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A SURROGATE mum who gave birth to her son's child at the age of 61 today left Good Morning Britain viewers in total shock.

Cecile volunteered to carry her grandchild Uma, 30 years after she gave birth to her last child, because she wanted to help her son Matthew and his partner Elliot start a family of their own.

 Surrogate mother Cecile, centre, gave birth to son Matthew's, left, baby aged 61
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Surrogate mother Cecile, centre, gave birth to son Matthew's, left, baby aged 61Credit: ITV

Elliot's sister donated her eggs, which were fertilised by Matthew's sperm, and carried by Cecile.

Appearing live on Good Morning Britain from the US state of Nebraska, Matthew said: "For a queer couple adoption and foster care were options but we wanted to explore other avenues.

My mum volunteered. At the time we didn’t think it was necessarily a realistic option, but when we were at IVF and I mentioned it and the doctors didn't rule it out."

Cecile added: "I loved being pregnant, and I knew I was healthy enough to do it. It just naturally came out, but when it came out I couldn’t’ take it back, the deal was on the table."

 Elliot holds up baby Uma who was born using his sister's eggs fertilised with Matthew's sperm
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Elliot holds up baby Uma who was born using his sister's eggs fertilised with Matthew's spermCredit: GMB/ITV
 Matthew and Elliot didn't think Cecile was serious when she first offered to be their surrogate
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Matthew and Elliot didn't think Cecile was serious when she first offered to be their surrogateCredit: ITV

Cecile thinks it's the "coolest thing" to be both the mother and grandmother to Uma.

She continued: "When I was in a stage in my life I didn’t want to have children. But it was always ‘this is my granddaughter’.

"The coolest moment was when I was about five months pregnant, not too many grandparents can say I’m holding one grandchild and carrying my other grandchild in my womb. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal."

Cecile gave birth to Uma naturally after 12 hours in labour, although she thought she would need to have a C-section.

She said: "Doctors said, 'There is no reason you cannot have a natural birth'. I can even remember going to the doctors at the med centre asking about the protocol and having a C-section. But they said I was the first example.

 Cecile had a healthy uterus and was able to be her son's surrogate and have a natural birth
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Cecile had a healthy uterus and was able to be her son's surrogate and have a natural birthCredit: ITV

"My goal was to go naturally. I was going for 12 hours and said to the doctors, 'Am I really doing this?'"

But viewers were stunned by the news and blasted the family as being "weird".

One  tweeted: "So the grandmother to her own son."

A second wrote: "Bit weird", while another slammed the family saying: "What a complete and utter mess."

A separate viewer ranted: "It's the sisters egg.... And the grandmother is the mom... Wow what a great family unit."

However some viewers were impressed with Cecile, and one praised: "Wow Cecile... number 1 looks amazing for being in her 60s, and 2 what a selfless act carrying your sons child!"

Another added: "What a lovely story, Mum is a hero."


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