The Pregnancy Page

Clearing the Confusion

Since the 1960's there has been a concerted effort to redefine the meaning of pregnancy and conception.   The reason for changing the meanings was to allay concerns about chemical abortion and the destruction of human embryos outside (and inside) of a woman via In Vitro Fertilization (test tube babies).

The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (ACOG), the Allan Guttmacher Institute (a branch of Planned Parenthood), and other abortion and IFV related organizations and doctors led this effort.  In 1965, the ACOG published an "official" change to the meaning of conception, under the guise that pregnancy can't be detected at fertilization.

After decades of this campaign, these groups have had success at influencing a sizeable segment of medical professionals, reporters, and the public.

Despite their success, their efforts did not convince the entire medical community. 

This section of No Room for Contraception will examine the myths and misinformation put forward by these organizations.

Video

Possible Abortifacient Method of the Pill (video) - It is suspected that the pill can can possibly prevent the implantation of a newly created human into the uterus, interrupting pregnancy prior to implantation.  While this is abortifacient mechanism is subject to debate, it's better to err on the side of life.  View the video

Human Reproduction: Fertilization and Fetal Development   

Articles and Resources

• Pregnancy and Conception FAQ  Frequently asked questions regarding pregnancy and conception.  This is the "cliff notes" guide to the articles and resources in this section.
   
• Contraception Deception  In 1965 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed their definition of conception to allay concerns about abortion...
   
• Medical Dictionaries Prove Plan B Advocates Wrong  Abortion rights advocates claim that preventing implantation is not an abortion, and that pregnancy begins at implantation.  Medical dictionaries prove them wrong.
   
• Medical Definitions and Etymology of Pregnancy and Conception  Definitions from 1828, 1913, and 2006, as well as the history of these words.
   
• Physicians, Petri dishes, and Pregnancy Contraception advocates argue that since a new human can be created in a Petri dish, and that a Petri dish cannot be pregnant, then a woman isn't pregnant at fertilization.  This article clears up this issue..
   
• Pregnancy, Contraception, and Abortion: Frequently Asked Questions.  This PDF  format brochure answers frequently asked questions regarding pregnancy, conception, and abortion.

External Resources  (please enable popups)

• Women and Postfertilization Effects of Birth Control: Consistency of Beliefs, Intentions and Reported Use  Women who believe life begins at conception are less likely to use contraception which prevents implantation.
   
• Quotes from Medical Experts:  Life Begins at Fertilization With Embryo's Conception  A collection of quotes from embryologists (and others).

Images and Charts 

The following links are of images which display the process of fertilization through implantation as well as development of the human embryo.

It's important to know that essentially these charts and images are often used by those  who erroneously define conception as implantation.  However, the science of the process of fertilization and implantation is not in dispute, so these images and charts (typically) can be used for illustration purposes..  Note:  Some images may vary by a day or two in the development cycle.

The following images exist on other websites.  You must enable pop ups for these images since they open up in a new browser window.

• First days of pregnancy (from fertilization)
• First Days of Pregnancy
• Stages of development
• Carnegie Stage Table of Human Development