HealthcareProgramsEbooks

Can the Baby Feel Pain in the Womb?

ByDr. Furqan Aamer
Updated: 21 Oct 2026, 11:00 am
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Sadhna Singhal Vishnoi, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals

Most medical reviews find that a foetus is unlikely to feel pain before 24 weeks of pregnancy, when the brain connections that process pain become complete. A minority of researchers say it may begin earlier. Let’s uncover the timeline, the scientific debate, and what it means for antenatal care.

Pregatips
Most medical evidence suggests a baby is unlikely to feel pain before about 24 weeks of pregnancy. Pain is more than sensing a stimulus: the brain must process it and register it consciously. The nerve pathways and brain connections needed for this develop gradually, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) found them incomplete before 24 weeks in its 2010 review. A minority of researchers say pain awareness may begin between 12 and 24 weeks, and the timing is still debated.
In this article:
We reached out to Dr Sadhna Singhal Vishnoi, Associate Director – Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, for a clinical perspective on this.

When Can a Foetus Feel Pain in the Womb?

Pain perception depends on a network involving sensory nerves, the spinal cord, thalamus, and areas of the brain involved in conscious processing.

These systems do not develop fully at the same time.

Stage of pregnancy
What develops
About 7 weeks
Touch receptors appear around the mouth
18 to 20 weeks
Stress hormones rise during needle procedures
About 20 weeks
Receptors are present across the body surface
23 to 30 weeks
Nerve fibres from the thalamus reach the cortex
After 24 weeks
Brain connections for pain are considered intact by most experts
A 2005 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that foetal pain perception is unlikely before the third trimester.

Why Do Scientists Still Disagree About Foetal Pain?

Pain is a conscious experience, and that makes it hard to measure before birth.

  • Majority view: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) reviewed the evidence in 2010 and found that nerve connections from the body to the cortex are not intact before 24 weeks.
  • Minority view: A 2020 paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics said current neuroscience does not rule out foetal pain before 24 weeks. Some researchers also argue that pain may not need a fully developed cortex.
  • Common ground: Doctors agree that newborns, including premature babies, feel pain.

Does the Baby Feel Pain During Foetal Surgery or Prenatal Tests?

In foetal surgery after the second trimester, doctors usually give a pain-relieving medicine such as an opioid, along with a drug that stops movement. These drugs mainly keep the foetus still and limit stress responses. The use of these medicines does not, by itself, prove that the foetus has conscious pain at that particular gestational age.

Common antenatal tests are different:

  • Ultrasound scans use sound waves and do not cause pain.
  • Amniocentesis, usually done between 15 and 20 weeks, uses an ultrasound-guided needle that enters the fluid pocket, not the baby.
Foetuses can show movements and physiological responses to various stimuli as pregnancy progresses, but these responses do not necessarily prove that the foetus consciously experiences pain in the same way a newborn or adult does.Dr Sadhna Singhal Vishnoi, Associate Director – Department of Obs and Gyn, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals

Does the Baby Feel Pain When the Mother Is in Labour?

Uterine contractions, cervical dilation, and pressure during childbirth activate the mother's pain pathways.

The foetus may experience physiological changes during labour, including changes in heart rate, particularly during contractions.

These changes are monitored during labour when clinically indicated, but they should not be interpreted as proof that the foetus experiences labour pain in the same way as the mother.

A baby develops increasingly complex sensory and neurological abilities throughout pregnancy, but movement or a physiological response to stimulation does not necessarily mean conscious pain; the exact development of foetal pain perception remains an area of ongoing research.

Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.

FAQs on Can the Baby Feel Pain in the Womb?

  1. At what week does a baby start feeling pain?
    Most experts place it after 24 weeks, when brain connections for pain are in place. A minority of researchers suggest it may begin between 12 and 24 weeks.
  2. Does the baby feel pain when the mother falls?
    There is no evidence of the baby feeling pain in early pregnancy from the mother’s fall. The fluid and uterine muscle protect the baby, but a doctor should check you after any fall or abdominal blow.
  3. Does amniocentesis hurt the baby?
    The needle is guided by ultrasound into the amniotic fluid, away from the baby. The mother may feel a pinch or cramp.
How we reviewed this article
Our team continuously monitors the health and wellness space to create relevant content for you. Every article is reviewed by medical experts to ensure accuracy.

Pregnancy Week-by-Week

1 WEEK2 WEEK3 WEEK4 WEEK5 WEEK6 WEEK7 WEEK8 WEEK9 WEEK10 WEEK11 WEEK12 WEEK13 WEEK14 WEEK15 WEEK16 WEEK17 WEEK18 WEEK19 WEEK20 WEEK21 WEEK22 WEEK23 WEEK24 WEEK25 WEEK26 WEEK27 WEEK28 WEEK29 WEEK30 WEEK31 WEEK32 WEEK33 WEEK34 WEEK35 WEEK36 WEEK37 WEEK38 WEEK39 WEEK40 WEEK