An artificial womb sounds like something out of science fiction; images of The Matrix’s grim future come to mind. However, this technology isn’t as far off as it would appear, and the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to discuss how an approved artificial womb might function at its meeting in late September 2023.
Let’s be clear up front: this is not a human replacement for the duration of a pregnancy. No, we won’t be creating “pod people” very soon.
An artificial womb would serve as a support system for newborns that are born prematurely and are severely underdeveloped, helping to provide the ideal environment and system so that they can continue developing and turn into healthy, fully-formed babies.
Early-born infants are already supported by doctors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). You might have seen a tiny newborn with tubes attached in a hospital. These tubes can provide fluids and medications directly into the bloodstream, as well as air to the baby’s lungs and even assistance with oxygenation.
More than 50 years of treating preemies
An average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks in its entirety. However, a baby may be born earlier than this due to a variety of signs or circumstances, which could leave the child’s organs underdeveloped because the mother’s womb is no longer providing care.
These prematurely born infants — often referred to as preterm — can struggle to survive without outside assistance. Over the past 50 years, numerous scientific advances have increased these pre-term babies’ chances of survival.
Breathing is one of the most difficult things for preterm infants to do. A newborn does not need to use its lungs when in the womb since the placenta, which functions as a gas exchange, transfers oxygen from the mother directly into the infant’s bloodstream.
Lungs are one of the last to grow since they are not necessary until after delivery. This is effective in a…
