A Dutch Artificial Womb Startup Working to Save Premature Babies
AquaWomb is a Netherlands-based medical technology start-up developing a next-generation perinatal life support system — essentially an artificial womb-style environment aimed at helping extremely premature babies survive and develop more naturally outside the human uterus (AquaWomb, 2025).
🧪 What AquaWomb Is
AquaWomb’s technology creates a liquid-filled incubator that mimics the womb more closely than traditional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Instead of exposing extremely premature infants (often born around 22–24 weeks gestation) to air and mechanical ventilation immediately, the baby remains in a warm, fluid environment similar to amniotic fluid and continues to receive oxygen and nutrients through an artificial placenta attached via the umbilical cord (Life Sciences at Work, 2025).
This approach helps the baby’s lungs, brain, and other organs continue developing more gently than conventional incubators or ventilators allow (Euronews, 2025).
🇳🇱 Dutch Roots and Research
AquaWomb originated from advanced neonatal and biomedical engineering research at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and partners, building on the Perinatal Life Support project (MyScience.nl, 2025). Co-founders, including Myrthe van der Ven, aim to translate laboratory research into practical clinical technology (B2Match, 2025).
🤰 How It Works
After a cesarean delivery, the extremely premature baby would be transferred into a fluid-filled chamber, keeping it immersed in artificial amniotic fluid rather than exposing it to air (Euronews, 2025). The baby’s umbilical cord connects to an artificial placenta, supplying oxygen, nutrients, and waste removal, similar to a natural placenta (Life Sciences at Work, 2025).
This setup maintains fetal physiology, allowing organs to develop safely before the baby transitions to breathing air independently (ICT Health, 2025).
📈 Potential Benefits
AquaWomb could:
- Increase survival rates for extremely premature infants
- Reduce long-term complications linked with early air exposure
- Offer a gentler transition from womb to life outside
However, the technology is still in development and not yet clinically available (Life Sciences at Work, 2025).
🧠 Current Status
AquaWomb is actively refining prototypes, including training simulators and liquid-filled incubators, with regional innovation funding supporting further research (Life Sciences at Work, 2025).
References:
- AquaWomb. AquaWomb – Perinatal Life Support System. https://aquawomb.eu/content.html
- Life Sciences at Work. AquaWomb and Medsim Receive Stimuleringsfonds MRE Funding for Neonatal Innovation. https://www.lifesciencesatwork.nl/news/2025/12/aquawomb-and-medsim-receive-stimuleringsfonds-mre-funding-neonatal-innovation
- Euronews. This Artificial Womb Could Save the Lives of Extremely Premature Babies. https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/12/22/this-artificial-womb-could-save-the-lives-of-extremely-premature-babies
- MyScience.nl. Startup AquaWomb Gives Premature Babies a Better Start. https://www.myscience.co.nl/en/news/wire/startup_aquawomb_gives_premature_babies_a_better_start-2025-tue
- B2Match. Health Innovation Euregion 2025 – AquaWomb Participation. https://www.b2match.com/e/health-innovation-euregion-2025/participations/540536
- ICT Health. Innovative Water Incubator for Extremely Premature Babies. https://www.icthealth.org/news/innovative-water-incubator-for-extremely-premature-babies
