Lesley Brown Facts & Worksheets

The first person to give birth after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was Lesley Brown. Mrs. Brown, a young lady from a working-class English town, gave birth to the first child conceived outside the womb on July 25, 1978. As the first child born by in vitro fertilization, Baby Louise Joy was the subject of widespread interest worldwide.

See the fact file below for more information about Lesley Brown, or you can download our 26-page Lesley Brown worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LIFE STORY

• John Brown, a truck driver, and his wife, Lesley, sought to have a child for nine years without success before they met British biologist Robert G. Edwards and gynecologist Patrick Steptoe. Her inability to conceive was due to a blockage in her fallopian tubes, which had been the subject of multiple unsuccessful pregnancies. The 30-year-old woman was a perfect fit for the experimental techniques the two men had researched for years because she was generally healthy.
• Steptoe and Edwards had a patient who underwent IVF before Mrs. Brown’s pregnancy, but it was an ectopic, meaning the fertilized egg formed outside the uterus and died.
• Steptoe and Edwards used a laparoscope, a narrow viewing tube, to remove one of Mrs. Brown’s eggs, which they then fertilized in the lab with her husband’s sperm.
• The fertilized egg was kept alive in a glass dish with a nutrition solution for 2 and 1/2 days before being transplanted into Mrs. Brown’s uterus. Her pregnancy appropriately developed until it became public knowledge that her conception was not typical. 
• Journalists from as far as Japan flocked to cover the Browns’ story in their Oldham neighborhood and at the hospital where they stayed.
• According to the New York Times, Mrs. Brown passed away at 64 in Bristol,  England, on June 6, 2012, from complications related to a gallbladder illness. 

REASON

• In vitro fertilization made history when it allowed the Browns, Lesley Marion and Gilbert John Brown, to conceive and give birth to a child.
• John and Lesley both hailed from Bristol and for many years, John drove for British Rail. John’s two kids from a previous marriage were raised by their respective parents. After years of fertility therapy in Bristol for Lesley Brown’s obstructed fallopian tubes and unmet desire to start a family, Lesley was directed to the obstetrician and gynecologist Patrick Steptoe in Manchester in 1976. 
• Along with physiologist Robert ‘Bob’ Edwards and embryologist Jean Purdy, Steptoe discovered and developed IVF. Louise was born on July 25, 1978, at Oldham District and General Hospital via scheduled Cesarean section after her mother underwent various tests and an operation to remove the egg and implant the embryo.

IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION PROCESS

• IVF refers to In Vitro Fertilization, a type of assisted reproductive technology. In vitro fertilization involves manually combining an egg and sperm sample in a laboratory dish after removing the eggs and recovering the sperm. When the embryo or embryos are ready, they are implanted in the uterus.

LIFE AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST IVF BABY

• International media outlets showed great interest in the impending arrival of baby Louise, with demands for interviews with Lesley and John beginning three months before the due date. 
• Newspapers offered the Browns contracts in exchange for exclusive rights to birth coverage, and the pair periodically assumed a pseudonym to avoid prying eyes. 
• On July 14, 1978, solicitor Paul Vincent, who had previously worked for Steptoe and Edwards, founded Chandlewise Limited to manage media attention better. 
• Before the collapse of Chandlewise Limited in August 1989, Lesley and John Brown served as directors. On July 14, 1978, the parents signed a contract with Associated Newspaper Group Limited (now DMG Media), giving The Daily Mail exclusive coverage of their newborn. Soon after Louise was born, Associated Newspaper Group Limited extended contracts with Chandlewise Limited and sold the rights to international media outlets like the American tabloid The National Enquirer. The Central Office of Information also shot footage of the delivery.
• Following the extensive publicity in the media, the Browns received letters of congratulations from all over the world. This interest continued even after Lesley and Louise Brown had returned home from the hospital, to 4 Hassell Drive, Bristol.
• Checkbook journalism and the moral and religious ramifications of the new reproductive technology were also public discussion topics after the birth of the world’s first IVF baby. 
• The Browns had no preconceived notions about the medical procedure that resulted in Louise’s birth and the optimism it brought to many childless couples. Lesley and John Brown settled into their forever home at 12 Court Farm Road, Whitchurch, Bristol, in 1979.
• Louise has been making public appearances practically since she was born. The British TV show “To Mrs. Brown, a Daughter,” which was first broadcast in 1978, further piqued people’s interest. The family took 4-month-old Louise to Canada to participate in a 1979 TV show about in vitro fertilization. 
• Later that year, they went to Florida after being invited by The National Enquirer and featured on a Japanese television show. ‘Our Miracle Named Louise,’ written by Sue Freeman and published by Paddington Press in June 1979, chronicles the account of Louise’s birth. 
• In the fall of that year, Paul Vincent brought his family back to North America for a book promotion tour, during which they were interviewed by various media outlets across the United States and in Toronto, Canada. A film adaptation of the book, produced by Carl Foreman, was announced the same year. Strikes in Hollywood and budget shortages forced the project’s cancellation in 1982. The Observer also included the essay series “A Matter of Life” by Steptoe and Edwards.
• Bourn Hall Clinic, established in 1980 by Steptoe, Edwards, and Purdy in Bourn, South Cambridgeshire, is widely regarded as the first IVF clinic in the world. Lesley Brown was able to have a second daughter with the help of IVF at the facility.
• In 1999, Natalie became the first to give birth naturally after being conceived through in vitro fertilization. She was born on June 14, 1982, at Bristol Maternity Hospital. 
• The Browns kept in touch with the Bourn Hall crew and attended their events over the years. There was the original “Bourn Hall Baby Party” in 1989 to honor the life of Steptoe, and there was another one in 2003 to celebrate Louise’s 25th birthday.
• Bristol was home for the rest of Lesley, John, and Louise’s lives. In 2004, Louise tied the knot with Wesley Mullinder, a doorman from Bristol. Cameron (born in 2006) and Aiden Patrick Robert (born in 2013 and named after Steptoe and Edwards) are their two children. Both John Brown in 2006 and Lesley Brown in 2012 passed away after brief illnesses. Since 2007, Louise has had her public appearances at international IVF events handled by press agent Martin Powell, a family friend. Similarly, the media has resumed covering Louise’s birthday and other commemorative events.

Lesley Brown Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Lesley Brown across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Lesley Brown. The first person to give birth after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was Lesley Brown. Mrs. Brown, a young lady from a working-class English town, gave birth to the first child conceived outside the womb on July 25, 1978.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Lesley Brown Facts
2. Matching Type
3. The After Timeline
4. Guess The Emoji
5. Know The Person
6. Fill It In
7. What Do You Think?
8. What If
9. Medical Advances
10. Scrapbook
11. IVF Infographic Collage

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lesley Brown, and why is she notable?

Lesley Brown is historically significant as the first woman to successfully give birth after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. She, along with her husband John Brown, achieved this milestone in 1978.

When did Lesley Brown undergo IVF treatment?

Lesley Brown underwent IVF treatment in 1977. The procedure was performed by Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards, pioneers in the field of reproductive medicine.

What was the name of Lesley Brown’s daughter, and when was she born?

Lesley Brown’s daughter, the first IVF baby, was named Louise Joy Brown. She was born on July 25, 1978, at Oldham General Hospital in Oldham, England.

How did the birth of Louise Joy Brown impact the field of reproductive medicine?

The birth of Louise Joy Brown marked a groundbreaking moment in the history of reproductive medicine, proving the viability of IVF as a method for assisting infertile couples in conceiving children. It opened the door to further developments in assisted reproductive technologies.

Did Lesley Brown have any other children through IVF?

Lesley Brown did have additional children through IVF. After the birth of Louise, Lesley underwent further IVF treatments and gave birth to her second daughter, Natalie Brown, in 1982.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/science/lesley-brown/">Lesley Brown Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, January 24, 2024

Link will appear as Lesley Brown Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 24, 2024