Is The Unborn Baby a Parasite?  

“The fetus in the womb is nothing more than a parasite leeching off the mother’s body” 

This pro-abortion argument is built for shock value. It is offensive, dehumanizing, and edgy. Often the abortion advocate deploys this unsound argument in hopes that we will become offended and respond emotionally.  

The good news is, this argument spectacularly blows up in the face of the abortion advocate presenting it. 

Not only is it scientifically incorrect in every way, but they accidentally concede an important point by making this argument. 

First, let’s start with a definition of parasite and we will quickly see why this argument fails on the merits.  

Parasite: an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense. (definition per Oxford) 

So, what’s the issue with calling the unborn baby a parasite? Obviously, the unborn baby is of the same species as the mother!  

Moreover, even if we are exceedingly generous and assume the abortion advocate intends to use the phrase colloquially and simply means that the unborn does nothing to benefit the mother, they would still be incorrect. 

Studies show that fetal stem cells from the unborn baby can help repair damaged organs in the mother’s body. Even Snopes “fact-checkers” must admit that this is true.  

So now that we have disarmed the very aggressive claim that the unborn is no different than a tape worm, let’s look a little deeper and spot an ironic blunder made by those who use this argument. 

By claiming that the unborn is a parasite, the abortion advocate has unwittingly acknowledged that the unborn is NOT the mother, nor is it a part of the mother’s body. They have conceded that it is a distinct and living organism.  

This distinct and living organism happens to be a human being with the right to life.  

When confronting this argument, you will most often face it as one of several equally bad arguments used in rapid succession. You can find the answers to other pro-abortion arguments within our catalog.

As we continue to expand our growing catalog of pro-life answers to pro-abortion arguments, please feel free to submit suggestions at info@lifeissues.org. We will happily refute any arguments that you need help with.