Modern medical advancements never fail to amaze us, and we are in particular awe today after hearing Emelie Eriksson’s story.
The Swedish native has made headlines around the world, after giving birth to a son using the same womb she, herself, was carried in.
In a ‘world first’, Emelie gave birth to son Albin two years ago, using a womb donated to her by her own mother, Marie.
Emelie was born without a womb of her own. Doctors made the discovery while she was in her teens, after she noticed she was not getting periods.
Years later, as she contemplated a future without children of her own, Emelie began to research pioneering new womb transplant procedures.
It was then that she came across the work of doctor Mats Brannstrom, who is the only doctor in the world to deliver babies to women with donated wombs.
Emelie’s mother Marie then volunteered to donate her own womb, and the pair got in contact with Dr Brannstrom.
Shortly after, Dr Bransstrom decided to accept Emelie and Marie into his trials, and the transplantation procedure was begun.
The process wasn’t without complication; Emelie’s body rejected the womb twice, but eventually the organ was accepted.
A year on from the transplantation, Emelie and husband Daniel underwent a round of IVF – and discovered that they were expecting!
Baby Albin arrived into the world in 2014, to the delight and amazement of the Eriksson family, and has gone on to thrive.
Emelie has now decided to go public with her story, in the hope of helping other mothers.
ABC quotes the mum-of-one as saying: “I hope this will be a reality for everyone that needs it.”
She also went on to brand Dr Brannstrom a ‘hero’.
