Heroic grandmother, 67, becomes the world's oldest surrogate mother

A 67-year-old grandmother has become the world's oldest surrogate mother after carrying her daughter's child. 

Anastassia Ontou gave birth to a baby girl, who weighed 2.6lbs after being born six weeks premature via a Caesarean section.

She made the decision to carry the child after her daughter, who had seven failed pregnancy attempts, was told she would never be able to conceive.  

The doctor who helped to deliver the baby described Ms Ontou as 'heroic' and admitted he initially had reservations. He only went ahead following a court ruling. 

Ms Ontou's daughter admitted she thought her mother was 'crazy' when she offered to carry the child.  

'I feel more like a grandmother than a mother,' Ms Ontou, from a village near Larissa, central Greece, said after giving birth on Tuesday.

Constantinos Pantos, Ms Ontou's doctor, said it was the first time a court ruling approving the pregnancy had been issued.  

He told state television ERT: 'This is a heroic grandmother.

'Based on international records, this is the oldest surrogate mother who is also a grandmother, based on her daughter's medical condition.'

Her daughter, Constantina, 43, who had seven failed pregnancy attempts, said she thought her mother was 'crazy' when she offered to carry the child.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the previous oldest surrogate mother was 66 years and 358 days old.

Maria del Carmen Bousada Lara, from Spain, gave birth to her twin boys almost a decade ago. However, she passed away from cancer in 2009.  

She admitted lying about her age to receive fertility treatment in the US.

Earlier this year an Indian woman became the oldest mother in the world, giving birth at the age of 72. 

Daljinder Kaur had a child after two years of IVF treatment at a fertility clinic and said she was not too old to become a first-time mother. 

It is thought she is the oldest woman in the world to give birth - taking the mantle from Rajo Devi Lohan - who was 70 when she gave birth to daughter Naveen.

The baby was conceived using the couple's own egg and sperm, the news agency AFP reported.