first baby in UK born from deceased donor uterus

hugo Powell is the first case in the UK born from a deceased donor's transplanted uterus, offering hope for women with congenital reproductive abnormalities.

Baby Hugo Powell was born via cesarean section, weighing 3,1 kg, at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in london last december, Sky News reported on 24/2. This marks a rare medical achievement, with europe having recorded only two similar cases previously. The UK had announced a birth from a living donor's uterus last year.

The baby's mother, Grace Bell, an information technology project manager in her thirties, suffers from Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. This rare condition prevents the development of reproductive organs, denying her the ability to conceive naturally from her teenage years. The Bells had considered surrogacy before learning about the transplant program.

The Bell couple and their son. Photo: Womb Transplant UK/PA Wire

In 2024, doctors performed a 7-hour uterus transplant surgery on Bell. After several months of recovery, she began in vitro fertilization treatment. To sustain the pregnancy, the mother had to take anti-rejection medication continuously. Doctors plan to remove the uterus after the family has a second baby, allowing Bell to stop lifelong dependence on medication.

The mother described her son's birth as a miracle she had never dared to dream of. During delivery, she held her husband's hand, trying to look past the medical screen to greet her child. Steve Powell, the baby's father, shared his overwhelming emotions, wanting to cry but unable to, upon witnessing the "miracle" after a long and arduous journey.

Grace Bell holding her son Hugo Powell, born from a deceased donor's uterus. Photo: Womb Transplant UK/PA Wire

The couple decided to give their son the middle name Richard to honor Professor Richard Smith, head of the Womb Transplant UK charity and the lead surgeon for the transplant. The professor stated he cried with emotion when he held baby Hugo and learned the family had named the child after him.

Beyond the joy of the new family lies the noble act of the donor. The deceased woman not only donated her uterus but also gave 5 other organs, saving 4 patients. The donor's family shared that despite their immense pain from the loss, they found solace knowing their daughter chose to end her life with a great contribution to medicine. Bell expressed boundless gratitude and affirmed that her son would grow up knowing the story of the deceased woman's kindness.

Uterus donation from a deceased person is more complex than with conventional organs. Even if the deceased had registered as an organ donor (heart, liver, kidneys, etc.), doctors are still required to seek and receive separate consent from the family before the uterus can be retrieved. Globally, approximately 25 to 30 babies have been successfully born through uterus transplants from deceased donors.