World's first 'test tube baby' turns 30

Louise Joy Brown made history on July 25, 1978, when she became the first person to be born via in vitro fertilised treatment, commonly known as IVF.

Now married to Wayne Mullinder and living in Bristol, she has shunned much of the media interest in her and has not even planned a party to mark the start of her fourth decade.

“I'm not really thinking of it as my 30th,” she said. “I'm just carrying on as if this is a normal birthday

“I might go out with my friends or I might have a meal with the family, I'm planning on having a quiet one.”

Mrs Mullinder's birth at Oldham District and General Hospital represented the beginning of IVF and three million babies have been born worldwide using the technology since.

Her mother, Lesley Brown - now 61 - had tried for nine years to have a baby but her blocked fallopian tubes meant getting pregnant naturally was impossible.

In 1976 she and her husband John were referred to Oldham gynaecologist Dr Patrick Steptoe for the experimental procedure.

“It was a very different process to what it is now,” she said. “So many people now need to go through IVF whereas, at the start, I felt like I was the only one.”

Her daughter, who was born weighing 5lb 12oz and now works for Brunel Shipping, said her parents tried to tell her she was special from a very early age.

“The children at school used to ask questions like 'how did you fit in a test tube?' and things like that, but they could see I was normal, they could see I was the same as them.”

After the birth of Cameron 18 months ago, Mrs Mullinder said she understood why her parents wanted a family so much.

“I wouldn't be without him now, he's lovely, and I can understand the things people go through to have children because they really want them.”

Mrs Mullinder said she did not know much about current IVF but did not believe couples should be able to choose the sex of their child.

She remains close to the IVF pioneer who helped her mother become pregnant, Professor Bob Edwards. Dr Steptoe, died in 1988 aged 74.

“Bob Edwards came to my wedding,” she said. “He is really busy all the time but we really like to see him. It's nice to have a close relationship. He's like a grandad to me.”

Prof Edwards - now 82 - said he was thrilled to celebrate: “I think the whole thing is incredible.”

Remembering the birth, he said: “Patrick Steptoe was doing the Caesarean section.

“Suddenly the baby cried, screamed. We were amazed and delighted. He handed the baby to nurses and to me and we held her in our arms.”