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On this day, 25th June, 37 years ago in 1978 Louis Brown was born to her parents John and Lesley Brown. Her birth was historic; she was the first baby to be born through successful IVF technology. But the news wasn t rejoiced by many especially those who rejected IVF technologies from the beginning. Know more about repeated IVF failures and tips to how to overcome the same.
Ms Brown s parents tried for nine years to conceive before they finally sought help through IVF to become parents. They were treated by the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridgeshire as part of the work of Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards, who are pioneers of IVF. While they become proud parents, their life seemed to get miserable as the society by large couldn t accept the birth of a baby through artificial means that triumphed over the natural laws of birthing. Here are 10 traits of a good IVF patient.
Life after birth
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Louise says that instead of receiving blessings and congratulations her family received loads of sick and blood-splattering hate-mails, after her ground-breaking birth. Her birth attracted a lot of controversies from the religious sects who believed that artificial interventions through science could create Frankenbabies, that could be dangerous for the society. But today, many couples are thankful to the procedures and IVF technologies that enable them to become parents despite some shortcomings. Here are few tips on how to pick up a good IVF doctor.
Ms Brown s birth evoked a lot of revulsion, and a campaign was launched against her parents. Recounting the incidences she mentions in her autobiography, that s due to be published next month that: her family received postbags full of mail, including one package containing letters covered in red liquid, a broken glass test tube and a plastic foetus, accompanied by menacing notes. Read to know if IVF is right for you.
Ms Brown, who turns 37 on Saturday, said: A parcel arrived addressed simply to 'Louise Brown, Test Tube Baby, Bristol, England.' It had been posted in San Francisco and the customs sticker on it said it contained a novelty item. Inside, mum found a small jewellery-style box with the words 'Test Tube Baby' printed on a sticker with an image of some baby footprints.
She thought maybe it was another gift from a corporate anxious to be associated with my birth but when she opened it there was red liquid that looked as if it had spilled and a carefully folded letter.
The letter was accompanied by a piece of paper, again splattered in red, with a test tube baby warranty card, she said. There was also a typewritten booklet with sick little questions and answers. The filth of the words were so much that there were people suggesting her mother keep the test tube baby in a toilet bowl or fish tank, she added. Read to know how safe are fertility treatment.
Dealing with the changing times
It was menacing and scary and considering the time the people must have taken in putting this thing together then sending it across the world to a three-month-old baby, says Louise. Her mum started worrying for her well-being. For a while she was even more careful when taking me out in the pram, says Louise.
But Ms Brown, today a mother-of-two living in Bristol with her husband, Wesley Mullinder, said the massive media attention surrounding her birth also resulted in fan mail.
She added that many letters were from women who couldn't have babies. One woman from Christchurch, New Zealand, wrote with her story of operations that hadn't worked treatments that had failed and her desire to be a mum.
Another letter, from Heather Spackman from New South Wales, Australia, read: I fear that you will find yourselves on the receiving end of all the usual criticism and condemnation that follows any medical breakthrough, so am writing to try in a tiny way to even things up.
Her parents went on to have a second daughter, Natalie, after another round of IVF. Mr Brown, a former railwayman, died in 2007 aged 64 and his wife died in 2012, also aged 64, after a short illness.
The scenario today
One in six couples in the UK has problems conceiving. The medical fertility industry clinics are offering IVF, donor insemination and other treatments was worth an estimated 500 million in 2008. Unofficially, experts believe it is now worth well in excess of 600 million. There are thought to be close to six million IVF babies across the world.
Bourn Hall continues to collaborate with the the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre to develop the science behind IVF.
Image source: Chris Radburn/PA
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