Artificial Wombs: To grow a baby or Nurture a baby

Introduction

An artificial womb or artificial uterus involves a mechanism that could be used in future to allow for the realization of external pregnancies for expectant mothers. It entails the growth of a fetus in an artificial environment that is external to an organism’s body that would ordinarily be expected to nurture the fetus until it grows to term. In this sense, an artificial womb may be considered to be a neonatal incubator whose functions are significantly enhanced. The concept of artificial womb and birthing process involves the replication of the various physiological features that usually take place in a pregnancy that uses a natural womb in the body of an expectant mother such as those made available through the placenta. The functions include the transfer of oxygen and nutrients for the mother to the fetus as well as the excretion of waste products such as carbon dioxide and urea through the placenta.The subject of artificial wombs has previously and continues to be surrounded by a number of controversies to the extent that it is associated with several pros and cons (Reiber, 2010). 

Pros of Artificial Womb

As a replacement in the roles played by one of the organs in the human body, an artificial womb would have several implications which are both positive and negative. Scientists have argued that an artificial womb could be used could significantly move the threshold associated with the fetal viability to an early stage along the period of a pregnancy. Moreover, the concept of an artificial womb could potentially assist towards increasing chances of initiating the process of fetal development once conception has taken place. The concept of an artificial womb could considerable assist in eliminating cases of surgical procedures that would be performed on pregnant mothers thus reducing the rate of maternal and child mortality. Landau (2007) argues in support of an artificial womb observing that it incredible enhances the safety of the fetus. In this respect, it becomes easier to provide the fetus with doses of nutrients that are perfectly constituted and balanced with a careful exclusion any dangerous toxins. 

Couples with difficulties when it comes to having children could greatly benefit from the introduction and use of an artificial womb. Moreover, couples would be able to have as many children as they chose without limitations brought about by biological factors such as age and physiological changes in women. Those who would wish to have multiplets would also be in a better position to have them without much difficulties and challenges such immaturity or loss of fetus (Mulkay, 2013). There has been an argument that same-sex couples would also benefit from the application of the artificial uterus concept in child birthing and they would be able to have children in their marriage. This would also be possible for single people who wish to get children without getting involved in marriage commitment. Nonetheless, there have been concerns raised in relation to the likelihood of such couple or people to misuse the privilege accorded to them by the possibility of birthing through artificial womb. Such concerns would be addressed effectively by having competent regulatory bodies who would examine the necessary legal and health matters associated with the use of artificial wombs (Evans and Pickering, 2016).

Considering that the use or artificial wombs will bring about more safety and efficiency when it comes to the process of fetus growth and development, medical researchers have found that it would be easier for such fetuses to be accorded genetically engineered improvements in case of need. Such a move will play a significant role towards the elimination of birth defects, abnormalities and serious genetic disorders arising from genetic mutations in embryos. That would be made possible owing to immediate and easy detection of genetic defects that would be enabled through the use of an artificial womb environment (Landau, 2007). There are several negative side effects associated with natural pregnancy that would be eliminated through the use of an artificial womb. Such effects include vomiting, nausea, pain, and fatigue, weight gain, post-traumatic stress disorder, cesarean section wounds as well as postpartum hemorrhage among others. Most women have always lost their lives while giving birth naturally thus there is always a serious risk associated with the natural way of birthing. As such, the application of artificial womb in the process of giving birth would be credited for saving aspiring mother from undergoing certain unpleasant and risky experiences (Mulkay, 2013).

Reiber (2010) claims that artificial womb is associated with significant fetal safety since the fetus is kept away from various traumas within the body of the expectant mother. The fetus stands to benefit from the use of an artificial womb in the process of birthing a child. In this regard, Mulkay (2013) observes that the idea of artificial wombs would lead to a major reduction in the loss of premature infants. This would be made possible through the development of safety and increased chances of survival in the environment of an artificial womb. Additionally, there would be a drastic elimination of quite a number of risks to the fetus that are associated with a natural womb such as diseases, accidents, pollutants, drugs and inadequate nutrition among others.The adoption and use of artificial wombs in birthing children would contribute towards bringing about a balance or equalization between the parenting roles played by males and females in relation to reproduction. This will also help reducing the burden experienced by female parents such postpartum depression as well as several other hormonal and emotional changes they experience because of carrying pregnancies. As such, female parents will direct their energies, focus, and concentration towards giving their children a proper upbringing (Evans and Pickering, 2016). 

The use of artificial womb in the process of birthing will play a critical role in raising the number of career women seeking to have children. This is because there would be a considerable elimination of the inconvenience experienced by women are always forced to secure a maternity leave or stay away from their jobs while they are nurturing their natural pregnancy. The competitiveness demonstrated by women in various career areas such as athletics and politics among others would no longer be limited by the desire or decision to bear children. The reproductive role of female when it comes to parenting would stop being a hindrance to any progress that they would want to make in their careers (Landau, 2007). The introduction and use of artificial wombs in the society would significantly towards limiting chances of commit abortion. Furthermore, the complications and the number of mortalities arising from abortion would be considerably eliminated because abortions would not be happening with the human body. Reiber (2010) points out that using of artificial womb would potentially be able to invalidate certain arguments that have always been used in the justification of carrying out abortion. One of such arguments relates to the right of women to autonomy having more relevance and consideration that the right of the fetus to life.

Cons of Artificial Womb

A few years ago, scientists were able to publish the details of their success in using an artificial uterus where an embryo was nurtured until it was birthed. However, a number of concerns have been raised by those opposed to the idea of artificial wombs. The view by Reiber (2010) appears to oppose the idea of an artificial womb by arguing from a philosophical angle. In this respect, there is a higher likelihood that the adoption of the concept of artificial womb will cause the society to change its view regarding women and their parental role in the society. It is highly likely that women in the society will end up losing their feminine mystique by embracing this artificial process that will seek to replace the traditional mainstay associated with the female domain and femininity. 

Those who argue against embracing the idea of artificial womb indicate that a developing fetus would be denied a fundamental requirement in the course of its development which is a natural environment provided by the natural womb of the mother. Previous research has suggested that a fetus is always influenced by its environment of growth and development. This implies that the growth of a fetus in a natural pregnancy is influenced by the mother’s actions, her heartbeat and the stimuli reaching the womb among others. As such, those opposed to this idea have often expressed fears of the possibility that fetus growing and developing in an artificial womb could suffer from negative psychological or social effects later in life. Moreover, there are the physical isolation of the fetus from the natural mother’s womb could deprive it of emotional attachment and development in relation to that of the mother (Mulkay, 2013).

In their argument against the introduction and adoption of artificial wombs in the process of giving birth, Evans and Pickering (2016) suggest that there is a higher likelihood that the concept would be extended beyond the limits of viability without paying attention to ethical considerations. To that extent, the use of artificial wombs in facilitating childbirth will potentially give way for abuses and misuse in a manner that does not conform to the accepted norms and ethics within the society. However, the ethical dilemma associated with artificial wombs could be effectively addressed by putting in place appropriate legal and medical regulatory mechanisms (Evans and Pickering, 2016).

There are people who are strongly opposed to the concept of artificial wombs based on the fact that it is contradictory to their faith and religious teachings on reproduction. In that regard, they argue that such a technological development in the field of reproductive health would of women of their dignity and parental role accorded to them by their maker. Moreover, those looking at this idea from a religious perspective believe that it is highly likely to contribute towards lack of respect for religious teaching as well as leading to dehumanization of the basis for humanity (Reiber, 2010).

Conclusion

In summing up, it is worth indicating that despite the efforts put forward by medical scientists and researchers over the last couple of years in encouraging people in the society to accept and embrace the idea of using an artificial womb in the process of facilitating human gestation, there are no meaningful success that have been made to that effect. To that extent, their efforts have been significantly slowed down by the existence of the controversial debate surrounding this matter. Moreover, the issue of the importance of interaction between the fetus and the mother during the period of gestation in a natural pregnancy has been characterized by profound mysteries. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the idea of using artificial wombs in the process birthing babies is associated with more pros than cons. 

References

Evans, D., & Pickering, N. (2016). Conceiving the embryo: Ethics, law, and practice in human embryology . The Hague, The Netherlands: M. Nijhoff.

Landau, R. (2007). Artificial womb versus natural birth: an exploratory study of women's views. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology , 25 (1), 4-17.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02646830601117118

Mulkay, M. (2013). The embryo research debate: Science and the politics . Cambridge: Cambridge University Printing Press

Reiber, D. (2010). The Morality of Artificial Womb Technology. The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly , 10 (3), 515-527. http://dx.doi.org/10.5840/ncbq201010332