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This Artificial Womb Might One Day Rescue Severely Premature Babies
In the U.S., approximately one in nine babies arrives prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation). This staggering statistic translates to nearly 450,000 premature births annually, making the U.S. the leader among industrialized nations in this regard. Despite significant advancements in survival rates for infants born between 22 and 28 weeks, many of these tiny warriors face heightened risks for issues like cerebral palsy, blindness, and deafness. However, a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications could pave the way for saving the lives of extremely premature infants while allowing them to develop healthily.
In the recent study, researchers have crafted an artificial womb that successfully supported fetal lambs’ growth for roughly a month. This is a monumental leap forward for babies born at around 23 to 25 weeks—the equivalent of the 107-day-old lamb fetuses used in the research. The artificial womb is a simple-looking plastic bag with a nozzle, but the effort to recreate the womb’s environment has been remarkable. “Our goal was to develop a system that mimics the womb as closely as possible…to support normal fetal development,” explained lead researcher Emma Ross to NPR.
Dubbed the Biobag, this closed and sterile environment is filled with synthetic amniotic fluid. By attaching a cannula to the lamb’s umbilical cord and connecting it to a machine that functions like a placenta, the fetus receives essential nutrients and oxygen while carbon dioxide is efficiently removed. The Biobag and its occupant were placed in a cozy, dark room where researchers could play soothing sounds mimicking the mother’s heartbeat, all while closely monitoring the fetus with ultrasound technology. Remarkably, after four weeks, the lambs displayed normal development of their brain, lungs, and organs, and once taken out of the bag and placed on ventilators, they were comparable to lambs of the same fetal age delivered via C-section.
Scientists aim to trial the Biobag on very premature human infants within the next 3-5 years. While testing on human subjects, especially babies, raises significant ethical dilemmas, the rationale is that since the survival odds are grim for these early arrivals, the Biobag could provide them a fighting chance. As the study states, “We believe that the potential benefits far outweigh the disadvantages of exposing the fetus to conventional care in a neonatal intensive care unit.” The aim isn’t to push the limits of viability but to enhance outcomes for infants already receiving life-saving measures in NICUs.
Of course, this innovation raises some eyebrow-raising ethical concerns. For instance, while the prospects of saving lives are thrilling, testing may not guarantee success, and some infants could tragically not survive. Bioethicist Clara Thompson voiced worries about quality of life for those who do survive: “If a baby has to endure a lifetime in an institution versus not being born at all, many parents would argue that’s not a better option.”
Then there are more unsettling possibilities: Imagine a future where women seeking abortions are forced to gestate their babies in Biobags or employers might require female employees to use artificial wombs to dodge maternity leave. Scary, right?
Despite the creep factor, the artificial womb represents a significant breakthrough—potentially saving countless lives that might otherwise be lost. Yet, with every technological advance comes the risk of misuse. It’s crucial that as the Biobag project progresses, ethical considerations are taken into account to prevent any potential abuse. We should focus on the lives it could save and the joy that might bring to families.
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Summary
Researchers have developed an artificial womb, the Biobag, which successfully supported fetal lambs for a month, offering hope for extremely premature human infants. This innovative technology raises ethical questions but could improve survival outcomes for those already receiving intensive care.