AIBU to think a foetus is alive before birth?

[Mmmchocolatebuttons]

I had a discussion with someone, who believes that a foetus is not alive, until the point they are born. They also asserted that this was not an uncommon view. I have a hard time believing this so I'm putting it to the AIBU poll.

To be clear, I'm pro choice, but I do believe that, for example, a 30 week foetus is factually, scientifically considered to be alive.

Surely, even if you're pro-choice all the way up until birth, you accept that the foetus is alive?

YABU = A foetus is not alive, until birth.
YANBU = A foetus is alive in the womb.

Yes, my 22 week gestation baby that parties all night doing back flips in my belly is very much alive.

So do you think the nerves become ‘activated’ at birth?

Of course a foetus is alive!

Aren't most medical issues caught earlier now? And the necessity is very low? @sisterinlawunkind

And there it is.

Did you rub your two brain cells together really hard to make that thought. Don’t wear yourself out.

They start to feel pain between 24 and 28 weeks gestation.

Well tbh I’m not sure I understand the point of mentioning adoption?

They aren’t alive until they can live in my opinion. Before that, they are part of the mother’s body. So until they can survive on their own is the line for me.

Care to elaborate?

I mean exactly what I said.

Some babies are born with severe abnormalities that mean they will die within days/weeks and will suffer in pain their entire short lives. We should be allowed (with the parents consent) to allow these babies to pass quickly and not languish in pain. Not everything is treatable and where treatment isn't available, euthanasia should be.

I was born at 26 weeks 44 years ago.. I was definitely alive.

Of course they should, I agree but unfortunately they wouldn’t be charged for murder.

When people miscarry usually those people actually want the baby so see it as a baby. Even in the very early stages, they loose a baby and grieve the baby, toddler, child that they have just lost. People having an abortion don’t want the baby and will tell themselves it’s only cells to make themselves feel better

Of course they're alive. They're not independently alive as they rely on the mother for life support, but they're an alive individual human. They do interact in their way with the environment. You can feel that when they are inside you.

What do you mean, so if a baby (like me) is born at 26 weeks and needed medical assistance to survive is that baby not a being in your opinion. Or do you mean before the stage that medical assistant couldn’t save… Like a 12 week pregnancy.

Something with brain activity and a beating heart is alive

“Alive” is an irrelevant concept.

I’m completely pro-choice and I would consider a zygote “alive”.

Really?

love to all those here who have lost babies
and also those who have had to terminate pregnancies for whatever reason

but

this alive/not alive debate is entirely irrelevant to the ethical dilemmas around termination, since we happliy and legally destroy life daily

its hard to imagine a woman who has gestated and given birth can claim to believe a foetus is not alive. If I was OP I would concentrate on trying to get the friend to think through exactly what she means by 'alive' and why she thinks that

good luck OP, I share your bafflement

Yes. I see you could be. A fetus is alive. What I meant was they can’t survive before a certain age.
Not sure what your point is ?

It's a weird question.

An unborn baby is classes as a parasite, it surpresses the immune system and takes what it needs from your body.

A tapeworm does similar. Is that alive?

You're either alive or you're not.

What you're asking is do unborn babies have any rights to go on living outside the body. Not whether it's alive or not.

Yes I was quoting the person who said they were not aware

No, she's merely asking if it's alive. It's been argued that it's not a living organism at all, which frankly doesn't stand up to science or common sense.

Psychological would come under medical

They don’t rely on another body to survive though. A baby can live separately from a woman whereas a fetus can’t.