Mother gave birth to a baby through a donated womb. The baby girl, named Amy, was delivered by Grace Davidson, 36, who was born without a functioning uterus due to Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.

Grace received her sister’s womb in 2023, marking the UK’s only successful womb transplant at that time.

Just two years after the pioneering procedure, Grace gave birth to her daughter on February 27. The experience of holding Amy, who weighed just over two kilograms (approximately four and a half pounds), was described by Grace as “incredible” and “surreal.”

She expressed that it was overwhelming to finally have her child after years of imagining what that moment would be like.

Grace and her husband, Angus, 37, who reside in north London, are hopeful to have another child using the donated womb. Initially, they chose to remain anonymous, but they have since decided to share their story following the safe arrival of baby Amy.

The surgical team has since conducted three additional womb transplants using deceased donors and aims to complete a total of 15 as part of a clinical trial.

Grace’s journey began when she discovered her condition as a child, initially hoping her mother could donate her uterus. After it was deemed unsuitable, her sister, Amy Purdie, stepped forward to offer her womb. Both sisters underwent counseling before the surgery and Grace and Angus also pursued fertility treatments, with embryos still stored for potential future use.

The first successful womb transplant resulting in a live birth occurred in Sweden in 2014. Since then, approximately 135 womb transplants have been performed across various countries, leading to around 65 births. The transplant operation for Grace took place in February 2023 and involved a team of over 30 medics and 17 hours of surgery.

Grace experienced her first menstrual cycle within two weeks of the transplant and successfully became pregnant on her first IVF attempt. She described feeling her baby’s first kick as “incredible,” emphasizing the special nature of her entire pregnancy.

Baby Amy was born via Caesarean section at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in west London.

Following the birth of a potential second child, the donated womb will be removed, allowing Grace to stop taking immunosuppressive medications essential to prevent her body from rejecting her sister’s organ.

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A leading gynaecological surgeon, Professor Richard Smith, expressed enthusiasm about the hope this birth brings to the approximately 15,000 women in the UK of childbearing age lacking a functioning uterus, including around 5,000 born without one.

The charity Womb Transplant UK, which supported Grace’s procedure, plans to conduct additional womb transplants funded through donations.

Grace and Angus will always be grateful to Amy for enabling them to become parents, with their daughter’s name honoring her aunt.

The emotional bond between Grace and Amy has deepened significantly through this experience, illustrating a profound act of sisterly love.