New study suggests that unborn babies may be capable of feeling pain in the first trimester

A new study has revealed that the nervous system of embryos and fetuses develops much earlier than previously thought, which could indicate that unborn babies may be capable of feeling pain as early as the first trimester.

The study, titled "Tridimensional Visualization and Analysis of Early Human Development," showed that preborn babies in the first trimester have "adult-like" patterns of nerves.

The researchers were able to build a 3D cellular map of the human development during the first trimester using a combination of "whole-mount immunostaining, 3DISCO clearing, and light-sheet imaging."

"We found that the adult-like pattern of skin innervation is established before the end of the first trimester, showing important intra- and inter-individual variations in nerve branches. We also present evidence for a differential vascularization of the male and female genital tracts concomitant with sex determination," the researchers wrote in the summary of the study, which was published in the journal Cell on March 23.

While it cannot be concluded that the system of nerves observed in embryos and fetuses would allow the unborn to feel pain, the study suggests that the nervous system develops much earlier than previously thought, which could point to pain sensitivity.

According to Live Action News, preborn babies respond to touch as early as eight weeks, and there is increasing evidence that fetuses can feel pain much earlier than 20 weeks. Some studies claim that fetal pain could be even worse in the first trimester "due to the uneven maturation of fetal neurophysiology."

Dr. Colleen A. Malloy, a professor of neonatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, told a U.S. Senate committee last year that surgeons and anesthesiologists use pain medication for fetuses at the 20-week stage because "it's supported by the literature completely."

"I could never imagine subjecting my tiny patients to a horrific procedure such as those that involve limb detachment or cardiac injection," said Malloy.

As many as 16 states have passed "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection" bills, which prohibit abortions after 20 weeks, in recent years, but lawmakers have not succeeded in passing a federal version.

In 2013, at least 5,770 late-term abortions were conducted at or after 21 weeks of pregnancy in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. About 8,150 abortions were performed between 18 and 20 weeks.