Now 37, Louise – whose parents Lesley and John became the first people to ever successfully undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) – has spoken out about what her family went through when they hit the headlines.
In a new autobiography marking her 37th birthday, entitled My Life As The World’s First Test Tube Baby, Louise has written of the shocking abuse her family endured from those protesting against IVF.
Describing one particularly harrowing experience for her parents, Louise writes: “A parcel arrived addressed simply to ‘Louise Brown, Test Tube Baby, Bristol, England’…Inside, mum found a small jewellery-style box with the words ‘Test Tube Baby’ printed on a sticker with an image of some baby footprints.”
“She thought maybe it was another gift from a corporate, anxious to be associated with my birth, but when she opened it there was red liquid that looked as if it had spilled, and a carefully folded letter,” she added.
Accompanying the letter was a piece of paper labelled ‘test tube baby warranty card’ as well as a typed booklet containing “sick little questions and answers.”
Louise goes on to say that some the of post and negative press received was so worrying, that her mother was afraid to take her out in her pram for a period.
Louise’s new book is due to be released worldwide next month.
