Maine woman, 49, gives birth to her grandson

AP Graphics

(AP) MADAWSKA, Maine - A 49-year-old Maine woman has given birth to her grandson after her daughter was precluded from becoming pregnant because of a heart condition.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Linda Sirois of Madawska gave birth to 7-pound, 14-ounce Madden Hebert on Aug. 13 for her daughter, Angel. Twenty-five-year-old Angel Hebert says her baby is "eating like a champ and he doesn't fuss too much."

Sirois said she's offered for years to become a gestational surrogate for Angel if a doctor said she shouldn't become pregnant. Hebert, of Presque Isle, says she and husband Brian Hebert got that word last summer.

Sirois has four children, including twins, and her youngest kids are in college. She says she thinks the pregnancy with Madden might have been her easiest.

[all4science]

Wow, great story! I wonder if my mom would have done that for me! Congratulations!

[beaches01]

Personally, I think that this woman did an extrordinary thing for her daugher, son in-law, and now grandchild. Yes, we live in a society that has it's faults, but what bearing does that have on this situation? Shame on those who are putting this woman and her family down for doing something good and giving life. What's the difference between a grandmother being the surrogate or a stranger being the surrogate? If it were me, I would be honored if my mother did that for me. What the rude and immature people are missing here is that she obviously had to pass some health testing to ensure it was safe for both her AND the baby. The best gift is the gift of life. You can't push your own beliefs onto others and it's like the saying I was brought up with "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Congratulations to the family and Happy Birthday Madden!!!

[AOCGUY]

My first inclination when hearing about this is to go ick.

[Valhalla0907]

In Australia, a grandmother wanted to implant the embryos of her daughter. The daughter had died in a car crash years earlier, which started a discussion on reproductive rights for the dead. My uterus is not an apartment available for rent.

[louisehauser]

To the people who made nasty remarks, I feel sad for you, & hope these comments made you feel BIG; to the others, god bless you. Linda is my sister, & is anything but selfish. The condition her daughter had was not congenital, & it is her's & her husband's sperm, & there is no risk to the baby.He is PERFECT!!!!!!!!! Some of you mean spirited people may not like that. This is a beautiful story, and with all of the bad stories going around today, the good stories bring some hope for humankind. Linda had been approached by newspapers before the birth & never agreed to it, she did not want it to be about her. There was no seeking fame at all in this, only a deep desire for a family of their own.

[beaches01]

Congratulations to you and your family, Madden is truly a gift. People all around the world have acted and do act as surrogates, the only difference here is that it was the grandmother, which has happened in years past. I know that if it were me, my mother and family would do the same for me. The gift of life is a blessing; she was strong woman to be able to do that for her daughter, it speaks alot about her wonderful, caring character.

[finkfurst4]

OmegaWolf747 - You haven't quite understood, have you? Never mind, some people have to be dumb, and it just happens that you are one of them. It's a pity that America has far more than its fair share of dumb people, and maybe one day science will work out why.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
by OmegaWolf747 August 25, 2012 5:56 PM EDT - "Artificial insemination has been around for around 30 years now. Why does this even make news anymore?"

[patriot57200]

Bravo,Linda. BRAVO.

[byrdh5n1]

Sick. Selfish. Ill-conceived (pun intended.....).

[ksmit2]

There have been reports recently that point to a significant increase
in birth defects in children born to parents in this age group and
older. It is unfortunate that the physician didn't want to encourage
a younger "surrogate" for the mother. It's sad that children are
exposed to unnecessary risks, downs syndrome, heart defects, and so
on, just so a relative can have their "15 minutes of fame".

[midwestkris]

The issue of surrogacy is much more comlex than what you suggest. I would also assume (although it is not specified in the article) that the fertilized egg was implanted in her womb and that the biological parents are her daughter and her husband, in which case the child's parents are not of an age group that is associated with the increase in birth defects.

[tmonta67]

The birth defects you refer to are linked to the age of the egg and sperm, not the "incubator". This baby was conceived using the zygotes of young parents. Grandma was only the vessel and she did just fine, and risked more regarding her own health than the baby's.

As for your "15 minutes of fame" comment, that's just mean-spirited.

[alpinequeen]

Time for zero population growth.

[midwestkris]

zero population growth means a couple should not have more than 2 children. Without surrogacy, this couple would not have had any children.

[lnytnz]

in this overpopulated world is this kind of stuff really necessary?
sickening

[Molly-Pchr]

Don't take it so personal.

[caljack430]

not really... and birth control should be freaking mandatory in my opinion. at least this couple WANTED their child... unlike thousands of couples who get forced to have a child when they shouldn't have even gotten pregnant in the first place.