Scientists Have Created An Artificial Womb

[ChrisJones 7,975]

Referred to as a extra-uterine system this has been tested on premature lambs with promising results as they continue to develop outside of the natural environment. Pictures of the device are in the link.

 

In the next 3-5 years they would like to test it on very premature human babies. Extreme prematurity is the leading cause of infant mortality in the US, resulting in over a 3rd of the deaths, and half of the cases of cerebral palsy.

 

Advocates praise the results saying it could potentially save thousands of infant lives.

 

Critics weigh up the ethical considerations, and potential future, of being able to 'grow' a human in a laboratory and the possibility for misuse.

 

Thoughts?

[jiggy 3,209]

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature and while she was one of the stronger babies in the maternity hospital intensive care unit at 3 pound 11 ounces. I did get to see other babies in the same unit some as little as 1 pound weight and hanging on to survival by a thread. They were all been kept alive by incubators and various tubes and oxygen masks which is all artificial. So if there was anything extra that would give those babies a chance at life then I'm all for it and fcuk the ethical critics. It is a frightening place to be and one thing that I remember most is the before and after photos on the walls of once 1 pound babies that would fit on the palm of your hand that are now perfect healthy 4 year old kids that survived and came back in to thank the staff and nurses on scbu ward that saved their lives. Many parents never got to bring their baby home and I thank god only for modern technology I got to bring my healthy daughter home.

Edited April 25, 2017 by jiggy

[ChrisJones 7,975]

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature and while she was one of the stronger babies in the maternity hospital intensive care unit at 3 pound 11 ounces. I did get to see other babies in the same unit some as little as 1 pound weight and hanging on to survival by a thread. They were all been kept alive by incubators and various tubes and oxygen masks which is all artificial. So if there was anything extra that would give those babies a chance at life then I'm all for it and fcuk the ethical critics. It is a frightening place to be and one thing that I remember most is the before and after photos on the walls of once 1 pound babies that would fit on the palm of your hand that are now perfect healthy 4 year old kids that survived and came back in to thank the staff and nurses on scubo ward that saved their lives. Many parents never got to bring their baby home and I thank god only for modern technology I got to bring my healthy daughter home.

 

I was in a similar situation, mate. It's why the study struck a chord with me. My wife went into labour at 22 weeks. She was sutured and kept on bed rest for 7 weeks and she finally gave birth, via emergency caesarian at 29 weeks. My lad was 3lbs 4oz. He was in SBC for 5 weeks and he was discharged a week before Christmas. I totally feel for anyone that's had to sit in the ICU and go through that, especially when you know that a lot won't make it.

Edited April 25, 2017 by ChrisJones

[kanny 21,759]

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature and while she was one of the stronger babies in the maternity hospital intensive care unit at 3 pound 11 ounces. I did get to see other babies in the same unit some as little as 1 pound weight and hanging on to survival by a thread. They were all been kept alive by incubators and various tubes and oxygen masks which is all artificial. So if there was anything extra that would give those babies a chance at life then I'm all for it and fcuk the ethical critics. It is a frightening place to be and one thing that I remember most is the before and after photos on the walls of once 1 pound babies that would fit on the palm of your hand that are now perfect healthy 4 year old kids that survived and came back in to thank the staff and nurses on scubo ward that saved their lives. Many parents never got to bring their baby home and I thank god only for modern technology I got to bring my healthy daughter home.

Out of likes...for you both I'm glad its a happy ending

[Accip74 7,112]

My daughter was 6 weeks premature, initial breathing difficulties, 5 weeks in hospital aftercare......but as jiggy has said, you look around the ward at other cases & count yourself lucky.

Ethics kind of go out of the window under the circumstances...

[Paulnix 426]

My wife's aunt is a specialist nurse on a neonatal unit and deals on a daily basis with very ill babies and am sure it would be a godsend to them, if these units get to use this technology then great and sod the ethics of it, but if it just ends up just used by mega star's not wanting to go through the inconvenience of a naturally born baby then nope let them keep on adopting African and Asian babies to make themselves feel good.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Paulnix

[jiggy 3,209]

 

 

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature and while she was one of the stronger babies in the maternity hospital intensive care unit at 3 pound 11 ounces. I did get to see other babies in the same unit some as little as 1 pound weight and hanging on to survival by a thread. They were all been kept alive by incubators and various tubes and oxygen masks which is all artificial. So if there was anything extra that would give those babies a chance at life then I'm all for it and fcuk the ethical critics. It is a frightening place to be and one thing that I remember most is the before and after photos on the walls of once 1 pound babies that would fit on the palm of your hand that are now perfect healthy 4 year old kids that survived and came back in to thank the staff and nurses on scubo ward that saved their lives. Many parents never got to bring their baby home and I thank god only for modern technology I got to bring my healthy daughter home.

I was in a similar situation, mate. It's why the study struck a chord with me. My wife went into labour at 22 weeks. She was sutured and kept on bed rest for 7 weeks and she finally gave birth, via emergency caesarian at 29 weeks. My lad was 3lbs 4oz. He was in SBC for 5 weeks and he was discharged a week before Christmas. I totally feel for anyone that's had to sit in the ICU and go through that, especially when you know that a lot won't make it.

Hope it's all going well for you mate my girl was in scbu (special care baby unit) for 10 weeks we had to feed her through a tube in her nose for weeks after she came home and we had to learn how to push tube down her nose into her stomach which is hard to take in at start but you get used to it. She suffered sleep apnea for a few weeks which is scary when the heart stops for a second or 2. She also had a hole in her oesophagus which caused bad reflux but that closed over and apnea cured so all was good in the end. They seem tiny at the time and it's hard be patient when worrying but they soon catch up she is nearly 4 now and is same size as other girls her age with zero side effects.

[ChrisJones 7,975]

Hope it's all going well for you mate my girl was in scbu (special care baby unit) for 10 weeks we had to feed her through a tube in her nose for weeks after she came home and we had to learn how to push tube down her nose into her stomach which is hard to take in at start but you get used to it. She suffered sleep apnea for a few weeks which is scary when the heart stops for a second or 2. She also had a hole in her oesophagus which caused bad reflux but that closed over and apnea cured so all was good in the end. They seem tiny at the time and it's hard be patient when worrying but they soon catch up she is nearly 4 now and is same size as other girls her age with zero side effects.

We were the same although he had the tube removed very shortly afterwards. It is quite the learning curve! Once we were able to get 5ml of formula down him we never looked back! He didn't hasn't stopped growing! It can't be better this end, he's going to 17 be this year, and I have to work overtime to keep him in food. He's started weight training and plays a bit of basketball at school. He's now taller than me with a size 13 shoe! The only thing carried over is that he doesn't have toe nails, which is weird I know, but apparently they hadn't developed when he was born.

 

I'm genuinely glad she's doing well mate. It's a scary time alright and I have nothing but empathy for the parents that have to go through it. If science can advance us to the point where we can eventually see these situations as just a bump in the road I'm all for it!

[peterhunter86 8,627]

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature and while she was one of the stronger babies in the maternity hospital intensive care unit at 3 pound 11 ounces. I did get to see other babies in the same unit some as little as 1 pound weight and hanging on to survival by a thread. They were all been kept alive by incubators and various tubes and oxygen masks which is all artificial. So if there was anything extra that would give those babies a chance at life then I'm all for it and fcuk the ethical critics. It is a frightening place to be and one thing that I remember most is the before and after photos on the walls of once 1 pound babies that would fit on the palm of your hand that are now perfect healthy 4 year old kids that survived and came back in to thank the staff and nurses on scbu ward that saved their lives. Many parents never got to bring their baby home and I thank god only for modern technology I got to bring my healthy daughter home.

 

 

 

my daughter was born 3 months premature at a pound and a qtr it was touch and go for a few months she had to get big op to remove some of he intestines at 5 weeks which nearly killed her a few times we were told she wasnt going to make it but she never stopped fighting she went through an awfull lot before she was even soposed to be born,i remeber going up to see her one day and she was swollen up about 5 times her size that was a horrible time to go through,shes 14 now and a keen dog lover and loves a night out on the lamp.

[j j m 6,627]

its amazing what they can do these days

[Francie 6,370]

How does it work chris?

[ChrisJones 7,975]

How does it work chris?

 

Pics and diagrams of the device are in the link the first post. It's basically a bag filled with synthetic amniotic fluid. It is attached to a machine, via a cord, that pumps in oxygen and nutrients and removes carbon dioxide. They've only tested it on premature lambs but they've been able to 'deliver' them and transfer them to breathing air.

[Francie 6,370]

 

 

How does it work chris?

Pics and diagrams of the device are in the link the first post. It's basically a bag filled with synthetic amniotic fluid. It is attached to a machine, via a cord, that pumps in oxygen and nutrients and removes carbon dioxide. They've only tested it on premature lambs but they've been able to 'deliver' them and transfer them to breathing air.

Thanks mate sounds the job.

[pesky1972 5,699]

I want one. Then just need to find £50k for a wad of big Tyson's seed, and I'll be growing myself an army of 7ft tall gypsy lunatics to take on Korea.

Edited April 25, 2017 by pesky1972

[Francie 6,370]

Lol funny mate