Grace Davidson, 36, from north London, has become the first woman in the UK to give birth following a womb transplant — a medical breakthrough that has brought hope to many women facing infertility. Born without a viable womb due to a rare congenital condition known as MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome), which affects about 1 in every 4,500 females, Grace never thought carrying her own child would be possible.
In 2023, Grace received a womb transplant from her older sister, Amy Purdie, through the charity Womb Transplant UK. The transplant paved the way for the birth of her daughter, Amy Isobel Davidson, named in honour of her aunt who donated her womb, and Professor Isabel Quiroga, one of the lead surgeons.
Baby Amy was born on February 27, 2024, by planned NHS Caesarean section at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London — marking the first time a baby has been born in the UK following a womb transplant.
Grace, who was still able to produce eggs despite her condition, and her husband, Angus Davidson, underwent fertility treatment to create embryos for IVF before the surgery.
Reflecting on her journey, Grace said: “The consultant that actually diagnosed me told me about it. Which is kind of remarkable because it was sort of at the research stages then, but he kind of said oh you know you’ve got options of surrogacy and adoption and then he said and also womb transplant is something that’s emerging so that might be available in my lifetime, but it certainly didn’t seem like a realistic idea.”
She added: “We were so desperate for a family so I was constantly you know trying to get comfortable with another alternative that might offer us that… because there was no guarantees with this at all. But I just knew there was such a longing in me to carry my own baby and to have that with me and Angus through a pregnancy and to know her from the earliest moment and it’s just like an innate thing I just couldn’t satisfy that through other ways and yes it’s just brought me immense joy.”
Angus Davidson shared the emotional challenges of the journey: “I’m probably similar to Grace in terms of her getting the diagnosis it’s kind of hard to process really at that point because you know it’s important, you know it’s important for the future and it’s not something you’re dealing with right now but yes, probably shared some of those feelings of sadness or hollowness about that.”
The transplant surgery was performed by a specialist team led by Professor Richard Smith and transplant surgeon Isabel Quiroga. Quiroga explained: “I’m a transplant surgeon I’m involved in donation and the transplantation of organs that are life saving. This is not lifesaving however it is a transplant that’s totally life enhancing, life transforming and of course life creating and that is magnificent.”
Grace’s sister Amy said donating her womb was a natural decision: “I think when you’ve watched somebody just so deeply devastated and Grace is such a humble unassuming character, she’s shy she would rarely ask for anything… Grace never really asked any of us, she didn’t have to and that was the most difficult thing for her.”
Now a mother, Grace reflects: “I sort of struggle to say ‘you’re a mum’ I don’t know why but that’s hard to come to terms with to be honest but yes it’s slowly sinking in.”
Womb Transplant UK has now carried out four procedures. Globally, over 100 womb transplants have been performed, resulting in more than 50 births. For the Davidsons, this medical milestone has made their dream of parenthood come true — and may offer hope to many others in the future.
