The World's First Test-Tube Baby Louise Brown Is Pregnant

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07:57am 10th July 2006


The world's first test-tube baby Louise Brown is expecting a baby of her own.

Louise was born on July 25, 1978, after her parents John and Lesley had tried for nine years to have a child. Her birth brought hope to infertile couples.

And since then millions of babies have been born using IVF, including the couple's second child Natalie, 20.

Louise, 27, and her husband of two years, security officer, Wesley Mullinder, are expecting their own child, who was conceived naturally.

The administrative assistant for a Bristol shipping company is due to give birth in January. She said: 'This is a dream come true for both of us.'

The couple, who live in the outskirts of Bristol, made the headlines when they married in September 2004. They have always wanted to have children.

After she got married, Louise said: 'We'd love to have children of our own one day and, hopefully, we won't need to use IVF. We'll just have to wait and see.

'When I was younger I used to want three or four, but now I don't know.'

Last night Mr Mullinder, 36, said: 'We are overjoyed that Louise is expecting.

'We are so excited about becoming parents, and I know that Louise will make a fantastic mother.

'We are already beginning to think about getting the house kiddy-proof,' he told the Daily Express. The couple met in March 2002 at the Bristol nightclub where Mr Mullinder was working as a doorman, within six months the couple had moved in with Louise's parents.

He said: 'I knew her only as Louise. It wasn't until later that I had learnt her surname and realised she had been famous. It's just a minor detail to me. First and foremost she is Louise. It just works and it did from the start. It's a good relationship.'

Louise's birth at Oldham General Hospital heralded the dawning of a new medical era. It was the result of 12 years of research by a British team, Dr Robert Edwards and Dr Patrick Steptoe who pioneered IVF. Although Dr Steptoe died when she was 10, Dr Edwards was the guest of honour at Louise's wedding at Bristol's St Mary Redcliffe church.

On the 25th anniversary of her birth Louise guest starred at a grand party at Bourn Hall clinic for hundreds of babies who followed in her footsteps.

She said: 'I used to think I was special. I used to think about how I was conceived quite a lot when I was about ten or 11, but I don't think about it at all now that so many other babies have been born in the same way. Now I just get on with my life.'

In May 1999 Louise's sister Natalie was the first test-tube baby to have a child of her own. Daughter Casey made medical history and ended fears girls born through IVF treatment would not be able to have healthy children.

Natalie last night said she did not wish to comment on the story, but when asked if her sister was pregnant said: 'I do know the answer to the question.

'She is my sister and we are very close. I have not spoken to her for the past week and have not got her permission to speak to newspapers about this.'

The mother-of-two added: 'I am not going to deny or confirm this because I have not asked her, but if you wish to go ahead with the story that's entirely up to you.'

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770