True Stories of God at Work in Iran by Rebecca Davis $8.99 value
One man was overcome by the missionary’s kindness. Another was stopped by a vision of men in blue. One became sick and tired of his own religion. Another saw a man named Jesus in a dream, coming to him on a donkey. A girl found a strange book on the floor of the library and visited a secret prayer meeting. All of them eventually came to Jesus Christ for His full and free salvation,
becoming missionaries to their own people. Seventeen chapters tell true stories of the Living Water pouring out on the country of Iran, even up to the present day.
Lights in a Dark Place: True Stories of God at Work in Colombia by Rebecca Davis (ages 7-12) $8.99 value
Colombia has been known as a land of violence, but God is at work! Even though the Colombian people have reacted with violence to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God has delivered people from burning houses . . . God has healed ones who cursed . . . God has given people dreams and visions . . . God has rescued kidnapers . . . God has conquered demons of darkness. Read fourteen true stories of the Light of the World shining in the land of Colombia, South America.
Jungle Doctor’s Monkey Tales by Paul White $8.99 value
The wisdom of monkeys is proverbially small. They never could remember not to get too near to the hind feet of zebra, nor to throw coconuts at Chewi the leopard, nor to look into the eyes of snakes. Luckily for his little nephews, Uncle Nyani, the only survivor of a family of seven, is always near at hand to tell them how they can live to be as old as he is!
Jungle Doctor’s Tug-of-War by Paul White (ages 5-11) $8.99 value
Even by monkey standards, young Toto is pretty dim! Those baddies of the jungle, Crunch the Crocodile, Mbisi the Hyena, Slinki the Jackal, Vibi the Vulture and Gnark the crow look as though they are going to have an easy time finishing him off. However, Toto soon finds himself in the middle of a tug-of-war, for his real friends, Elephant, Giraffe, Parrot and Hornbill are determined to rescue him from the clutches of the jungle underworld.
The Bible’s Big Story: Salvation History for Kids by James M. Hamilton Jr. $4.99
With easily remembered rhymes and Bible verses take your child through the span of Salvation History from Creation to the Fall, the Flood to the Exodus, the Exile to the Crucifixion and beyond… James M. Hamilton writes about real history, God’s Salvation History, and our future.
Notebooking Pages Lifetime Membership $97
1000s of topical pages, themes, and designs . . . Perfect for any subject or study A to Z!
Art Study ♦ Copywork ♦ Character Study ♦ Famous Men & Women ♦ Geography (state/country studies, continental, world maps) ♦ History of the Ancient World, Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation, and Modern Times ♦ Music Study ♦ Nature Study ♦ Science ♦ Timelines ♦ and more!
Mom’s Toolbelt Lifetime Membership $24.95
A customizable home management planner for every area of your life that craves order.
Hal and Melanie Young: Mom & Dad Special: Raising Real Men (book + audiobook) plus a free registration to both Boot Camp 9-12 AND Boyhood Boot Camp. $101 value
If this is God’s chosen gift to us, then why does it seem so hard? How can we prepare these boys to serve God when we can barely make it through the day? Isn’t there a better way? The answer is yes.
When You Lie Down: Lullabies and Scripture Songs CD $12.97 value
These twelve songs remind us that true rest, comfort and hope come from God alone. This music is an awesome way to experience God’s Word with your baby, kids and family. You will discover that this album will be a powerful addition to use in your personal time with God.
Seeds Onesie- Psalm 139:13-14 $14.97 value
Seeds Family Worship Onesie featuring Psalm 139:13-14 on the front with a small Seeds logo on the back.
Cultivating Responsibility: Parenting Wisdom for Ages 9-12 by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN $14.99 value
The later elementary age years are among the greatest times to build responsibility in children. Heart transformation takes place when parents use other tools than behavior modification.
Elementary Foundations: Parenting Wisdom for Ages 5-8by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN $14.99 value
Many new things happen during the ages of 5-8. Children start school, develop significant friendships, learn to think abstractly instead of just concretely, and have a greater ability to draw close to God. Parenting during this stage produces a number of challenges and opportunities so you’ll want to be prepared.
You’re Invited!
Join us for the Wonderfully Made Facebook Release Party on Thursday, April 21. We’ll have even more giveaways and freebies, too! The party begins at 9pm EST, and you can RSVP on the event page
Please RSVP!
thanks for sharing these wonderful resources!
What a great and important give away. Thank you for a chance to win!