Baby Received Blood Transfusion in the Womb at 16 Weeks
A baby boy in the United Kingdom is believed to be the youngest ever to receive a lifesaving blood transfusion while still in the womb.
The newborn baby, named Arthur, underwent the rare procedure at just 16 weeks of gestation after contracting a virus that caused severe anemia and heart failure.
Arthur Ransom contracted parvovirus through his mother, Maisie Ransom, leading to a dangerous buildup of fluid and heart failure in utero. Doctors at St. George’s Hospital in London performed an intrauterine transfusion (IUT), delivering concentrated red blood cells to the unborn child to restore oxygen flow and allow fluid around his heart and organs to be reabsorbed.
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“The experience was absolutely terrifying. The doctor said it was 50/50 whether he would make it [or] not,” Ransom said.
A scan of baby Arthur in the womb.
The procedure, described by the National Health Service Blood and Transplant department as one of the riskiest, most complex and rarest lifesaving transfusions, involved inserting a needle through the mother’s uterus into the unborn baby.
In Arthur’s case, the blood was delivered into his liver with extreme precision under ultrasound guidance.
“Without that blood he would not have made it. His organs were failing. His heart was completely enveloped in fluid. It was struggling to pump. If nothing was done he would not have made it much longer,” Ransom added.
Arthur was born in January 2025 and is now thriving.
His mother, a primary school teacher, described him as “a really chirpy little boy, reaching all the milestones.”
“Arthur’s doing great now,” Ransom said. “He’s very handsome and developing normally. He keeps us on our toes. I think every day about how lucky I am.”
Ransom credited blood donors and specialized medical care for her son’s survival.
“I don’t think there are words to describe how thankful I am to blood donors,” she said. “To have the life I am now living, with my family, there’s no words to express the gratitude I feel and how fortunate I was to be able to access that care and blood promptly.”
Medical experts noted the rarity of the intervention.
Dr. Anne Kelly, Paediatric Transfusion and Components Clinical Expert for NHSBT, said intrauterine transfusions “are very rare. They are only done in specialized units when absolutely needed to help save a life.”
The case highlights the remarkable capacity of unborn children to respond to lifesaving interventions at very early stages of development. And it proves they are no clumps of cells or tissue – and at 16 weeks millions of babies have been killed in abortions at this time period.
NHSBT performs fewer than 200 such procedures per year in the U.K. for babies with severe anemia, with most typically not attempted before 18 weeks of pregnancy. Arthur’s successful treatment at 16 weeks underscores the value of protecting and caring for life from its earliest moments.
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