Understanding Artificial Womb Technology for Preterm Infants

June 24, 2024 - The challenges of preterm birth are well understood by maternal health and pediatric professionals. While some factors that increase the risk of preterm birth can be addressed to minimize the potential of early labor, other factors are unavoidable. Healthcare professionals have implemented certain techniques, such as intensive care and corticosteroid medications, to address the complications of preterm birth; however, sometimes these techniques fail to deliver the care that additional gestational time would provide. Artificial womb technology is being researched as a potential tool for preterm infants to allow for further development and mimic the womb environment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines preterm birth as birth before 37 weeks of gestation. According to the organization, roughly 10% of infants born in the US in 2022 were born preterm.