As salamu alaykum,
Shokran for writing to our live session. Your question is of most interest and is a fascinating topic. Human life and development within the mother’s womb is a beautiful experience and most wondrous. From the moment of conception the embryo, and then fetus-is a developing constantly, alive and growing from within the safety of the womb. The breath of life or soul according to Islam, is blown into the embryo at about a hundred twenty days of pregnancy. As you correctly stated, this is the fourth month.
According to what is known about fetal growth and development, at about 4 months, the baby grows eyebrows and eyelashes. The baby also has its own fingerprints. The baby may also begin hiccuping and yawning (1). At 4 months pregnant, a woman may feel a few symptoms such as weight gain, more hunger, increased energy, itchiness around the skin of the tummy and breasts, as well as an increasing fullness in the tummy as the baby grows. This miraculous transformation of the woman’s body, as well as the growing baby, is one of Allah swt miracles and gifts to us.
Regarding if a baby is alive, it is often easy to tell that a baby is alive inside of the mom as you can feel the baby growing. There are symptoms that come with each stage of pregnancy. In the first three months, the mom may not even know she is pregnant, or she may have morning sickness and not feel well.
She may be tired. To determine pregnancy or it’s progress, there are tests they can do in the hospital at different stages of growth. To confirm pregnancy, tests as early as 4 to 6 weeks can be done by obtaining blood or urine to confirm a pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, tests can be done to see the baby through an ultrasound or sonogram. Monitors can hear the heartbeat as well diagnostic tests can be ordered to determine whether or not there is a problem.
Through your reading articles, you may have noticed how science has caught up with Islam in regards to the beautiful nature of embryonic and fetal growth and development. It is a most miraculous progress, one I am sure you are enjoying learning about!
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