God's Growing Garden: The Science of Life

Thursday, April 8, 2021

The Science of Life - DIGESTION

I have never seen so much importance put on "science" until this Pandemic started. Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great, but it got me thinking about why "science" is almost ignored when it comes to fetal development and the topic of abortion.

Today is the fifth post in a series where we study the science of life. In February's "Science of Life" post we focused on the HEART (click HERE to view that post). This series will be free of attacks and politicization. I am going to detail a single part of gestational development in each post in the absolute basic of scientific terms ("basic" because that is my scientific level). Which brings me to my disclaimer and details:

1. I am NOT a doctor and I am NOT giving medical advice or any advice of any kind. The information below came from my online research.

2. I will NOT be publishing any comments. This is an attack free series.

3. I will be sharing my opinion from my Christian perspective which will appear below the dotted line. If you do not wish to read my Christian perspective, then simply do NOT scroll past the dotted line - it's that simple.

4. Sometimes I will include articles that emphasize or enhance the scientific topic of the post.

Today we will be focusing on digestion

("taste" will be the feature of a different LIFE post):

The following is a list of organs belonging to the digestive system:

mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, large & small intestines, anus and rectum. (Pancreas is also part of the endocrine system)

There are 3 digestive sections that develop in the womb:

Foregut, Midgut & Hindgut

Foregut - includes the esophagus, stomach, liver & pancreas - they are developed during the 7th week of pregnancy.

Midgut - includes the small intestines and most of the large intestines - they are developed between the 10th & 12th week of pregnancy.

Hindgut - includes the remainder of the intestines as well as the rectum and anus - the development for these organs begin around the 9th to 11th week of pregnancy.

(The following chart was found on "BabyCenter" detailing the development of the digestive system in the womb):

Weeks pregnant	Milestone
5 weeks	The digestive tube starts to form.
7 weeks	The stomach, esophagus, liver, and pancreas start to form.
8-10 weeks	Cells inside digestive tube hollow it out.
8-12 weeks	Intestine grows in length and is housed in the umbilical cord.
11 weeks	The rectum and anus form.
12 weeks	Intestine leaves the umbilical cord and returns to the abdomen.
13 weeks	Your baby begins swallowing amniotic fluid, and meconium accumulates in the intestines.
14 weeks	Your baby practices sucking and chewing.
23 weeks	Peristalsis is happening.

Peristalsis - The wavelike muscular contractions of the digestive tract or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.

This means that the baby's digestive system is fully formed just 3 months into pregnancy!!!!

Digestive Issues Occurring in the Womb

Cick to read more:

Gastroschisis is a birth defect that cannot be corrected in the womb (surgery is performed on the baby just after birth)

A List of Digestive Tract Defects

Other Science of Life posts:

DNA

SPINE

SLEEP

HEARTBEAT

DIGESTION

FINGERS

EYES

EGGS (Oocytes)

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We all know how enjoyable eating can be - think about holidays. An entire gathering surrounds food (the Bible verse above describes it perfectly). Why would God completely form our digestive system in only 3 months if we weren't meant to "delight in the richest of fare"?

The most important type of food is Spiritual food that lasts forever:

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

John 6:35

If you have had an abortion in the past and are struggling with that decision today, then please know that God will forgive you!

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

"All unrighteousness" covers all sins. Pray to God, confess your sins to Him and He will forgive you!

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