51-year-old woman gives birth to her own granddaughter after becoming daughter's surrogate

A US mum who became a surrogate for her own daughter has given birth.

Breanna Lockwood had learned she wasn't able to have a successful pregnancy after multiple rounds of IVF, miscarriages and surgeries, according to People.

But her mother Julie Loving, 51, stepped in to carry the next generation of her family as she prepares to give birth to her daughter's child on November 12.

Now they have welcomed the baby girl, Briar Juilette Lockwood, with Julie giving birth to her own granddaughter.

"My mom was an absolute rockstar through a difficult delivery," Breanna wrote on Instagram alongside the photo of her newborn daughter. "The sacrifices she took to bring this little slice of heaven into our world takes my breath away. Holding my daughter in my arms my heart is bursting.

The feeling of how I would do absolutely anything needed for this child is radiating through me when I look at her and reflects back on what my mom did for me."

Every move and decision I make for my daughter, I’m finding the answers through how my mom raised me. The way she loves and the selflessness she exudes is pure, genuine and kind."

"My mom Julie, and baby Briar are doing fantastic and healthy! I have SO MUCH to share on our birth experience, but right now my husband and I are soaking up these newborn moments!"

One week on also shared another post writing: "Just living in new mama bliss!"

"My baby is a week old today and looking back at all our hospital photos. She’s changing every day!"

Earlier this year Lockwood said her mother was the "closest place to home" for her new baby.

"My mom wants to be a grandma just as much as I want to be a mom, so she's doing everything she can."

She told Good Morning America that going through infertility was the hardest struggle she'd ever faced.

"When you have a plan for your life and then something like infertility gets in the way, I felt like I couldn't see what I pictured anymore, that it could be taken away from me."

But then Loving suggested surrogacy to her daughter after her pregnancy with twins ended in a miscarriage.

"I started to talk to her about it. She was not on board and thought I was crazy, but I just kept pursuing it," Loving said.

"I've run 19 marathons and done many triathlons. I felt like health-wise I could do it and I had really easy pregnancies with my two kids."

The mum and daughter revealed there were several hoops for them to jump through, including being seen by five specialists and undergoing several tests.

In a "unique" situation, Loving passed all the requirements, as not everyone opting for surrogacy can use their mother.

In March doctors confirmed that Loving was pregnant with her daughter's baby and her granddaughter after a successful embryo transfer in February.

The duo has gone to all doctor's appointments together and spend time together daily, though they have to be mindful that Loving is pregnant amid a global pandemic.

"We're just doing what we can at this crazy time in the world," Lockwood said.

"With doctor's appointments, I have been able to attend every appointment, but sometimes I have to really beg to let me go. My husband hasn't been allowed to so we video everything we can and fill him in on everything when we get back to the car."

Lockwood revealed this week that the baby was a girl, announcing it on Instagram.

"Baby GIRL you are so loved," she wrote beside a photo of her and her husband Aaron.

Lockwood says she and her husband can't wait to tell their daughter "we did everything we could to bring you into the world".

Loving said she was looking forward to telling her granddaughter she had carried her in the womb.

"We're going to be really open with her at a really young age and tell her when we feel like she can understand, and just tell her the truth."

This article was first published on the NZ Herald and is republished here with permission. Additional reporting by The Hits.