 Much of the literature on fetal pain simply extrapolates from findings and research on premature babies.The presence of such chemicals as adenosine, pregnanolone, and prostaglandin-D2 in both human and animal fetuses, indicate that the fetus is both sedated and anesthetized when in the womb.These chemicals are oxidized with the newborn's first few breaths and washed out of the tissues, allowing consciousness to occur.