A mother has defied the odds by successfully carrying and giving birth to her own granddaughter after acting as a surrogate mother for her son and his husband.
Cecile Eledge, 61, a mother of three grown children from Nebraska, offered to help her son Matthew and his partner Elliot Dougherty when they announced to family members they wanted to have a child together.
Elliot’s sister Lea Yribe also got involved and kindly donated eggs to make the couple’s dream of starting a family come true.
“There was no moment of hesitation. It was natural instinct, I thought if I could do it, I would do it,” Matthew’s mother, Ms Eledge told Omaha’s KETV-News.
Due to her age, the 61-year-old underwent lengthy medical checks to see if she would be a suitable surrogate. Once given the all clear, doctors at Omaha’s University of Nebraska Medical Centre gave the go-ahead for the pregnancy.
Fertilising the eggs Elliot’s sister Lea donated with Matthew’s sperm, a foetus was developed and implanted. Thankfully, the IVF was a success and Cecile got pregnant on her first attempt.
After some heavy monitoring throughout the pregnancy, that noted heavy morning sickness and several spikes in blood pressure, the family were thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby girl weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces.
Despite the risks associated with pregnancy in later life and the baby arriving, several weeks early, Cecile said her natural birth was surprisingly simple.
“I worked out, I was physically active and actually it was almost easier,” she said, “because I’m older my diet’s been easier and I didn’t have the responsibility of other children, just this pregnancy.”
Dr Carolyn Maud Doherty explained that Cecile is a rare phenomenon. “It’s important for people to note that not every 60+ is in good enough health to be a surrogate there are probably only a handful of people who have done this,” she told Buzzfeed news.
The happy news parents have named their daughter Uma Louise and said both grandma and baby are doing fine. “When you are gay and married and want to have a kid, you go into it with knowledge that you are going to have to create a family in a special way,” said Matthew Eledge.
He added: “We are thankful with how the whole process worked. We are really grateful that both Uma and her grandma are here, happy and healthy.
“The entire team from doctors to nurses to lab techs showed a beautiful balance of professionalism and compassion. For the time being, we’re just going to relax and enjoy this moment.”
The birth was captured in a series of stunning images by Ariel Panowicz, who posted several to her Instagram account.
“Little tiny Uma Louise has ventured into this world and let me tell you, she is simply perfect,” she wrote in one caption. “Carried and birthed by her 61-year old Grandmother, and created by her two dads and loving aunt, Uma is surrounded by an immense amount of love.”