Nine Month Spiritual Adoption Program
The program involves a commitment to pray--throughout a typical nine-month gestational period--for an expectant mother and her pre-born child, who might be threatened by abortion. The spiritually adopted pair is known only to God, but those with faith entrust their prayers to Him.
Materials for the spiritual adoption program include: suggested prayers, a commitment form and a week-by-week account of the developments of the pre-born child.
Spiritual Adoption Commitment Form
Spiritual Adoption emphasizes the power of prayer in safeguarding life in the mother's womb. Through prayer, you can intercede and help save a baby from being aborted. Say a daily prayer for your spiritually adopted baby for 9 months, with the hope that this baby will be given the fullness of life, as God intended. You may give your baby a name if you’d like. Please fill out the information below and keep it with a prayer journal, calendar, or bulletin board where you will be reminded daily to pray. Nine months is a long duration for a prayer commitment, but who knows how many souls may be affected by our prayers, through God’s grace?
I______________________________________, promise to spiritually adopt an unborn baby today, ________________
to help save him/her from abortion by praying for him/her daily.
My baby______________________________, is due to be born on December 25, 2008 / (other) __________________.
Suggested Prayers
†Jesus, I love you very much, I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby, whom I have spiritually adopted, who is in danger of abortion.
†Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of life; for the gift of children and the joy they bring to our lives. Please protect the helpless unborn children, whom You have fashioned in Your own image. Please guide my spiritually adopted family--both mother and child. Keep them safe from harm and from the wickedness of the devil. Dispel the fears of each mother, father and grandparent and fill their hearts with love and pity. Give them truly unselfish hearts to love their babies enough to give them continued life and love. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
Week by Week Development
1st Month
Day 1 - Fertilization, all human chromosomes are present - a unique human being is developing
Day 6 - The baby begins implanting in the womb
Day 14 - The baby has developed its own blood cells, separate from the mothers.
Day 19 - The eyes begin to develop.
Day 20 - The brain foundation, backbone, spinal column, and nervous system have started to form. The liver, kidneys and intestines have also started to form.
Day 21 - The baby's heart is beating with her own blood. This is a LEGAL sign of life.
Day 28 - 40 pairs of muscles are developing along the trunk of the baby, arms and legs are forming.
2nd Month
Week 5 - Baby is growing everyday. The spine and spinal cord are growing faster than the rest of the body at this stage. The ears and nasal development have begun.
Week 6 - The heart is beating stronger everyday, brain waves can be detected. The skeleton is complete and reflexes are present. Baby can stretch and jump!
Week 7 - All facial features are present, including mouth and tongue, eyelids, retina and lens of the eye, nose. Also, fingers, toes, ankles, wrists and ears are developing. The child has its OWN BLOOD TYPE, distinct From the mother's, these blood cells are now being produced by the child's own liver.
Week 8 - Baby can turn his head, suck his thumb and respond to pain. The child can swim and move inside his mommy. All organs are functioning - stomach, liver, *kidney, & brain! Fingerprints form - Baby just needs time to grow!
3rd Month
Week 9 - Twenty baby teeth begin to form in the gums. The child is sleeping, waking yawning, and stretching just like she will continue to do when she enters the world as God intended. She is also able to swallow, squint and retract her tongue.
Week 10 - The child is approximately 1 inch in length. The heart is near completion and is very similar to that of a newborn baby. Fingers and toes start to develop soft nails. Mommy can hear baby's heartbeat through an instrument called a Doptone.
Week 11 - The unborn child can grasp objects placed in her hands. She is able to inhale and exhale amniotic fluid. All organs are continuing to grow and function.
Week 12 - During this time, the child experiences his fastest growth rate - almost DOUBLING in size from 11 weeks! He is approximately 3.25 inches long. He has all parts necessary to experience pain - fully developed brain, nerves, and spinal cord. Vocal chords are developed!! – The child CAN and DOES CRY!
4th month
Week 13 - Baby continues to grow stronger every day!
Week 14 - The unborn child's muscles start to lengthen and become more organized. Soon her mommy will begin to feel the movement of the baby kicking and swimming inside her.
Week 15 - He has developed adult's taste buds and may enjoy sucking his thumb. Baby’s skin is pink and transparent.
Week 16 - Wow, baby has grown to approximately 6-7
inches long and weighs about 6 ounces! Eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair begin to appear. Baby's sex organs are developed. Baby is busy doing somersaults, kicking swimming and grasping with hands!
5th Month
Week 17 - The unborn child can have dream (REM) sleep
Week 18 - The baby is growing. He may be sleeping, crying, playing or sucking his thumb at any time of the day!
Week 19 - Baby sleeps at regular intervals throughout the day.
Week 20 - The unborn child weighs about 1 pound is about 12 inches in length. Baby can hear and recognize her mommy's voice! She is growing rapidly and could possibly survive if born at this time. Using an ultrasound device, the doctor can tell if it is a boy or a girl! Baby is about 8-12 inches long and weighs about 1 pound.
6th Month
Week 21 - Sweat glands developing and baby's skin is less transparent - it is red and wrinkled. Baby is growing bigger and stronger everyday!
Week 22 - Babies eyelids begin to open.
Week 23 - Baby is covered in fine downy hair, called lanugo and skin is protected by a waxy substance called vernix. The child continues to practice breathing by inhaling the amniotic fluid into his lungs.
Week 24 - Baby is now approximately 11-14 inches long and weighs about 1 - 1.5 pounds.
7th Month
Week 25 - Baby can now respond to light & sound.
Week 26 - Wow, baby is growing rapidly and preparing for his new life outside the womb. If born at this stage, the child has 50% chance of survival with medical care
Week 27 - Baby exercises by moving & kicking inside of his mommy.
Week 28 - Baby is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds!
8th Month
Week 29 - Baby's brain continues to develop.
Week 30 - At this stage of development, baby is capable of living outside the womb. Nourishment continues to be transferred from the mother's blood to her baby. Any toxic substance consumed by the mother will be received by her baby as well. The child is too big to move around, but mommy will feel his strong kicks.
Week 31 - Baby sleeps 90-95% of the day.
9th Month
Baby gains approximately one-half pound per week! Baby's lungs are mature! All organs are completely developed and working
Week 37-40 - Awesome, baby is now approximately 7.5 pounds and is ready to start life outside the womb! At birth, the child will take his first breath of fresh air. Finally the day has come for you to meet your baby face to face.
Happy Birthday Baby!
The Day of the Unborn Child
What is the significance of the March 25? December 25 is the date that Christians have traditionally celebrated the birthday of Jesus. Knowing that a child's life begins nine months before birth, March 25 has traditionally been a day to commemorate what many churches call the Annunciation. That is the appearance of Angel Gabriel to Mary announcing that Emmanuel would be conceived within her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. This day--to reflect upon the moment The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, first, in his mother's womb--is coming to be known, in the pro-life movement, as the Day of the Unborn Child.