UK First: Baby Born After Uterus Transplant from Deceased Donor

The United Kingdom has celebrated a medical first with the birth of Hugo Powell, the first baby born in the country following a uterine transplant from a deceased donor. His mother, Grace Bell, described the birth as “simply a miracle,” paying tribute to the generosity of the donor and the dedication of the medical teams involved.

Bell, in her thirties, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare condition affecting approximately one in 5,000 women, characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of the uterus and upper vagina, while the ovaries remain functional. She learned at the age of 16 that she would likely be unable to carry a child. “I never, ever thought that this would be possible. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” Bell stated.

The groundbreaking transplant surgery took place in June 2024 at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford, lasting ten hours. Following the procedure, Bell and her partner, Steve Powell, underwent IVF treatment at The Lister Fertility Clinic in London, culminating in the successful embryo transfer. Hugo was born in December 2025 at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London, weighing 3.09kg (6lb 13oz).

The success marks a significant advancement in uterine transplantation, with only two previous births reported in Europe utilizing a uterus from a deceased donor. Isabel Quiroga, transplant surgeon and co-lead of the team, described the birth as a “revolutionary moment” offering hope to women facing similar diagnoses.

Bell and Powell expressed profound gratitude to the donor and her family, acknowledging the immense sacrifice that made Hugo’s birth possible. “You’ll see no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family,” Bell said. “Their kindness and selflessness to a complete stranger is the reason I have been able to fulfil my lifelong dream of being a mum.” The donor’s family, wishing to remain anonymous, stated they were “extremely proud” of the legacy their daughter left behind, noting that five other organs were also donated, saving the lives of four other individuals.

The couple also honored Professor Richard Smith, consultant gynaecologist and founder of Womb Transplant UK, by giving their son the middle name Richard. Professor Smith, present at Hugo’s birth, highlighted the years of work by the medical team to achieve this outcome and suggested the procedure could become a more regular treatment option for women without a viable uterus.

Bell may consider a second pregnancy, after which the transplanted uterus will be removed to avoid the need for long-term immunosuppressant medication. As Bell stated, “A part of my donor will live on forever through Hugo.”