Octuplets' Mom "Obsessed" With Having Kids

Her Mom Says All 14 Of Unmarried Daughter's Children Resulted From In-Vitro; Ethics Debate Rages On

(CBS/AP)  The woman who gave birth to octuplets this week conceived all 14 of her children through in-vitro fertilization, is not married, and has been obsessed with having children since she was a teenager, her mother said.

Angela Suleman told The Associated Press she was not supportive when her daughter, Nadya Suleman, decided to have more embryos implanted last year.

"It can't go on any longer," she said in a phone interview Friday. "She's got six children and no husband. I was brought up the traditional way. I firmly believe in marriage. But she didn't want to get married."

CBS News had been respecting the stated wishes of the family not to identify Nadya Suleman, but her family supplied her name for The AP to make public.

Nadya Suleman, 33, gave birth Monday in nearby Bellflower. She was expected to remain in the hospital for at least a few more days, and her newborns for at least a month.

A spokeswoman at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center said the babies were doing well and seven were breathing unassisted.

The news that the octuplets' mother already had six children sparked an intense ethical debate. Some medical experts were disturbed to hear that she was offered fertility treatment, and troubled by the possibility that she was implanted with so many embryos.

Her fertility doctor has not been identified.

Dr. Mark Surrey, a fertility expert, told Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman that it is irresponsible and medically risky to implant eight embryos. "(Any doctor who would do that) should be criticized, censured, and professionally reviewed," Surrey said.

"I don't know of anyone who would applaud this as a good outcome," said Surrey, adding that it was fortunate that all eight babies survived.

“I completely agree with Dr. Surrey," Dr. James Grifo, Program Director at the New York University Fertility Center and one of the nation's top infertility specialists, told Early Show Saturday Edition co-anchor Erica Hill. "I know no physician who would put eight embryos in a patient. We don't do that, because of the risks. Our goal as practitioners is to help patients have a healthy offspring.

"Single pregnancies, where a single baby is born, are the best outcome. And those alone are risky. When you have twins, you add more risk. And when you have triplets, it's even more risk, and it’s logarithmic the number of babies."

Other medical experts worried that she would be overwhelmed trying to raise so many children and would end up relying on public support.

But Grifo said, "As a doctor, you treat infertility. It's not clear that this patient was infertile. Infertility is defined as a year of trying without being able to get pregnant. Whether someone has one baby, no babies, or six babies, if they tried for a year to get pregnant and meet the criteria for infertility, we then treat them.

"But we don't start with in-vitro fertilization treatment. Someone like this may get pregnant with much simpler treatments that have less risk and less chance of multiples. I don't know the story, but it does not make sense.

"Most of us in this situation, a woman under 35, would only put two embryos back, except in the extreme example of a patient who’s failed multiple attempts. We might put a third embryo in that situation. But I don't know people putting six embryos back."

The Sulemans moved to Whittier, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, after they declared bankruptcy and abandoned a home elsewhere, Kauffman has reported.

Perhaps, Kauffman suggests, they were trying to keep a low profile, but there's no chance of that now: Every move they make outside their home is caught on tape.

At one point, Kauffman points out, Nadya Suleman's father got into a testy exchange with reporters.

"(Nadya's) fine," he said. "The babies are fine, everybody's fine, except us -- because of you! That's all!"

He insists the delivery of octuplets wasn't the plan, saying, "She did not seek to have more children. She thought she was going to have one more child."

[angelmollie]

Dear Sandra,
Congrats on having 8. Did you name them. I'm really praying for you. People can be so cruel. What sexes are the infants? I was just wondering would you be interested in giving any up for adoption, I can't have children. And if your willing I'd love to adopt two girls they'd be going to a very loving Christian home. We live in Millersburg PA. Well good luck to you and your infants and children in the future. God bless you and your family and keep you all safe. fostermom

[tiffynme]

i feel that if she can have babies more power to her and i think everybody needs to leaver and them kids alone i feel that hospital should have to release them children them babies needs their mother not them ur doing really good keep up the good wrk nidya i wouldnt listen to wut other ppl think of u if u can raise them kids into young adults then i say go for it best wishes to u im behind u 100%

[skyking310-2009]

Nadya Suleman is raked over the coals at this guy''s blog:

http://amccright.blogspot.com/

[hamiltongrad]

Barbara M: You make good points but I think you do not have a global view. World wide there are villages, communities and tribal cultures that are far more advanced than ours, in terms of group / community/symbiotic dirrections of care. This is a moniker for change, a pulling together of a local and national community.
How can there be ? 6 babies ? too many. I doubt that this miracle would be treated as anyting other than fantastic in most of the world.

[barbaram99]

Ehe lession here is the welfare of the children. it is costly today . To be good care takers of the earth we have to be mindful of that. We don''t need large families today, The children are here. It is important we take care of the ones here. Too often the only reason they have a child is to get state aid, I won''t buy anything that this woman pushes. Any moneys she makes off it should go the children. If woman was meant to have more than 2 babies at time we would have more than 2 breasts to nusre them.

[hamiltongrad]

For all of you who wonder how the heck will she take care of all these children, haven''t you walked through a children''s park and seen all the children happily being watched and taken care of neighbors and other older kids ? A village, it takes. We have all become way too isolated. As a Professor of Women''s studies, I also note a tone of frustration, don''t worry the chances of you being up all night is not great. Hooray !

[hamiltongrad]

I personally can''t wait to see this woman on TV, how did she endure the long months, not knowing if her children would make it "ok". It is obvious that she has a deep religious belief and tradition, that no life is not special.

[barbaram99]

I have read every one say. It not the the number of children here but the care each needs. Will the lady be able to address those needs. She has wanted children from teenhood. I have even heard little girls remark they can''t wait to bear children,they are a living thing. I had the sense not to had children I could not care for. I demanded tubes be fixed. Drs, hate doing that.

[worldlywoman]

I feel the mother of the children should be monitored,by a family specialist.This could be very tragic if the "obsession" she is claimed to heve with children ,takes a negative turn.I also feel the medical community should really have stricter rules,even if there is lack of judgement on the patient''s part.They share in this behavior also!

[mdalerwill]

And the world is just going to fall off its axis because you decided not to spend $3.95.
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Posted by CloverNYC at 06:14 PM : Feb 03, 2009

She''s not getting my $3.95, either, so we''re up to $7.90 just off two people, just assuming one magazine story. The overwhelming majority of posters on the three news sites I''ve been following won''t support her by purchasing products related to her either. It could add up very nicely, and I hope it does.

[clovernyc]

I will boycott any form of media that interviews her, just change the channel and not buy any magazine that she is in.
Posted by MissSuZQ at 11:53 AM : Feb 03, 2009
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And the world is just going to fall off its axis because you decided not to spend $3.95.

The fact that we are all contributing copiously to this discussion is proof positive that most of us will be glued to the tv like millions of other Americans. Hypocrisy is so ugly.

We as Americans do not get to decide where our tax dollars will go. Tax payers who do not support abortion still pay taxes that go to pay the abortionists and the teachers who dispense condoms to our high school children.

Democracy means you get to cast a vote - it does not mean you get to decide who should have babies and who should not.

The point is that she had the babies - all eight of them - and they will need to be cared for period.

All the ranting in the world will not change the fact that there are 14 children in Bellflower who will need to be clothed, fed, and educated.

[mdalerwill]

People still arguing over this, huh? Okay, I''ll get some people upset again. Yes, it is this woman''s legal right to have children. No, I don''t want my tax dollars paying for it. No, I *don''t* think it''s okay so long as she can support them. This woman has single-handedly produced enough offspring to use up enough food, water, fuel, energy, etc for *three generations* of a more responsible family. With luck, technological advances will help offset the costs of overpopulation in the world...provided we don''t gobble up all the resources we''ve got before we can develop the technology. Don''t pass laws regarding child-bearing, but do tell people like this that their behavior is *not* acceptible and refuse to buy her book, watch her tv show, or purchase products from companies sponsoring her breeding addiction.

[hamiltongrad]

Isn''t time to forget all this blaming ?

[clovernyc]

never trust anything that bleeds for days and does not die
Posted by inDAmiddle at 03:28 PM : Feb 02, 2009
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Proof positive that women are amazing indestructible creatures!

[clovernyc]

My husband and I are a childless couple by choice
Posted by pianousa at 03:41 AM : Feb 03, 2009
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The key phrase here is ''by choice'' Where does it read in the Constitution that Americans are only allowed to have children they can afford?

You CHOSE not to have children. This woman chose otherwise, and she has just as much right to have as many children as she desires as you have the right to remain childless.

You and the rest of the whining vicious ranters and muslim haters have forgotten that this is America, and here we take care of the poor and those in need.

[barbaram99]

This is 2009. not 1776. We have sep of church and state in America. ''member that. Jesus would be told that same thing if HE lived here. I had the sense to not have . Wechildren I could not care and give a home. That what Jesus would have me do. He knows I am a legally blind person with c/p. Iam 54. Lass, we all pay to educate them even us that don''t have children in the school systems.

[tadashidavis]

Let''s put religion aside, first of all, it is not a responsible thing to have kids that you will clearly not be able to finance, regardless the number. The government and taxpayers will be footing the bill for this immature behavior. This is not a joy this is a calling out. She may have mental issues and no one addressed this. I believe due to her immaturity she should sign a waiver stating she will not seek state help to raise her kids.

[debbie-debsk]

TO THE READERS WHO ARE NEGITIVE OF NAYDA HAVING "A LITTER." CHILDEN EVER HOW THEY COME INTO THIS WORLD ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. WHO ARE YOU TO BE JUDGE AND JURY OF HER. YOU SPIT VENTOM, FROM CALLING HER CRAZY,NEEDING A SHINK, HER HEAD SHOULD BE CUT OFF, HER CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM HER, IT GOES ON AND ON. IF IT''S YOUR DECISION TO ABORT YOUR CHILDREN AND YES WE THE TAX PAYERS WILL PAY FOR THIS TOO IF NEED BE, DON''T DICTATE TO ME OR ANY BODY ELSE HOW MANY CHILDREN ONE CHOSES TO HAVE. THIS FAMILY NEEDS MUCH PRAYER. I DISAGREE HAVING ANY CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK BUT, PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES EVERYDAY RIGHT AND WRONG. I MYSELF HAVE MADE SOME, YOU? IT''S A MIRICAL THESE PRECIOUS BABIES ALL SURVIVED. THIS FAMILY NEED OUR PRAYERS. COMMENTS OF ANY KIND WILL NOT CHANGE THE FACT, THE BABIES ARE HERE. ANYONE WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFRENCE, LEARN TO LOVE MUCH, AND PRAY OFTEN, THIS WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFRENCE, EACH ONE REACHING ONE,FOR YOU,FOR ME, FOR NAYA,THE OTHER SIBLINGS, HER PARENTS, AND NOT LAST, THE BABIES. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? WE ALL WILL STAND BEFORE GOD GREAT AND SMALL. IF THIS IS ALL THIS WOMANS SIN IS, HAVING 14 CHILDREN, WOW! I THANK GOD I WILL STAND BEFORE GOD, AND NOT YOU! THINK ABOUT IT!

[hamiltongrad]

I am amazed at the hostility that simple desire for family has in America 2009. Our forefathers had large extended families, "it took a village" to raise a child, back then, why not now ?

[american30]

Well why shouldn''t all us women do it. I mean now that we have Obama the government will support us we can get all kinds of help and don''t forget free health insurance too because it is a right not a privelage!
Go Democrats