Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The idea of an “artificial womb” has been explored in literature, science fiction, and film for almost a century. Full ‘ectogenesis’ – growing a human from an embryo entirely within an artificial environment – might have profound implications for society, but is far from reality. However, recently published work with an animal model has described a technique for supporting extremely premature newborn lambs (equivalent to 23 weeks of human gestation) in a liquid environment with an artificial placenta for a period of up to four weeks. The apparent success of this model has led to suggestions that it could be trialled in humans in the near future. If it were successful, artificial gestation might represent a paradigm shift in neonatal care. It could radically improve the prospects for infants born around the current borderline of viability. It may also shift the current threshold of viability and make it possible to save infants who could not be saved with current technology. However, artificial gestation will raise considerable ethical challenges – both during the first stages of its valuation in humans, and,if successful in its application to neonatal care.

Type

Chapter

Book title

Hot Topics and Controversies in Neonatal Care

Publication Date

13/06/2019