Dear Mom,

A very important event is about to take place in your life. This event will certainly change your plans and goals as well as mark the end of our journey -- and the beginning of a new one. As that special time approaches, I would like to take a moment to share with you some of my thoughts and concerns about this incredible journey that we are making together.

It has been quite a journey, would you agree?   You know Mom, if you could see how much progress I have made so far, you would be so proud of me.   You would be so proud to witness the first 40 days of my life. It was very exciting because that was when all my physical features began to form and develop, including my heart and brain. My muscles developed along with my future spine, the foundation for my nervous system was laid, my skeleton was formed, and my reflex had begun.   You know what else, Mom? I even learned to swim and perform back-flips. Just think, I have the potential to become an Olympic swimmer!   But the most incredible thing, Mom, is that all these things took place in my life before you even knew you were pregnant.

After you did learn that you were going to have me, I continued to grow at a brisk rate.   By the eighth week of my life, every organ that I will ever need was present in my body, my stomach produced digestive juices, and my taste buds developed. I have to say, Mom, some of the things you ate were pretty interesting. The very next week I developed a habit that you will have to put up with later on – sucking my thumb. I also started doing some things that other people will probably think is adorable, like squinting, frowning, and for the first time, smiling. Oh, I also began to urinate about that time. The thought of another human being urinating inside your body may not be the most pleasant but as the saying goes, “a baby’s got to do what a baby’s got to do”. 

Being human and showing my individuality is something that I really started doing in my twelfth week. I expressed myself by turning my feet, curling my toes, making a fist, bending my wrists, and I’m sure you noticed when I kicked. Remember how I told you that I could swim when I was about six weeks old? Well, as I turned four months old, I not only swam but did somersaults and backstrokes. I’m telling you, Mom, you’d better sign me up for swim clubs real soon! 

Over the past couple of months I have been putting on the finishing touches to this fine body. I have developed a sleeping trend, which is probably music to your ears. I am discovering that sleep is very enjoyable, and I crave it more each day.   I think I am starting to understand the difference between days and nights.   Is it true that when you are sleeping is when I am most awake and alert? Sorry if I am keeping you up at night because I have my days and nights mixed up right now.

Despite sleeping so much, I have kept active lately.  Now that my body parts are fully functioning, I am trying to utilize each of them. Just yesterday, I exerted by strength for the first time by gripping my hands real tight.   I know that may not sound like a big deal but anytime I do something for the first time it is quite exciting.

Speaking of exciting, Mom, last night was great. I was waking up from my evening nap when I heard an echo throughout your body.   I listened intently and heard a distinct sound that was somehow special to me. It was then that I realized that special sound was your voice. Mom, you have a beautiful voice. You seemed really happy. Now I always look forward to hearing you, especially when you are singing.

I am looking forward to many things.   I cannot wait to see your face and for you to see mine.  Are you looking forward to seeing me? Mom, this morning I heard you mention how you might not want me. I was deeply hurt to hear that. You said that I would only interfere with your life and I was only a piece of flesh and tissue. Nothing could be further from the truth, Mom. If you could only see me now, you would realize that I possess every physical feature that you do – I’m a human being just like you, Mom. How could you say that I would be a burden to you when you have not even given me the chance to enter the world?   I guess that is all I am really asking, Mom, a chance to live. Isn’t that the least you could do for me? 

He was an unborn child like all others.  

Like all unborn children, he was fully human from the beginning. At the moment of conception, he became a member of the human race. His stature, size, dependency, stage of development, or place of residence did not alter his humanity. 

Like all unborn children, he was marvelously complex and wonderfully made from the beginning. A single thread of his DNA contained information equivalent to a library of about one thousand volumes, or six hundred thousand printed pages with five hundred words on each page. His genetic information from a single cell was the equivalent of fifty times the amount of information contained in the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Like all unborn children, he developed at an amazingly rapid rate from the beginning.   Within a month after his conception, he multiplied in size ten thousand times. Within a month and a few days after his conception, every body part that he would need to live outside of the womb was formed.  His heart was beating and pumping blood throughout his body; his eyes began to form; he had budding arms and legs; his brain had developed and controlled the movement of his muscles and organs; his mouth, ears and nose began to shape; his skeleton had formed; his brain waves are evident; he reflexively responded to stimulus. And he could feel pain. All of this occurred before his mother barely even noticed that she was pregnant.