Britain's most prolific surrogate mum, Jill Hawkins, 45, has given birth to her eighth child, and told reporters:
'If I could still conceive I would keep going'.
Miss Hawkins, has, however revealed the pregnancy has taken its toll mentally and physically, and that she will not be having any more children:
'I'm secretly pleased I've got the British title of most prolific surrogate mother,' she says, but added: 'After previous pregnancies I've bounced back so quickly. Usually I'm out of hospital in two hours and I'm getting back on with my life. But not this time. I don't know how long it's going to take me to perk back up again. I've got a feeling that I've reached my limit. This has topped out all the others.'
Miss Hawkins, who is single, and soon to turn 46, said that being pregnant gives her a 'purpose'.
'I will miss it because it makes me feel needed. Being pregnant has given me a purpose. Now I will have to find something else to do.'
She has never kept any of the children she has given birth to, but maintains contact with all of them. Her Brighton flat has pictures of all eight of her babies, the oldest of whom is now 18.
During her pregnancies over the past nineteen years Miss Hawkins has suffered from clinical depression and once attempted suicide with a drug overdose. She insists now that her problems are behind her: 'Some people would ask why I keep having babies when I'm supposed to have got over depression and am supposed to be happy with my life,' she said, ''As soon as I had the baby I felt like having another one. It's the urge I can't get away from. But I've been really ill and I'm having no more and I really mean it.'
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