Womb Transplant Baby Born: 'Miracle' Hugo is first UK child from a deceased-donor womb

A baby boy has become the first child in the UK to be born using a womb transplanted from a dead donor, marking a milestone in a national clinical research trial. The Womb Transplant Baby Born development involves Grace Bell, in her 30s and born without a viable womb, and her son Hugo, who is now 10 weeks old; Bell described the experience as "words can't explain" and said Hugo is "simply a miracle. " The birth took place just before Christmas 2025, at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in west London, with Hugo weighing nearly 7lbs.

Womb Transplant Baby Born: the clinical steps that led to Hugo

Bell's womb transplant operation lasted 10 hours and took place at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford in June 2024. Following recovery, the couple received IVF treatment some months later and underwent embryo transfer at The Lister Fertility Clinic in London. These sequential procedures—including the transplant, IVF and embryo transfer—preceded the birth of Hugo.

Family reaction and the donor's gift

Grace Bell and her partner, identified in context as Steve Powell and also referenced as Steven Powell, paid tribute to the "kindness and selflessness" of the donor and her family for what they described as an "incredible gift. " Bell said she thinks of her donor and the donor's family every day and prays they find some peace in knowing their daughter gave the biggest gift: the gift of life. When she received the phone call that a womb had been donated and a transplant was possible, Bell said she was "in complete shock" and "really excited. "

Medical perspective: surgeons and trial context

The surgeons involved described the birth as "a ground-breaking moment, " and indicated it could give hope to many more women with a similar diagnosis. Bell's successful womb transplant from a deceased donor is one of 10 such transplants taking place as part of a UK clinical research trial; three transplants have already been carried out within the trial, and this is the first baby born from the programme.

What MRKH meant for Grace and the couple's options

Bell was born without a womb, does not have periods but does have normal ovaries. That condition is identified in the context as MRKH syndrome, which is said to affect one in every 5, 000 women in the UK. She was told at the age of 16 that she would not be able to carry her own child. To have a baby, the couple's only options, as stated in the context, were to hope for a womb transplant or pursue surrogacy.

Timeline and key facts

• Transplant operation: 10-hour procedure at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford in June 2024.
• IVF and embryo transfer: took place some months after the transplant at The Lister Fertility Clinic in London.
• Birth: Hugo born just before Christmas 2025 at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in west London, weighing nearly 7lbs.
• Current status: Hugo is now 10 weeks old; Bell described his arrival as "simply a miracle" and said "words can't explain" the experience.
• Trial context: One of 10 transplants in a UK clinical research trial; three transplants completed to date; Hugo is the first baby born from the trial.

Additional note

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This development will be watched closely by clinicians and patients alike; the surgeons' description of a "ground-breaking moment" and the trial's ongoing transplants set the scene for further updates as the research programme continues. Details may evolve as the trial progresses and more outcomes are recorded.