It’s science fiction: Woman has baby after womb transplant from her mother

The first woman to have a baby after a womb transplant from her own mother has told of her amazement that the operation could ever be performed. Emelie Eriksson, now the mother to toddler son Albin, described the procedure as “like science fiction”. One of only a handful of woman to have babies following a womb transplant, Ms Eriksson has spoken about her experience to offer hope to other women needing help. The 30-year-old, who lives near the Swedish capital, Stockholm, said. “This is something that you read in history books and now in the future when you read about this, it’s about me.”

I thought (we had) a bigger chance of winning the lottery

Ms Eriksson’s husband, Daniel Chrysong

Ms Eriksson was 15 when she began wondering why she hadn’t started her periods; a doctor discovered she had been born without a womb and explained that she would never be able to carry her own children. Years later, she got in touch with pioneering Swedish doctor Mats Brannstrom, the only person whose patients have had babies after a transplant. Her mother, Marie, 53, agreed to be a donor and two years ago little Albin arrived safe and well. “When I called my mom to tell her I was pregnant, she was like, ‘I knew it!’” Ms Eriksson said. Her mother told her, “I knew I had a good womb.”

I thought this was something that could only happen (far) in the future. But then I said to Emelie, 'I’m so old, I don’t need my womb and I don’t want any more children. This is your only chance to have a child and you should take it.

Marie Eriksson