A woman in her early thirties has become the UK’s second mother to give birth after a womb transplant—and the first to do so with a womb from a deceased donor. Grace Bell welcomed her baby boy, Hugo Richard Norman Powell, by C-section at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London in December 2025. Both mother and son are reported to be doing well.
This historic birth was made possible thanks to the generosity of the donor and their family. Grace expressed her overwhelming gratitude for their selflessness. The baby’s middle name, Richard, honours Professor Richard Smith, founder of the UK womb transplant programme. Medical experts believe Hugo is only the third baby born in Europe following a womb transplant from a deceased donor.
This achievement comes shortly after the first UK birth from a live donor uterus, when Grace’s sister Amy donated her womb, resulting in the birth of baby Amy Isabel in 2025.
Womb transplant research has been developing in the UK for over 25 years, led by specialists including Professor Richard Smith and Miss Isabel Quiroga. The pioneering work is funded by the Womb Transplant UK charity, ensuring that NHS patients incur no financial costs. The programme operates two transplant streams:
- Living donor programme: Five transplants are planned, each approved by the Human Tissue Authority.
- INSITU research programme: Uses deceased donor wombs and involves Imperial College Healthcare, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Blood and Transplant, among others.
The transplant surgery lasted under seven hours, followed by IVF treatment and careful monitoring up to delivery.
The donor family shared their feelings about the donation: “Losing our daughter has shattered our world, but through organ donation, she has given precious gifts of time, hope, healing, and new life. We feel tremendous pride in her legacy.” NHS Blood and Transplant nurses worked closely with the donor’s family, who support womb donation alongside traditional organ donation. Most families approached have welcomed the option despite its medical complexities.
Experts highlight the significance of this breakthrough for women without wombs. Approximately 1 in 5,000 UK women are born without a womb and cannot carry children naturally. Others lose their uterus due to illness or cancer. Globally, over 100 womb transplants have been performed, resulting in more than 70 healthy babies.
Grace Bell commented, “Grace’s journey shows that this life-changing procedure can give women the chance to carry their own babies. I hope this option becomes widely available.”
Miss Isabel Quiroga, UK womb transplant lead, said, “This is a huge milestone that offers new hope for women longing to be mums.”
Obstetrician Miss Bryony Jones added, “A huge thank you to everyone involved—from transplant teams to maternity staff—for making this miracle possible.”
Becky Clarke, NHS Blood and Transplant nurse lead, stated, “We are so grateful to the donor family and families who give extra consent for womb donation. It’s a precious gift that can create life.”
Fertility specialist Mr Benjamin Jones remarked, “Years of clinical innovation and donor generosity have led to this first live birth after a deceased-donor womb transplant in the UK.”
As baby Hugo grows, Grace and her partner Steve look forward to a future filled with hope—a future born from groundbreaking research and extraordinary generosity.
Originally published by UKNIP.
