A 61-year-old woman has responded to criticism of her decision to act as a surrogate mother for her son and his husband, by saying "it was a gift".

Cecile Eledge said people had wrongly assumed that she had sex with her son to produce her granddaughter, Uma Louise Dougherty.

Others made homophobic comments about her son Matthew Eledge and his husband Elliot Dougherty.

But the Nebraska native said she had done it "as a gift from a mother to her son".

Ms Eledge gave birth to a baby weighing almost 6lbs two weeks ago at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Her son and his partner chose her granddaughter's name.

Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Show all 29 1 /29 Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son In this March 25, 2019 photo, Elliot Dougherty holds his daughter Uma after her delivery at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Cecile Eledge, mother of Dougherty's his husband Matthew Eledge, volunteered to be the surrogate mother to her grandchild, which was conceived with sperm from Matthew Eledge and an egg from Eliot Daugherty's sister Lea Yribe. (Ariel Panowicz via AP) Ariel Panowicz AP Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge, his mother Cecile Eledge and father Kirk Eledge are pictured just before embryo transfer at Methodist Women's Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., July 24, 2018. Matthew Eledge/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. HANDOUT REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son In this March 25, 2019 photo, Elliot Dougherty, right, holds his daughter Uma after her delivery at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., with husband Matthew Eledge. Cecile Eledge, mother of Matthew Eledge, volunteered to be the surrogate mother to her grandchild, which was conceived with sperm from Matthew Eledge and an egg from Dougherty's sister Lea Yribe. (Ariel Panowicz via AP) Ariel Panowicz AP Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son In this March 25, 2019 photo, Matthew Eledge, left, his mother Cecile Eledge, center, and Matthew's husband Elliot Dougherty, right, greet baby Uma after her delivery at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Cecile Eledge volunteered to be the surrogate mother to her grandchild, conceived with sperm from Matthew Eledge and an egg from Dougherty's sister, Lea Yribe. (Ariel Panowicz via AP) Ariel Panowicz AP Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son In this March 25, 2019 photo, Matthew Eledge, right, and his husband Elliot Dougherty, center, react to the birth of their daughter Uma, with Eledge's mother, Cecile Eledge, delivering the baby at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Cecile Eledge volunteered to be the surrogate mother to her grandchild, conceived with sperm from Matthew Eledge and an egg from Dougherty sister. (Ariel Panowicz via AP) Ariel Panowicz AP Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son In this March 25, 2019 photo, Elliot Dougherty, left, and his husband Matthew Eledge, second left, react during the delivery of their daughter at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Matthew Eledge's mother, Cecile Eledge, volunteered to be the surrogate mother to her grandchild, conceived with sperm from Matthew Eledge and an egg from Dougherty's sister. (Ariel Panowicz via AP) Ariel Panowicz AP Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge's daughter Uma is held by a nurse after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge's daughter Uma is pictured shortly after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Cecile Eledge smiles after giving birth to a daughter as surrogate for her son Matthew Eledge and his partner Elliott Dougherty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz /@arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge looks at his daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile Eledge, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge's daughter Uma grasps a finger shortly after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge greets his daughter Uma after his mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty holds his daughter Uma after husband Matthew Eledge's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look at their daughter Uma after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look on, along with Matthew's father Kirk Eledge, after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth to their daughter Uma at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge, Elliott Dougherty, Matthew's mother Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for their child, and Elliot's sister Lea Yribe, who was the egg donor, pose for a photo during Cecile's pregnancy in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Cecile Eledge kisses baby Uma after giving birth to a daughter as surrogate for her son Matthew Eledge and his partner Elliott Dougherty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge and Elliott Dougherty pose for a photo during the pregnancy of Matthew's mother Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for their child, in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for her son Matthew Eledge's child with Elliott Dougherty poses for a photo during her pregnancy in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge's mother Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for his child with Elliott Dougherty poses for a photo during her pregnancy in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge's mother Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for his child with Elliott Dougherty poses for a photo during her pregnancy in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge's mother Cecile Eledge, who was the surrogate for his child with Elliott Dougherty poses for a photo during her pregnancy in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz / @arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Matthew Eledge gives his mother Cecile Eledge a hormone treatment shot in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., in July 2018, shortly after she underwent embryo transfer to be the surrogate host for his child. Matthew Eledge/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. HANDOUT REUTERS Mother gives 'gift' of surrogacy to son Elliott Dougherty and Matthew Eledge look on, along with Matthew's father Kirk Eledge, after Matthew's mother Cecile, gave birth to their daughter Uma at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., March 25, 2019. Picture taken March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ariel Panowicz/@arielpanowicz MANDATORY CREDIT STRINGER REUTERS

Matthew Eledge said Uma’s birth led to the family being overwhelmed with messages on social media – adding that while the majority were positive, some were enormously angry.

The family has been attempting to ignore the negative reactions, she said.

“People from all around the world have been reaching out," Mr Eledge said. "They want to help in any way that they can.”

Along with his husband, he added that he had been forced to fight prejudice and homophobia throughout their relationship. He lost his job as a teacher at a Catholic school after the pair announced they would be married.

Concerned that they would be denied permission to adopt a baby in their conservative home state, they decided to try in-vitro-fertilisation (IVF) with a donated egg and a surrogate to carry the feotus.

Mr Dougherty’s sister, Lea Yribe, offered to donate her eggs, which were then fertilised with sperm from Mr Eledge, giving Uma genetic material from both sides of the family.

The men jokingly told their IVF doctor Mr Eledge’s mother had offered to be the surrogate – even though she was at that point 59 and had gone through menopause.

“Matt would comically say, ‘Well my mum keeps offering but we know that’s not an option,’ ” Ms Eledge said.

He added that the doctors just wanted to know if his mother was healthy – and if she still had her uterus. After testing to make sure that Ms Eledge’s body could tolerate the pregnancy, the embryo was implanted.

Dr Carl Smith, a specialist in maternal and foetal medicine at the medical centre, said Ms Eledge was healthy and fit, and looked years younger than her age. Among possible complications for older mothers are gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, and the team watched her health carefully, viewing the pregnancy as high-risk.

She took estrogen supplements for the first part of the pregnancy, Mr Smith said, until the placenta holding Uma was able to make hormones of its own.

The politics of helping a gay couple and the unusual choice of a grandmother for a surrogate did not deter the team, Mr Smith said.

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He said: “We never gave that a second thought. She was pregnant and the circumstances of how she got pregnant are between her and her family.”

When the couple said they wanted to have a child to expand their family, Ms Eledge offered to be involved in a very special way.

“There was no moment of hesitation. It was natural instinct,” she told the KETV news channel/ “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,” Mr Eledge said. “There are creative, unique ways to build a family.”

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."