You’ve probably heard the old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But history tells a different story. Words have started wars, silenced entire movements, and sparked revolutions. Language holds power, the power to shape perception, sway public opinion, and either reveal the truth or bury it.
We’re looking at how The New York Times uses words like “fetus” or “unborn” and how those choices shape the way we see life in the womb.
Why Words Matter: Fetus Vs. Unborn
In the battle for life, pro-abortion advocates have learned to weaponize words to fit their agenda. A term like “clump of cells” becomes more than just three harmless words; it becomes a way to deny the humanity and personhood of a preborn baby in the womb. “Fetus,” while technically a medical term, is often used to create emotional distance, a way to separate those who have been born from those still growing inside the womb.
Language shapes emotion.
“Fetus” sounds clinical, detached.
The phrase “unborn baby” evokes empathy, connection, and grief.
Case Studies from the Media
Let’s take a closer look at how some major news outlets, like The New York Times, carefully choose their words when reporting on life in the womb.
The New York Times – Will My Unborn Child Be a Citizen?
In January 2025, The New York Times published a piece titled, “A New Fear for Undocumented Women: Will My Unborn Child Be a Citizen?”
What stands out isn’t just the subject matter, it’s the language. The phrase “unborn child” carries emotional weight. It acknowledges humanity. Now imagine if the article had used the word “fetus” instead.
“Will My Fetus Be a Citizen?”
It wouldn’t have resonated the same way.
This choice of words reveals something important: when the goal is to connect with the reader’s heart, even major outlets instinctively use humanizing language. And that matters, because the child in the womb doesn’t change based on the headline. As Megan Almon, a speaker specializing in pro-life apologetics and a friend of Save the Storks, states, the value of a human being is not dependent on where they are, but on what they are. A baby does not gain value by passing through the birth canal. They are still a child, still worthy of protection and love. We hope that outlets like The New York Times would speak consistently and honestly about the humanity of a preborn child.
The New York Times – Embryonic Pulsing
In 2019, while reporting on Louisiana’s Heartbeat Bill, The New York Times referred to the baby’s heartbeat as “embryonic pulsing”. Again, using clinical language, to separate the humanity of a preborn baby from the human term, which would be, simply put, the baby’s heartbeat.
Alan Blinder writes in the article, “The measure would require an ultrasound test for any woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy, and forbid abortion if the test detects embryonic pulsing, which can occur before many women know they are pregnant.”
It’s true. The preborn baby’s heart begins to beat as early as six weeks after conception. So why choose the phrase “embryonic pulsing” instead of simply “heartbeat,” which is more transparent and more relatable? Unfortunately, this choice seems deliberate.
The New York Times – Wordle Scandal
Even the word “fetus” became controversial in 2022, when The New York Times faced criticism for including it in their Wordle game around the time Roe v. Wade was at risk of being overturned. They chose to remove the word to avoid any appearance of taking a political stance during a sensitive moment. It’s telling that even a medical term like “fetus” was seen as too charged to be used openly in a word game.
The Power of Framing
Someone who supports choice would never comfort a grieving friend by referring to their lost baby as “a clump of cells.” You won’t find sympathy cards that say, “Sorry for the loss of your fetus.” While major news outlets continue to use the word “fetus”, the reality is simple: a baby is a baby, no matter how small. And while words can shape perception, truth remains constant.
While some call it a fetus or a clump of cells, we’ll keep calling it what it is: a baby. A human being. Someone deserving of value, love, and LIFE.
Put Her Future First
When a woman first sees her baby on an ultrasound in our mobile medical clinics, it says what words can’t. This is life, a baby deserving of love and protection. 3 out of 4 women who board a Save the Storks Mobile Medical Clinic choose life. Put her future first by helping her see the truth and giving her the resources she needs.
Become a monthly donor today and support her baby from womb to world. Your ongoing gift provides love, care, and resources every step of the way.
