In short
On July 25, 1978, Louise Brown was born in Oldham, England—the first human conceived through in vitro fertilization. Her birth proved that fertilization could happen outside the body, fundamentally changing what was medically possible for infertile couples and opening a path that would eventually lead to millions of IVF babies worldwide.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
First Test is a fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, the first book in the series Protector of the Small. It details the first year of Keladry of Mindelan's training as a page of Tortall.
As it was happening
15 voices, 16348 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Edwards begins IVF research
Robert Edwards starts systematic work on in vitro fertilization at Cambridge, initially using rabbit embryos.
Voices from this moment (1)
Edwards begins IVF research
Jan 1
“Robert Edwards starts systematic work on in vitro…”
As it was happening
15 voices, 16348 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 1966
Edwards begins IVF research
Robert Edwards starts systematic work on in vitro fertilization at Cambridge, initially using rabbit embryos.
“Robert Edwards starts systematic work on in vitro…”
- Edwards begins IVF research, Jan 1
Day 1096 · January 1, 1969
First human embryo created in vitro
Edwards and Steptoe achieve fertilization of a human egg outside the body, though the embryo does not develop to implantation stage.
“Edwards and Steptoe achieve fertilization of a human egg…”
- First human embryo created in vitro, Jan 1
Day 4018 · January 1, 1977
Lesley Brown selected as IVF candidate
Lesley Brown, 28, is chosen for the IVF procedure after conventional fertility treatments fail; her husband John is identified as having low sperm count.
“Lesley Brown, 28, is chosen for the IVF procedure after…”
- Lesley Brown selected as IVF candidate, Jan 1
Day 4331 · November 10, 1977
Egg retrieval procedure
Steptoe performs laparoscopic retrieval of an egg from Lesley Brown's ovary using a technique he developed.
“Steptoe performs laparoscopic retrieval of an egg from…”
- Egg retrieval procedure, Nov 10
Day 4333 · November 12, 1977
Fertilization and embryo transfer
The retrieved egg is fertilized with John Brown's sperm in vitro and the resulting embryo is transferred to Lesley Brown's uterus.
“The retrieved egg is fertilized with John Brown's sperm in…”
- Fertilization and embryo transfer, Nov 12
Day 4412 · January 30, 1978
Pregnancy confirmed
Tests confirm Lesley Brown is pregnant; the news is kept confidential to avoid media intrusion.
“Tests confirm Lesley Brown is pregnant; the news is kept…”
- Pregnancy confirmed, Jan 30
Day 4588 · July 25, 1978
Louise Brown born
Louise Joy Brown is delivered by cesarean section at 11:47 PM. She weighs 5 pounds 12 ounces and is declared healthy by attending physicians.
“It is the culmination of years of research.”
- BBC News, 1978-07-25, Jul 25
“This opens the door to helping many infertile couples.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Scientific correspondence and interviews, July 1978, Jul 25
“Louise Joy Brown is delivered by cesarean section at 11:47…”
- Louise Brown born, Jul 25
Day 4589 · July 26, 1978
Birth announced to world media
News of the first test-tube baby breaks globally; media presence at hospital swells to hundreds of journalists.
“We must consider the moral implications of such procedures…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Vatican statements and papal commentary, 1978, Jul 26
“It is a remarkable medical achievement.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Prime Minister's office statement, July 1978, Jul 26
“This is a major advance in reproductive medicine.”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Scientific and media interviews, Summer 1978, Aug 2
“News of the first test-tube baby breaks globally; media…”
- Birth announced to world media, Jul 26
Day 5113 · January 1, 1980
Second IVF baby born
Gillan Brown, sister of Louise, is born through the same procedure, demonstrating repeatability.
“Gillan Brown, sister of Louise, is born through the same…”
- Second IVF baby born, Jan 1
Day 16348 · October 5, 2010
Nobel Prize awarded to Edwards
Robert Edwards receives the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his development of IVF; Steptoe had died in 1988.
“Robert Edwards receives the Nobel Prize in Physiology or…”
- Nobel Prize awarded to Edwards, Oct 5
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Patient's age
0 years old (Lesley Brown, mother)
Birth weight
0 pounds 12 ounces (2.6 kg)
Years of research prior
0+ years (Edwards began IVF work in 1966)
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
Wayback Machine snapshots of the pages people actually loaded that day. Click any card to open the archive at full size.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.First Test
en.wikipedia.org