Aarti Nagraj, Chennai: On Sunday, Brinda gave birth to Aakash and Hrishikesh in Chennai, setting a national record in the process. At 53, Brinda is the oldest woman in the country to bear twins.

"I am very happy. I have no words to express my joy," says the overjoyed mother.

"We have got complete support from family and friends and everyone has been very helpful," adds her husband Alagappan.

Brinda reached menopause around 10 years ago, but that didn't prevent her from wanting to bear children.

Doctors fertilised a donor's eggs with Brinda's husband's sperm in a laboratory, then inserted the embryo in the 53-year-old's uterus.

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Brinda then had a normal pregnancy, the only surprise coming when she gave birth to healthy twin boys.

Doctors say the procedure, which costs around Rs 1 lakh, is becoming increasingly popular with women nearing 50 -- the number of cases doubling every year.

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Says Medical Director, Aakash Fertility Centre, Dr Kamaraj, "Though it is ideal to have children between the age group of 20-30, theses days thanks to careers and late marriages, people delay having babies. So, they come forward for this procedure."

Doctors say the age difference between parents and children isn't likely to cause any health problems in the future. As for Brinda and Alagappan, they can barely get enough of their two little bundles of joy.