UK Welcomes First Baby Born from Womb Transplant

“A Sister’s Gift, A Nation’s First: UK Welcomes First Baby Born from Womb Transplant”

Grace Davidson, born without a womb, just made UK medical history—giving birth to baby Amy Isabel with a uterus donated by her own sister. It’s a story of science, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond of family that’s giving hope to thousands.

When Grace Davidson held her newborn daughter for the first time, it wasn’t just the culmination of a personal dream—it was a moment that rewrote medical history in the UK. On February 27, 2025, at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London, Grace gave birth to baby Amy Isabel, the first child in the UK born to a woman with a transplanted womb.

Her journey to motherhood wasn’t ordinary—it was extraordinary. Diagnosed at a young age with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare condition that meant she was born without a womb, Grace had been told she would never carry her own child. But medical science, relentless hope, and the unconditional love of her older sister, Amy Purdie, changed everything.

🧬 A Gift Beyond Measure

In 2023, Amy, a 42-year-old mother of two, made an unimaginable decision—she donated her womb to her younger sister. The sisters underwent months of physical preparation and emotional resilience before the complex 17-hour transplant surgery was performed at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital, led by Professor Richard Smith and transplant surgeon Isabel Quiroga. Over 30 medical professionals volunteered their expertise for this groundbreaking procedure, funded entirely by Womb Transplant UK, a charity built on two decades of research and advocacy.

“I knew I was done having children,” Amy said in an interview, “and I knew Grace deserved that chance. It was never a question for me.”

👶 Meet Amy Isabel—A Living Miracle

The birth of Amy Isabel was carefully planned via C-section to protect the delicate network of blood vessels supporting the transplanted womb. Born slightly premature at 2.06 kg (4.5 lbs), Amy arrived safe and healthy. Her name is a tribute not just to the aunt who gave her mother a womb, but also to surgeon Isabel Quiroga, whose hands helped make this miracle possible.

Grace, beaming with joy, called the moment she held her daughter for the first time “surreal and overwhelming.” Her husband Angus added, “It was the best day of our lives. We’ve waited years for this.”

🌍 A Global Breakthrough, A National First

While over 100 womb transplants have been performed worldwide since the first successful birth in Sweden in 2014, this marks the UK’s first. It’s a historic milestone in reproductive medicine and a beacon of hope for the 15,000 women in the UK living with uterine factor infertility—including the 5,000 with MRKH.

Womb Transplant UK’s trial—approved for 15 total transplants (5 with living donors and 10 from deceased)—is now halfway through. Since Grace’s surgery, three more women have received wombs from deceased donors, and more pregnancies are expected in the coming year.

💡 What’s Next for the Program—and the Family

Grace and Angus still have frozen embryos and plan to attempt a second pregnancy. The womb, however, will be removed within five years to avoid long-term complications from immunosuppressant medication, including increased risks of infection and cancer.

Professor Smith, the heart behind this program, said the birth was “astonishing” and a “huge privilege” after 25 years of research. He hopes to see 20–30 transplants annually in the UK, potentially expanding the donor pool beyond family members to altruistic living donors, much like kidney donation.

💬 Public Reactions and Ethical Questions

The internet exploded with emotion after the news broke. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote: “This is science at its most beautiful—hope, love, and life all in one story.” Hashtags like #WombTransplantUK and #MiracleBaby trended throughout the day.

Of course, ethical debates remain—some experts question the risks of long-term immunosuppression and preterm delivery. But the successful birth of Amy Isabel is shifting those perspectives. For many, the results speak louder than the doubts.

❤️ A Story of Hope for Thousands

Grace’s story isn’t just about medicine—it’s about resilience, love, and the power of family. It's about sisters who defied nature and rewrote their fate. It's about doctors who dared to push the boundaries of what's possible. And it’s about a little girl named Amy Isabel, who arrived in this world surrounded by more love and science than most of us could ever imagine.

For the thousands of women in the UK and millions around the world struggling with infertility due to a missing or damaged womb, this birth is more than a milestone—it’s a promise. A promise that their dreams of carrying a child may not be impossible after all.

📌 For ongoing updates, visit wombtransplantuk.org and trusted news sources like BBC, The Guardian, and Sky News.

🕊️ Amy Isabel’s first breath has opened a new chapter in reproductive science—and a new dawn for women everywhere