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WATCH: Obstetrician Bryony Jones recalls delivering the UK’s first womb transplant baby
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Apr 8, 2025
The Obstetrician who was part of the incredible team which helped delivered the UK's first baby via womb transplant has told GB News of the "joyous and special day", saying she feels "honoured" to have helped make history.Grace Davidson, 36, received a womb transplant donated by her older sister Amy Purdie in 2023, and gave birth to baby Amy Isabel with the help of volunteer surgeons - organised by charity Womb Transplant UK.FULL STORY HERE.
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joined by the consultant obstetrician, Briony Jones
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And Briony, of course, is the woman behind. I'm not going to shy away from this, Briony
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You have played such a significant part in this story, which is on the front page of the papers today
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You're working this morning, working as normal, gone back to work. But tell us, this couple came to you or had the transplant
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and you were brought in to be the obstetrician to lead their care. Why was this case so special
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Good morning, Bev. Good morning. No, this was a really... An honour and a privilege to be part of this amazing team
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that have made this amazing pregnancy and had this lovely baby Amy
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brought baby Amy into the world. It's a difficult journey, and actually I met, been part of the team
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which precedes the pregnancy, so it's really important that there's a whole team behind
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making sure that the transplant is safe, that the patient remains safe
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whilst they're trying to get pregnant, and obviously once they're pregnant, looking after the pregnancy
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and monitoring both the mum and the baby. And so you delivered this baby by caesarean section
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Just explain to us why she would have to be born by caesarean
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So because of the uterine transplant, it's really important that the woman doesn't experience any contractions
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because that could jeopardise the transplant, the blood supply to the womb
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And so the only way of delivering the baby safely is by cesarean section
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Because Amy, the mother, sorry, Grace, was born with ovaries but no womb
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So this baby is biologically hers, using her own eggs and her husband's sperm
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That's right. How is it different as a carer of this couple to manage that pregnancy journey with them
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compared to a normal couple, if you like? There are lots of women who have complicated pregnancies
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So clearly, as doctors, many obstetricians have experience in looking after complexity
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and our job is to make keep mums and babies safe. Clearly, this is the first time we've looked after a woman
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who's had a transplant. But a lot of the same principles apply
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and there's a whole team behind me ensuring that both the mum and the baby were safe and monitored throughout the pregnancy But yes it was joyous It an incredible opportunity It was deeply rewarding and an absolute joy to be part of the team
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How nervous were you that it was all going to work out OK? Because this is a major step. That's why it's international news
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It's on every front page. We're all talking about it. First of all, you've got to remove the wound from her sister
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Big surgery. Then you've got to be implanted in the mum. and then you've got the cesarean
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I mean, big, big surgical steps. I guess so, perhaps naively, you look after her as you would do anyone else
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I mean, I think you've just got to look at the medical issues, you're caring for the patient
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you're doing the things that are needed. The day was special. It felt special because it was the accumulation of years of work
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from the Womb Transplant UK team and I was incredibly honoured to be part of that team
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The surgery was complex, but actually it had a really good outcome
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and it was just, it was a great experience. I have to say, I'm going to admit
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a little bit of a watery eye looking at the baby being held by the mummy afterwards
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There were 16 of you in that surgery. Was there quite a lot of people crying
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I think we all held it together. I think we just, there was a lot of joy. There was a lot of joy
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and remembering that this was a special day for us but it was a super special day for Grace and her baby
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and it was the birth of their beautiful baby and so we were trying to keep that as normal as a special for them
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Critics or cynics or sceptics might say, well, this couple could have adopted a baby or they could have used a surrogate
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Why would she put her own health at risk? And, of course, at some point she will have to have the uterus removed as well
3:58
for the remainder of her life so she's not on immunosuppressants. Can you explain, having got to know the couple, why that was so important to them
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I think you probably have to speak to an individual woman, but I can reassure you that she went into this
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with a full knowledge of the issues that might arise, but also we are used to looking after women
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who have other organ transplants, and to me probably having a uterus transplant
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or a womb transplant is no real difference than someone having other organs that are transplanted and I think medical research does push boundaries but I think in a positive way and I think it given her the opportunity and for many women who like Grace were born without a womb
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to give the opportunity to have a baby. So one in 5,000 women are born through no fault of their own without a womb
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As many as that? It gives them hope to be able to, if they choose this pathway
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not every woman will choose the same pathway, but at least it gives them hope and another choice
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Where Street in the Health Secretary was doing the rounds this morning suggested that this could end up being on the NHS
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I mean, certainly that is something we would like to explore. At the moment, this has been charity funded for the transplants
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But I certainly know that that's what Transplant UK would want to consider for the future
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But clearly that has to be political decisions. Yeah, because there's some people contacting the show this morning and saying, well, you know, I've been waiting two years for a knee operation
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I've been waiting for a transplant that would save my life. Why should, that phrase, why should a couple like this
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be given this kind of treatment on the NHS? It does raise ethical questions, doesn't it
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I can see that point of view, but just again to reassure you and your viewers that the transplant itself was charity funded
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Doctors like myself gave up our time and our free time to care
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and so it wasn't taking away any care from somebody else. So they didn't... It wasn't... Someone else was delayed because of this pregnancy
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The other ethical dilemma, Brian, is this idea that maybe men transitioning to be a trans woman might want a womb
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There's been some research of this in other countries. Can you picture a time... The charity that's funded this has said categorically on their website
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that is not something we endorse in the foreseeable future, they say. But can you see a time when men might be able to receive a womb
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and then give birth, biological male. I can't see that in any near future, both in the UK or worldwide
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Yeah. The hormonal implications, you have to... You fancy it, Andrew. Look on his face
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How... How... For the baby, just the same as any other baby
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I mean is she Was it going to make a difference to her life do you think knowing that she the first ever in this country to be born in this way I mean there have been other firsts for example the first IVF baby
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And so I wouldn't imagine that she will have a lovely, fulfilling life with great parents
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And I wish only the very best for her. And maybe another baby? A little sister, a little brother
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We have to wait and see. You're up for doing it again, if they're up for it? Absolutely, absolutely
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Did you know it was on the front page of the paper this morning
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When did you see this and realise what a big story it was? I have to say, as a doctor, probably a bit naive
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did not anticipate this was going to be such an enormous story, but obviously clearly delighted and very respectful
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that they've chosen to go public with their story. Because originally they wanted to remain anonymous, didn't they
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What do you think changed that decision on their part? Do you have any idea why they then said, we don't mind
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because it was a success story, presumably. I genuinely don't know. I genuinely don't know, but clearly supportive
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Because I'm interested in the figure you gave, one in 5,000 women without a womb. This would be a great encouragement to those women who read this story
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and think that could potentially be me. That's a very good reason to go public with this story, I think
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I think so, and I think that clearly there are some women who are born without a womb
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but other women might have lost their womb due to cancer or other conditions
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and this also gives them a hope of potentially carrying a pregnancy. Yeah
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Just take me back to the moment then when the cesarean was performed at Queen Charlotte's Hospital around the corner
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And you have that quiet, don't you, in a delivery suite like that
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in the ward, in the surgical room when you're delivering the baby
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What was that like when she emerged? It was really important that it was a quiet moment
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And you can imagine in a big room where there are lots of people, actually noise control was really important, but it was really special
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It was that special magical moment and it was really delightful. And did they know it was a girl or boy or did they not know
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I can't remember, actually. Ah, I'd be fascinated to know. Yeah, I imagine they probably didn't mind either way. No
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I don't think that was important. All they had been through, they would just be happy and grateful
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Well, it is a miracle of modern medicine, Bryony. And you're part of it
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I'm a very small part of a very large team
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