Model of a male white baby at 22-23 weeks' development, England, 1998

Model of male white baby at 22 to 23 weeks development with nappy, by Freeborns, 1998.

Made for a Science Museum exhibition on baby care units, this 300 mm high model represents the appearance and size of premature babies that can now be kept alive in specialised hospital units – the medical profession state that the minimum number of weeks in the womb before a baby can be expected to survive is 23. Research published in 2006 suggested controversially that babies born at or before 22 weeks should not be resuscitated and those born at 23 weeks should be revived. The model was made by Freeborns, a British model maker and sculptor. It is shown here with two other examples (1999-769 and 1999-771).