'Miracle baby' born after womb transplant from deceased donor
What's the story
A baby boy, Hugo Powell, has been born in the United Kingdom from a womb transplanted from a deceased donor. The groundbreaking procedure was performed at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London. Hugo's mother, Grace Bell, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH), a rare condition that results in an underdeveloped or absent uterus.
Personal struggle
Bell was devastated when she learned about her condition
Bell, an IT program manager, was devastated when she learned about her condition at 16. "I remember going into the hospital toilets and uncontrollably crying," she recalled. She and her husband Steve Powell had initially opted for surrogacy before joining a womb transplant program. The couple's journey culminated in Hugo's birth via cesarean section in December 2025.
Medical breakthrough
Five womb transplants have been performed in the UK
So far, the UK has seen three womb transplants from deceased donors, while two were done with living donors. Bell's donor, who remains anonymous, is remembered by her family for her selfless act of giving life to others. The process involved extensive counseling and consent from families of deceased donors. Each transplant costs around £30,000 and is funded by the charity Womb Transplant UK.
Medical prospects
Experts believe up to 30 womb transplants could be performed
Womb Transplant UK hopes to expand its living donor program to include friends and altruistic donors. Currently, the program is limited to relatives willing to consent for donation. Deceased donor transplants are only performed if families agree after being approached by transplant research programs. Experts believe that up to 30 womb transplants could be performed annually in the UK in future.
Family plans
Hugo was named after Professor Richard Smith
Hugo was named after Professor Richard Smith, clinical lead of Womb Transplant UK. His middle name also honors Bell's grandfather. The couple is considering having another child before the transplanted womb is surgically removed. If not removed, Bell would need to continue taking immunosuppressant drugs. This medical milestone gives hope to women with MRKH and similar conditions around the world.