lifenews.com
2026-02-13
Do fetuses have sensory experiences?
In the ongoing discussions about fetal pain and fetal consciousness, some groups have argued fetuses have no sensory experiences throughout all of pregnancy. They say the neuroinhibitors in fetal blood continually sedate them, so they aren't likely to experience pain (or anything else) until they're born. Some abortion advocates use this argument to explain why premature infants would feel pain, but fetuses of the same age still in utero would not. Similarly, some abortion advocates make arguments like these when they try to draw a bright line between newborns, who they consider persons with full rights and value, and fetuses, who they describe as "potential" persons, not yet meriting the same level of care and protection.
In January 2026 an international gynaecology journal published the review "A Rudimentary Consciousness Appears in the Late Fetal Period" by Carlo Bellieni. Here Bellieni argues that the "minimum common denominator" of consciousness is memory, and so he looks for studies of fetal memory. He also evaluates research regarding fetal anatomy and perception. In total, he reviews 31 clinical trials from the last decade related to these three areas, and concludes there is significant evidence for forms of consciousness before birth.