Medical breakthrough: Mom gives birth to uterus transplant baby

An Asian mother who asked only to be referred to as Mallory for privacy reasons has given birth to the first baby born from a transplanted uterus outside a clinical trial, reports Good Morning America.

This breakthrough surgery will enable women like Mallory who have an underdeveloped uterus and vagina or no uterus at all to have a baby.

“I had come to terms with knowing that, OK, I won’t be able to carry my own children; but for me, it always felt like something that was lacking,” she said.

The birth took place in May, but the University of Alabama did not announce it until this week, according to USA Today.

Around 5% of women of childbearing age deal with what is known as uterine-factor infertility.

“Uterus transplantation is the only medical treatment for uterine factor infertility, and despite the safety and efficacy of this treatment, it is largely inaccessible to patients around the world,” said Dr. Paige Porrett at the University of Alabama.

The University of Alabama revealed that Mallory receive her uterus transplant from a deceased donor through the Legacy of Hope program. The whole process took about 18 months.

“Even through some of the tough stuff, I really embraced pregnancy as I knew it would be the only time I was going to be able to do it, and I knew how lucky I was to be able to experience it,” Mallory recalled. “Sharing that journey with our daughter was so special, too, with her being able to feel my belly. I just had so much gratitude to experience this.”