I had a miracle baby at 53 but family have shunned me and pals call me selfish

Mum LYNN BEANLAND on her decision to have a child

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As I gaze into my newborn son's dark blue eyes, I can barely believe he is really here - and neither can my outraged friends and family.

Little Jude my miracle baby is the longed-for result of 11 long years of fertility problems, including eight heartbreaking miscarriages, a donor egg and £12,000 worth of IVF.

At 53, having gone through menopause, I knew I was unlikely to ever become a mother again.

But my husband Martin and I were desperate to give our 12-year-old son Jaiden a sibling, Not everyone shares our joy, though.

Furious family and friends are refusing to speak to us and have branded me selfish. Yes, I will be 71 when our little boy turns 18, but Jude will want for absolutely nothing My own sister won't talk to me now.

She's been funny about the fact we used a donor egg.

She's not been good at all. She compared me to a battery hen, told me, "You're not even pregnant." But we don't care. Martin's obviously the dad. We've got a picture of Jaiden just after he was born and a picture of Jude, and they're the spit of each other.

It wouldn't bother me if Jude was pink, blue, whatever colour; I'm just happy he's here.

And it is a miracle, because I have grown him. He's got all my blood in him. But it's how people make you feel, isn't it? Other friends have frowned at our decision to go to Cyprus to have the IVF treatment one called me a "magpie" for using another woman's egg. They said, "Don't you feel a bit like a magpie stealing eggs?" And they're my friends! M artin, also 53 and a factory worker, shares my thoughts.