The 63-year-old child psychiatrist set to become Britain's oldest mother appeared to take controversy in her stride yesterday, saying she was very happy to be pregnant but requesting privacy for the sake of the family life she and her husband were hoping to enjoy.

"We are delighted with the pregnancy. We just want you to know that we take our responsibilities to our child very seriously and we wish now to be allowed privacy and space," said Patricia Rashbrook at her house in Lewes, East Sussex. The consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and her husband, John Farrant, 61, had gone to the former Soviet Union, where they were treated in November by the controversial Italian doctor Severino Antinori, who is most famous for vowing to clone a baby.

"The case of the English woman gave me great joy," Dr Antinori said yesterday. He said Dr Rashbrook, who is seven months pregnant, was perfect for the treatment - although she was 62 when she was implanted with an embryo from a donated egg, she had a biological age of 45, he said. "The couple love each other, she is slim, blonde and in perfect condition, she fits all the criteria for maternity. She should live for at least 20 to 25 years - we are not giving birth to an orphan," he said.

Earlier, in a statement, the couple said they did not think it appropriate to discuss details of their circumstances. It added: "We wish however to emphasise that this has not been an endeavour undertaken lightly or without courage, that a great deal of thought has been given to ... providing for the child's present and future wellbeing, medically, socially and materially."