Miracle baby born in UK to woman with womb transplant

A heartwarming story of hope and science has unfolded in the UK, as a “miracle” baby girl has become the first child in the country to be born following a womb transplant.

The baby’s mother, 36-year-old Grace Davidson, was born without a functioning uterus but received the gift of life from her sister in a pioneering medical procedure that took place in 2023.

Grace, who hails from Scotland and now resides in north London with her husband, Angus, 37, gave birth to their daughter, Amy, in February.

The couple chose to name her after Grace’s sister, Amy Purdie, who selflessly donated her womb to make this extraordinary journey possible.

Weighing just over 4.5 pounds, baby Amy’s arrival is not only a personal triumph for the Davidson family but also a milestone for medical science.

The moment Grace first held her daughter was described as “incredible” and “surreal,” as she and Angus had never fully allowed themselves to imagine the possibility of becoming parents.

Grace expressed, “It was quite overwhelming because we’d never really let ourselves imagine what it would be like for her to be here. It was really wonderful.”

Grace was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare condition where women are born without a uterus but with functioning ovaries.

For years, she had suppressed her desire to become a mother due to the pain of knowing she couldn’t carry a child.

But her dreams were reignited when she was offered the option of a womb transplant, which set in motion a years-long journey.

In 2019, after exploring potential options, Amy, one of Grace’s sisters, agreed to undergo the procedure to donate her womb.

The surgery, which had initially been delayed due to the pandemic, finally took place in February 2023, with a surgical team of over 30 specialists working for 17 hours to remove Amy’s womb and successfully transplant it into Grace.

Grace’s pregnancy was a medical marvel. Within just two weeks of the transplant, Grace had her first period in years, and she became pregnant on her first attempt at IVF.

The entire pregnancy was described by Grace as “really special,” and feeling her baby’s first kick was an indescribable moment for the new mother.

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Grace and Angus had initially kept their identities private but are now sharing their story following the safe arrival of baby Amy.

They hope to have another child using the same womb, but the donated womb will be removed after the birth of a second child to minimize health risks for Grace, who is currently on immunosuppressants to prevent her body from rejecting the womb.

The birth of Amy has already had a profound impact, not only on the Davidson family but also on the medical community.

Professor Richard Smith, a leading gynaecological surgeon and head of Womb Transplant UK, which helped fund Grace’s surgery, hopes this success will offer hope to the estimated 15,000 women in the UK of childbearing age who do not have a functioning uterus, including about 5,000 born without one.

For Grace and Angus, naming their daughter after her aunt was an emotional decision. “It was an absolute no-brainer,” said Angus. “We can never thank my sister-in-law enough for what she did for us.”

Grace, in turn, expressed her deep gratitude to her sister, calling her act “a huge act of sisterly love.”

The emotional bond between the two sisters has only grown stronger through this incredible journey, as Grace reflects, “It was incredibly difficult to let her do that for me.”