UK Woman Becomes First to Give Birth Following Sister’s Womb Transplant, Ushering in New Hope for Others
A landmark medical achievement has unfolded in the UK, as Grace Davidson, 36, has given birth to a healthy baby girl after receiving a womb transplant from her sister, marking the first successful instance of its kind in the country. The couple, Grace and her husband Angus, 37, joyfully welcomed their daughter, Amy Isabel, on February 27, describing her arrival as “the greatest gift we could have ever asked for.”
Grace was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome at the age of 19, a condition that leaves women born with an absent or underdeveloped uterus, making natural conception impossible. Following the womb transplant from her sister Amy Purdie, 42, who has two children of her own, the couple’s hopes of becoming parents were finally realised.
The birth took place at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London, where a dedicated team of 20 medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, was on standby for the caesarean section to manage any potential complications. Baby Amy entered the world three weeks ahead of schedule, arriving early due to signs of a shortening cervix, which indicated that labor could begin soon. The medical team opted for a caesarean delivery as a precaution to lessen the strain on the transplanted womb.
Grace, who works as a dietitian and hails from north London, described the experience of holding her newborn for the first time as “beyond amazing,” stating, “It was undoubtedly the best day of our lives, filled with joy, happiness, and tears. I have longed to be a mum for so long.”
The baby girl was named after her aunt, Amy Purdie, in recognition of her significant contribution. Amy endured eight hours of surgery and weeks of recovery to enable her sister to experience motherhood. Despite her aversion to hospitals and medical procedures, she expressed that providing Grace the opportunity to have a child was “a huge privilege.”
The baby’s middle name, Isabel, pays tribute to Dr. Isabel Quiroga, a consultant in transplantation and endocrine surgery at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford, who co-led the complex 17-hour surgery to successfully implant the donated womb. Dr. Quiroga was reportedly moved to tears during the delivery when Grace and Angus shared their naming decision.
Professor Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecological surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and co-lead of the transplant operation, highlighted the profound implications of this birth for countless women across the UK who might otherwise never experience motherhood. He announced that the medical team has since conducted three additional womb transplants using organs from deceased donors, another unprecedented first for the UK. All recipients are reportedly in good health and menstruating regularly, with hopes of achieving pregnancies soon.
The couple is considering attempting to have another child, as the transplanted womb will be removed within five years to allow Grace to cease taking immunosuppressant medications, which can increase the risk of cancer.
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