Scary hate-mail for world’s first test-tube baby Louise

Date published: 24 July 2015


The world's first test-tube baby has revealed the sick, blood-splattered hate mail her parents received after her ground-breaking birth.

Louise Brown (36) was born at the former Oldham General Hospital in 1978, after her parents Lesley and John became the first people to successfully undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Her birth attracted controversy: religious leaders expressed concern over the use of artificial intervention, and some raised fears science was creating “Frankenbabies”. But the process [aved the way for millions of IVF births.

Louise turns 37 tomorrow and is preparing for the publication of her autobiography next month.

In it she talks about how the breakthrough provoked both adulation and revulsion among the public.

Her family received bags 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.

Louise said: "A parcel arrived addressed simply to 'Louise Brown, Test Tube Baby, Bristol, England', been posted in San Francisco.

"Inside mum found a small jewellery-style box with the words Test Tube Baby printed on a sticker.

"She thought maybe it was another gift but when she opened it there was red liquid that looked as if it had spilled, and a carefully folded letter. There was a piece of paper, splattered in red, and a typewritten booklet with "sick little questions and answers", she continued.

"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 I would say a completely sick act by some sick minds. Imagine how worrying this was for mum.”

There are now thought to be close to six million IVF babies across the world.

The book will be published on August 1.