Little Henry Bryant has made history as the first Australian baby to be birthed from a transplanted uterus.
In 2021, Henry’s mother, Kirsty Bryant, experienced a life-threatening episode after the birth of her first child.
She needed to undergo emergency surgery to remove her uterus. Yet, Ms. Bryant wanted another child, but she could no longer conceive.
Uterus Transplant
A new groundbreaking research trial was conducted using funds from the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation, led by associate professor and gynaecologist, Rebecca Deans, from The Royal Hospital for Women, and UNSW Sydney.As a participant in the trial, Ms. Bryant underwent a uterus transplantation. Michelle, Kirsty’s mother, donated her uterus to her daughter.
Not long after the procedure, Ms. Bryant fell pregnant and gave birth to baby Henry Bryant on Dec. 15, 2023. He was delivered via caesarian section at a healthy weight of 2.9 kilograms.
This outcome was a breakthrough for both Ms. Bryant and the researchers.
“To hold this baby in my arms is a dream come true,” said Ms. Bryant, according to a press release from NSW Health. She felt hopeless after her hysterectomy, but this clinical trial created a miracle.
“After my hysterectomy, I desperately wanted another child, and I felt like there weren’t many options for somebody in my situation,” she said.
For Dr. Deans from the Royal Hospital, this outcome was a career highlight.
“To see this medical breakthrough creating a new life is quite extraordinary,” she said. “It’s been an emotional day for everybody who has worked so hard towards this end goal.”
Professor Mats Brännström, the surgeon who performed the world’s first successful uterus transplant in Sweden, said transplantation offers new hope for infertile women.
“This gives hope to other women with uterine factor infertility that they can carry a child of their own without the need for other options such as adoption and surrogacy,” he said.
