Could a fetus be looked at as a Parasite?

Question

its must get its nutrients from its mother.
this includes all animals before you people start giving me bible verses.

Answer 1

If the mother is carrying a fetus she does not want then the relationship can be looked at as Parasitism, where only one partner benefits from the relationship. However, if the mother wants the child then the relationship would be best described as Mutualism: where both partners benefit.

I prefer to look at it this way than to say that all fetuses are parasites.

Answer 2

That's an interesting question. The definition of parasite is:
"An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); the parasite obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host"
So, I suppose that applies to an fetus. However, even though you can make that case, I think a parasite also has to be unwelcome. In other words, usually the parasite attacks the other organism or enters it without permission. The parasite is also usually fully formed when it latches on. Also, I believe the scientific community draws clear distinctions between reproduction and parasites. Still, it is an interesting concept that I had not thought of before now.

Answer 3

I'm wiccan so no bible verses here.
but no a fetus can not be consitered a parasite becouse the fetus does not choose to be there it was put there. If the fetus just crawed up in to the female then it would be a parasite but a fetus is part of the mother until birth. with parasites there is no time limit on how long it says on the host it just stays there until the host dies or the parasite dies.

Answer 4

It makes sense to me: the only way a parasite can survive is off of another living organism. A fetus latches on to the mother and sucks up all the nutrients from her body so that it can continue to live. But I think a baby is way cuter than any other parasite, like ticks, etc.

Answer 5

Absolutely yes. It could even be considered a harmful parasite as it sucks nutrients and minerals from the host. Of course we are willing to tolerate this parasite because at some point it will leave our system and once it matures it will raise little parasites of its own.

Answer 6

Being that parasites are unwanted, the fetus would need to be the result of rape in order to be considered a parasite.

Answer 7

Yes, but only after the placenta is attached around the 12th/14th week. (3rd month) Before that the fetus is living off the yolk sac. (this also marks the point at which the risk of miscarrige is reduced)

Answer 8

No, by definition, a parasite is of another species. If you are going to start screwing with the definitions like that, eventually we could get to a point where murder was legal as a 'post-partum abortion'.

Answer 9

Not necessarily. Biologically, a gestating fetus is still techinally a part of the host body.

Answer 10

Yeah, I've actually thought about this before. I can understand how a woman could feel that way, especially if they didn't want the child, for whatever reason.