Louise Brown was the first IVF gift (test tube baby) presented by Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe to the Brown couples on 25th July, 1978. This was the dawn in the lives of many childless couples, even though it created much controversy in medical, religious and political circles. The success of IVF treatment also gifted Robert Edwards with Nobel Prize in 2010.

Birth Of First Test Tube Baby

Louise Brown, the first test tube baby on earth, was born in Oldham in England. The decision to proceed for IVF in those times, when it was only in experimental mode, was much risky. But the couples Lesley and John, after nine years of striving for a baby, which was not possible due to block in the fallopian tube of Lesley, thought to risk themselves to fulfill their desire of a baby. Finally they succeeded, even though they had to face a lot many criticisms, they were finally filled with the joy of the life, Louise Brown, making them the first IVF parents. Even their second daughter Natalie was also conceived through IVF. To prove out that test tube babies have normal living, Louise gave natural birth to two baby boys and is leading a happy married life.

“I’m not a wizard or a Frankenstein tampering with Nature. We are not creating life.We have merely done what many people try to do in all kinds of medicine—to help nature. We found nature could not put an egg and sperm together, so we did it. We do not see anything immoral in doing that in the interests of the mother. I cannot see anything immoral in trying to help the patient’s problem.”
— Patrick Steptoe”

From Fiction To Fact

“So IVF has changed from a fictive story to a reality with Louise Brown”

“At the time of her 21st birthday in 1999, she was working in a Bristol nursery. Her younger sister, Natalie, was also conceived by IVF. Natalie, born four years after Louise, is the first in vitro baby to give birth.”
– From the Biography of Louise Brown

This has given hope to many childless couples, and is even now spreading smiles on many depressed faces.”