World's most prolific surrogate mum wants babies 16 and 17 aged 50 - despite doctors telling her it could kill her

The world’s most prolific surrogate is expecting to have her 16th and 17th babies at the age of 50 – despite doctors warning it could kill her.

Carole Horlock has been told that her age and the fact she has given birth more than 10 times puts her at greater risk of complications as she becomes Britain’s oldest commercial surrogate.

But Carole, who turns 50 on Tuesday – the legal IVF age limit in much of Europe – says she longs to be pregnant one last time, adding: “It’s now or never.”

Two five-day-old embryos , provided by a British couple, were transferred into Carole’s womb at a clinic in the Greek capital Athens this week.

Carol knew UK doctors would refuse the procedure, due to her age and the fact she has already had 13 surrogate babies as well as her own two daughters Megan, 21, and Steffanie, 25.

Now Carole and the intended parents – a childless married couple from the north of England – have an anxious seven-day wait before a test confirms the pregnancy.

Carole, who first became a surrogate aged 27, says “Doctors in the UK have told me I shouldn’t get pregnant again as I’m risking my life.

“Not only am I classed as a geriatric mother, I’m also a ‘great grand multipara’ – meaning I’ve had 10 births or more, which increases the risks of pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage and other complications. It will also be my third caesarean birth.

“People may ask why I’m putting myself through this, and assume I’m mad to enjoy pregnancy and giving birth, but I do. Others think I’m evil for giving away babies.

“But I think people are mad who do bungee jumps or tombstoning from cliffs.

"To me, what could be more wonderful than bringing a much-wanted and much-loved baby into this world?

And the fact IVF rules say you have to be under 50 means it really is now or never.”

She adds: “If I do become pregnant at 50, I’ll become Britain’s oldest commercial surrogate and if it’s twins it will be my third multiple birth – I’ve previously had a set of twins and a set of triplets.”

Carole first became a surrogate in 1995 when she was a single mum working in a launderette.

She loved being pregnant and after spotting a newspaper article about surrogacy, decided it was perfect for her.

She says: “The one baby I could never forget was my first – I had an incredible relationship with his parents, so much so I went on to have twins for them.

“My favourite pregnancy was the triplets, as carrying three little lives at once was incredible.

It was also the toughest as I lost two teeth, got terrible varicose veins and I was the size of a house!”

She met partner Paul Brown 18 years ago.

Paul, 60, had a daughter and supported her being a surrogate, while not wanting more children himself.

But in June 2004 Carole faced heartache after discovering a baby boy she gave birth to turned out to be biologically hers and Paul’s.

They did not find out until six weeks after they handed him over to another couple but decided to leave him where he was.

“It was so distressing and it led to a lot of soul-searching on my part,” she says.

“We decided the intended parents should keep him as they loved him and I hadn’t planned on having another baby of my own. I often think of him.”

Carole offered her services for this final pregnancy after the couple first asked her to be their surrogate two years ago.

She says: “I initially agreed after they suffered the agony of multiple miscarriages, but in a twist of fate she then fell pregnant just before I had IVF.

"Tragically, months later, she lost her baby. By then I’d already agreed to help someone else. It was a tragic situation and we have always stayed in touch.”

Carole then also had a miscarriage – the second of her career. For a time, she lost heart.

She says: “Even though my IVF clinicians said I had the best uterus in the world, I didn’t feel I could continue as a surrogate.

"So when this couple asked me to try for them again I told them it’s more difficult now I’m older.

"But I want to help them as I know they will make wonderful parents.

“My mind was made up after I rubbed a friend’s very pregnant belly and felt, ‘Oh, I really want to be pregnant one last time’.”

For 18 days before going to Greece on Sunday, Carole took drugs including oestrogen and progesterone, folic acid, aspirin and steroids.

At the centre, which Carole has used for two other pregnancies, staff took blood tests and ultrasound scans before the embryos were implanted.

She then had an injection of hCG, a fertility drug to improve the chances of the embryos surviving.

She says: “The gynaecologist told me the embryos were ‘double A grade’– the best possible – and they felt I have an excellent chance of falling pregnant.”

If she becomes pregnant the couple will pay undisclosed expenses, which in UK law can be up to £15,000 including loss of earnings.

Carole, who divides her time between Colchester, Essex, and a six-bedroom farmhouse in Bordeaux, said: “I don’t disclose expenses, they’re private. I’m also already financially stable.”

Carole is well aware of the risks and restrictions she faces. “IVF is not allowed once you are over 50 in most places,” she said.

“Also, an IVF doctor in the UK would absolutely not treat me because as far as they’re concerned it’s dangerous.

"I was told the last time I gave birth in 2013 by doctors not to try again as it was too risky, but I know my body after having so many babies better than anyone, and I know I can do it.”

But she is willing to risk everything to give this last couple their dream.

“Everything in life carries risks,” she says.

“I know there are risks and I could die, but I could die going out in a car tomorrow.

"I plan to tell doctors beforehand that if they need to they can perform a hysterectomy as after this time I definitely won’t be doing it again – although I have said that before!”

Carole adds: “I’m aware there are people who aren’t going to agree with what I’m doing but there’s so much love and effort put into producing this baby, so how can that be wrong?

“I’m trying hard not to get too hopeful, but it would be wonderful to feel a life growing inside me, just one last time.”