From Miracle to Milestone: The World's First IVF Baby Louise Joy Brown Shares Her Story

The Birth of IVF: A Historical Milestone

On July 25, 1978, the world of family building changed forever. On this day in Manchester, United Kingdom, Leslie Brown gave birth to a baby girl conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) - the world's first IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown.

This momentous event sparked hope and controversy throughout the world. Over 40 years later, IVF has resulted in the birth of over 10 million babies worldwide. Yet the debates around this revolutionary family building method continue.

In this special 100th episode of the Baby or Bust fertility podcast, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with Louise Brown to discuss her experience as the living symbol of the powers of fertility medicine. Louise shares her parents' journey to becoming the first IVF parents, the challenges she faced growing up, and how she continues to advocate for IVF access today.

Growing Up as the First IVF Baby

From a very young age, Louise was aware that she was born in a slightly different way than her peers. Her parents, Leslie and John, sat her down and explained that she was born with the help of Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards - the pioneers who developed the IVF procedure.

My birth was quite gruesome, with a cesarean section where I was pulled out crying. Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards helped my parents have me.

Louise recalls her schoolmates being inquisitive about her unique origins, often making jokes about her being a "test tube baby." But she was quick to correct them, explaining that she wasn't born in a test tube, but rather a petri dish.

"Schoolmates didn't really...used to add the odd joke 'how did you fit in a test tube?' Because back then it was 'test tube baby.' And I used to say to them 'don't be stupid, a test tube wasn't even used, it was a petri dish.' And they used to go 'what's that?' And I just used to say 'oh, it's a little round dish.'"

Despite the occasional teasing, Louise felt that her parents did a wonderful job of keeping her upbringing as normal as possible. From the ages of 4 to 10, she and her sister Natalie (the 40th IVF baby born) did very few interviews, allowing them to just live their lives like any other children.

"We just literally led, although I was born with IVF, we just sort of led a normal life and got on with normal everyday things."

Family and Media Challenges

While Louise's parents worked hard to shield her from the media frenzy, the attention on their family was inescapable. Her mother, Leslie, kept a scrapbook of every newspaper article that mentioned them, a collection that Louise would later donate to a local museum.

The media attention could be relentless and even dangerous at times. Louise recounts one incident where a journalist set off the fire alarm at the hospital in an attempt to get a picture of her mother during her pregnancy.

"They didn't get a picture of Mom because Mom was taken out the back way and I think they had in the hospital they had tunnels, so they went out through a tunnel. So they still didn't get a picture of Mom that time. So yeah, that was the journalist nil."

Despite the challenges, Louise's parents were incredibly open with her about her origins from a young age. This approach, while daunting, ultimately helped Louise feel secure in her identity.

"I think Mom and Dad did a brilliant thing of bringing me and my sister up - they wanted to keep it as normal as possible...I'm glad they did share everything because it's part of who I am."

The openness also extended to the hate mail the family received, including a disturbing package containing a drawing of a fetus in a test tube. While upsetting, Louise's parents made sure she knew it was not a reflection on her.

"We did receive a couple of items of hate mail when I was younger...it was just more weird stuff. But the good weighed the bad by millions."

Personal Reflections and Advocacy

As Louise grew older, she never worried about her own fertility, despite the common questions she received from reporters and others. When the time came, she was able to conceive her two sons, though it took a bit longer than expected.

"When I got married I came off of it and it took me two and a half years to get pregnant but I didn't sort of feel that it was because of how I was born or anything. I think that was just my system."

Now a mother herself, Louise has had open conversations with her older son Cameron about her IVF origins. She believes it's important for children of IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies to know their story.

"Cameron has learned the rest through sex education at school...there was a picture of me and him in his science book...I said to him basically what M and Dad said to me - Patrick and Bob helped Nanny have me."

Louise's commitment to openness and advocacy extends beyond her own family. She has traveled the world, sharing her story and working to destigmatize IVF. Her efforts have even helped influence policy changes, such as enabling government funding for IVF in Bulgaria.

"This is part of the message I like to get across - they [Steptoe and Edwards] wanted it for everybody, not just for the rich people that could afford it. So it's just trying to get a balance because obviously it's different over in the States - you've got healthcare, whereas here we've got the NHS."

While Louise is not a medical professional herself, she remains passionate about increasing access to fertility treatments. She believes that in an ideal future, anyone who needs IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies should be able to access them.

"I would love to think that in 20 years' time people that just needed access to it could get it...going back to where Mom had the treatment for me, there wasn't any of this - there wasn't coverage on the news or there wasn't books to read or people she could talk to that would listen and know her, know the answers. There was nothing."

Modern IVF and Future Hopes

The landscape of fertility treatment has evolved dramatically since Louise's birth. Advancements like egg freezing, surrogacy, and genetic testing have expanded the possibilities for family building. However, access and affordability remain significant barriers, especially in countries like the United States where insurance coverage is limited.

"In the States, only 19 States out of 50 have any mandated coverage for fertility testing and benefits. And even then, sometimes employers - most people in the US get their medical insurance from their employer, not from the government - and it is just vastly different on who has coverage or not."

Despite these challenges, Louise remains hopeful that one day, anyone who needs fertility treatment will be able to access it. She is inspired by the work of pioneers like Steptoe and Edwards, who paved the way for millions of families.

"Without people like you [Dr. Shahine] there wouldn't be any hope, would there? You've carried all the work on that Bob and Patrick and Jean started. But without all the embryologists, gynecologists, specialists, it wouldn't carry on. So it's amazing to think that it all sort of started with Mom and Dad, and nearly 45 years later we're at a point where we are."

Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

Louise Brown's story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of human ingenuity. As the world's first IVF baby, she has borne witness to the incredible advancements in fertility medicine, as well as the persistent stigma and barriers that many still face.

Through it all, Louise has remained a steadfast advocate, sharing her story and working to destigmatize IVF. Her openness and commitment to helping others have made her a true inspiration to the fertility community.

As Dr. Shahine reflects, "Louise's birth is very polarizing - there's hope versus controversy. And you were born exactly 10 years to the day after the publication of the document Humanae Vitae by the Catholic Church, which was a reaction against contraception and 'getting in the way of the natural processes of family building.' It's fascinating how your birth coincided with that."

Yet, as Louise has shown, the desire to build a family is a universal human experience. With pioneers like Steptoe, Edwards, and the countless medical professionals who have followed in their footsteps, the dream of parenthood has become a reality for millions.

"Without those three special people [Steptoe, Edwards, and Jean], it wouldn't have happened. And the bravery of your parents, Julie - because Mom, I mean, she always said in the beginning, if somebody would tell her she'd get pregnant, she'd go and stand on her head naked in Trafalgar Square if that would help get pregnant. She was so desperate, she would have done anything."

As we celebrate this 100th episode of the Baby or Bust podcast, we are reminded of the profound impact that Louise Brown's birth has had on the world. Her story continues to inspire hope, challenge stigma, and pave the way for a future where family building is accessible to all.

To connect with Louise and learn more about her journey, be sure to check out her website at www.ljybrown.co.uk, as well as her social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And don't forget to subscribe to the Baby or Bust podcast to stay up-to-date on the latest in fertility and reproductive health.