A baby boy has become the first child in the UK to be born using a womb transplanted from a dead donor, offering new hope to women diagnosed with rare reproductive conditions that prevent pregnancy. His mother, Grace Bell (30), who was born without a viable womb, described the birth of her son as “simply a miracle” following years of believing she would never be able to carry her own child.

Bell was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome at the age of 16, a rare congenital condition in which women are born without a functioning uterus. The diagnosis meant pregnancy was medically impossible without major surgical intervention.

In June 2024, Bell underwent a complex womb transplant operation at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. The surgery, which lasted approximately 10 hours, involved transplanting a uterus donated by the family of a deceased woman who had agreed to organ donation prior to her death.

Following months of recovery, Bell and her partner, Steve Powell, conceived through IVF treatment before welcoming their son via caesarean section in December 2025 at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London.

Powell paid tribute to the donor and her family, praising their kindness and selflessness for what he described as an “incredible gift” that made parenthood possible for the couple after years of uncertainty. Bell also expressed deep gratitude, saying she thinks of the donor’s family every day for giving her the chance to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a mother.

Surgeons involved in the pioneering procedure hailed the birth as a major milestone in reproductive medicine. Professor Richard Smith, who co-led the UK womb transplant research programme, told the BBC he was delighted for the family and said the successful delivery demonstrated that women previously told they could never carry a child may now have renewed hope.

Medical experts believe the development could transform fertility treatment options for thousands of women affected by uterine infertility across the UK.