Hugo Powell, weighing 3.09kg (6lb 13oz) at birth, is the first child born in the United Kingdom to a mother who received a womb transplant from a deceased donor. The baby was delivered at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea hospital in London.
A Groundbreaking Birth
Hugo’s mother, Grace Bell, an IT programme manager, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare condition that results in an underdeveloped or missing womb. She was informed as a teenager that she would be unable to carry a child.
Bell began fertility treatment several months after her transplant in 2024, and Hugo was born in December last year. She described the birth as a “miracle,” stating, “I never, ever thought that this would be possible. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
The Gift of Life and Loss
Bell expressed profound gratitude to her donor and her family, saying, “Notice no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family… 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 organs saved multiple lives; five other organs were transplanted into four other people. While acknowledging their immense grief, the donor’s parents stated, “Through organ donation, she has given other families the precious gift of time, hope, healing and now life.”
Bell and her partner, Steve Powell, named their son Hugo Richard, in honor of Prof Richard Smith, the clinical lead at Womb Transplant UK and a consultant gynaecological surgeon at Imperial College healthcare NHS trust, who was present at the birth.
What’s Next?
The transplanted womb will be removed once Bell and Powell have finished having children, to avoid the need for lifelong immunosuppressant medication. This success could lead to increased consideration of deceased donor womb transplants for women with conditions like MRKH. This proves likewise likely to prompt further discussion about the process for obtaining consent for womb donation. Worldwide, approximately 25 to 30 babies have been born following deceased womb donation, with living donor transplants being more common.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MRKH syndrome?
MRKH syndrome is a rare condition resulting in an underdeveloped or missing womb.
How many womb transplants involving deceased donors have occurred globally?
About 25 to 30 babies have been born worldwide from deceased womb donation.
Is womb donation covered by standard organ donation procedures?
No, the womb is not covered by the normal consent for donation, nor by joining the organ donor register, and it is not covered by deemed consent. Potential donors’ families are specifically asked if they are willing to approve a womb donation.
As medical advancements continue to expand the possibilities of reproductive health, what role do you believe donor families should play in decisions regarding organ donation?
