Lambs born at the equivalent of 23 weeks in a human pregnancy were kept alive and appeared to develop normally while floating inside the transparent, womb-like vessel for four weeks after birth. Doctors said that the pioneering approach could radically improve outcomes for babies born so early that they cannot breathe, feed or fight infection without medical help. “If we can support growth and organ maturation for only a few weeks, we can dramatically improve outcomes for extremely premature babies,” he said. At 23 weeks the chance of survival is 15%, at 24 weeks 55% and at 25 weeks about 80% (this figure was just 53% in 2006). It has improved the survival of premature babies worldwide and made a huge impact on obstetric and neonatal practice.

Source: The Guardian April 25, 2017 15:11 UTC