Mother of Octuplets Has 6 Other Children

[TitsMcGee]

WHITTIER, California — The woman who gave birth to octuplets this week has six other children and never expected to have eight more when she took fertility treatment, her mother said.

Angela Suleman said her daughter expects a big challenge raising 14 children. The good news, she said, is all the babies appear healthy.

"I looked at those babies. They are so tiny and so beautiful," Suleman told The Los Angeles Times on Thursday.

Suleman's daughter gave birth to the octuplets Monday at a hospital in Bellflower but has requested that doctors keep her name confidential. Media knew little about the woman until a family acquaintance told CBS' "The Early Show" on Thursday that the mother is "fairly young" and lives with her parents and her six children.

Within hours, media had camped out at the family's home in Whittier, where the babies' grandfather pulled up in a minivan in the evening and briefly spoke to The Associated Press. Beside him were two children — a 7-year-old and 6-year-old — who said they were excited to have eight new siblings.

But the grandfather warned that media may have a tougher time finding the family after the babies are released from the hospital.

"We have a huge house, not here," said the man, who would only identify himself as Ed. "You are never going to know where it is."

The mother also has two children, ages 5 and 3, and 2-year-old twins, neighbors told the Times.

Suleman said her daughter had embryos implanted last year, and after finding out she was pregnant with multiple babies was given the option by doctors of selectively reducing the number of embryos. The woman declined.

"What do you suggest she should have done? She refused to have them killed," Suleman told the Times. "That is a very painful thing."

Dr. Harold Henry said the woman was already pregnant when she came to Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center, and she was counseled about the risks of her pregnancy and on the option of aborting some of the fetuses. Doctors had been expecting only seven babies, but an eighth was born in the cesarean delivery.

The six boys and two girls, the second octuplets born alive in the United States, have garnered worldwide attention as media have attempted to find out more about the mother and her family. Hours after media gathered outside the Whittier home, Kaiser issued a statement on behalf of the mother requesting privacy.

"Please know, in our own time, we will share additional details about this miraculous experience," the statement read. "The babies continue to grow strong everyday and make good progress. My family and I are ecstatic about all of their arrivals. Needless to say the eighth was a surprise to us all, but a blessing as well."

Dr. Mandhir Gupta said seven of the babies were breathing without assistance. One was still receiving oxygen through a tube in his nose.

Seven of the infants were being tube-fed donated breast milk. One of the boys was expected to begin feedings Friday.

All babies continued to receive an intravenous nutritional combination. They were expected to remain in the hospital for several more weeks.

Some fertility specialists have said the children face increased health risks because they are octuplets and born nine weeks premature. At birth, they ranged between 1 pound, 8 ounces and 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Doctors say they advise against higher-order births, but acknowledge the decision is not theirs to make.

"Who am I to say that six is the limit?" said Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, medical director of Fertility Institutes, which has clinics in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City. "There are people who like to have big families."

Dr. James Grifo, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the NYU School of Medicine, added: "I don't think it's our job to tell them how many babies they're allowed to have. I am not a policeman for reproduction in the United States. My role is to educate patients."

What this article doesn't tell you is that this woman is also on welfare and doesn't work. The babies father is an Iraqi citizen who had gone back to Iraq to find work to support his family. I just love the fact she's on welfare already had 6 kids and somehow could afford in-vitro.

Fucking ridiculous.

[TygerLili]

What the hell was she doing taking fertility treatments if she already had a bunch of kids?

I'm mostly against the use of fertility treatments anyway, but in this case: ridiculous.

[TitsMcGee]

What the hell was she doing taking fertility treatments if she already had a bunch of kids?

I'm mostly against the use of fertility treatments anyway, but in this case: ridiculous.

I wanna know what doctor would implant 8 embryos into a woman. Usually they only implant 2-3.

[Rayne]

I wanna know what doctor would implant 8 embryos into a woman. Usually they only implant 2-3.

Maybe that's how she could afford it?

Doesn't sound like a professional to me. *shrug*

[Rayne]

What the hell was she doing taking fertility treatments if she already had a bunch of kids?

I'm mostly against the use of fertility treatments anyway, but in this case: ridiculous.

There's lots of reasons why a woman would take fertility treatments after she already had "a bunch of kids", although I think this case isn't what I'm used to hearing about.

I see a fertility doctor, regarding my issues. He's one of the most regarded Reproductive Specialists in the area and no one can seem to figure out what is wrong with me. His office is located in the Fertility Center.

Even after the birth of children, a woman's fertility system can start to fail and just not work anymore. Fertility treatments are often turned to.

However, most of the cases I have heard of are families with 3 or 4 wanting just one more ... which to me, doesn't sound like a bad deal. You have 3 - 4 kids already, most of the necessities are taken care of. There's very little to buy and if your feeding 3 - 4 kids already, one more isn't that much of a change.

... Of course, these are families who are not on welfare. These are mostly upper middle - upper class people who can dish out the money for the treatments in the first place ... and usually have a nanny.

[taysteewonderbunny]

Wow. A woman receiving welfare and currently has six kids gets fertility treatments to get more, yet responsible women looking for affordable birth control are denied federal assistance? That does not make sense!

[Der Nister]

Wow. A woman receiving welfare and currently has six kids gets fertility treatments to get more, yet responsible women looking for affordable birth control are denied federal assistance? That does not make sense!

We can't go around helping responsible people in need of assistance that would just be ludichrist. I much prefer our system throwing my tax dollars at irresponsible men/women that already can't take care of themselves and want to have more children. Other than the ones they already have and can't afford to take care of.

Otherwise I just can't sleep at night.

[jynxxxedangel]

Perhaps she is planning on starting a "puppy mill" as a small business venture.. *straight face*

I came across this news in the other thread HH started-- and I sure called it, didn't I? It seems these people always want handouts to support their large litters.

[taysteewonderbunny]

We can't go around helping responsible people in need of assistance that would just be ludichrist. I much prefer our system throwing my tax dollars at irresponsible men/women that already can't take care of themselves and want to have more children. Other than the ones they already have and can't afford to take care of.

Otherwise I just can't sleep at night.

I think all those uber-conservative Christians might be worried that the poor are diminishing in number and there might not be any meek left to inherit the Earth. Sorry, that is very sarcastic of me, I know. And I can understand not wanting to promote 'fornication' or abortion, but because I live in this life and not the next one, I am forced to confront greater evils and can not imagine that there is real harm on letting women in poverty get gynelogical care and/or free pills, IUDs, implants, tubal ligations, condoms, help and advice using the rhythm method, spermicides or even chastity belts if they so desire them.

[TitsMcGee]

I think all those uber-conservative Christians might be worried that the poor are diminishing in number and there might not be any meek left to inherit the Earth. Sorry, that is very sarcastic of me, I know. And I can understand not wanting to promote 'fornication' or abortion, but because I live in this life and not the next one, I am forced to confront greater evils and can not imagine that there is real harm on letting women in poverty get gynelogical care and/or free pills, IUDs, implants, tubal ligations, condoms, help and advice using the rhythm method, spermicides or even chastity belts if they so desire them.

Makes you want to pull your hair out doesn't it.

[Reaper]

My question is, how is she going to give attention to 14 kids? Kids, esp in their young age need as much attention they can get. What happens if they can't get it? They throw tantrums and grow to not have the skills of communicating except through screaming and tantrums. Either that, they grow up to be very needy.

[candyman]

My question is, how is she going to give attention to 14 kids? Kids, esp in their young age need as much attention they can get. What happens if they can't get it? They throw tantrums and grow to not have the skills of communicating except through screaming and tantrums. Either that, they grow up to be very needy.

Medical experiments...the whole lot of them...its the only way

[Destroit]

Medical experiments...the whole lot of them...its the only way

Exactly, they already had the answer in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" .

[Oh_My_Goth]

I have expressed me discontent here with people having to many kids many times before, so I will leave it at

[candyman]

Exactly, they already had the answer in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" .

Damn Catholics! They do put together a great song and dance scene at the drop of a hat though...you gotta give them that as a plus...ah shit that was a movie...

[Goth Brooks]

This is why I'd like legal limits on births.

China has it wrong, but is still on the right track.

[freydis]

[tanuki1985]

Wow. A woman receiving welfare and currently has six kids gets fertility treatments to get more, yet responsible women looking for affordable birth control are denied federal assistance? That does not make sense!

Yeah, that's pretty fucking stupid that this kind of bullshit is even allowed. Like we need more freeloaders in this damn world.

Another thing I don't understand is how someone can take fertility treatments and get fame through it. If that's the case, then hell, I'll go get treated and pop out an assload of tanuki cubs so that I can make it in the newspaper. I'm more amazed at natural multiple births, not artificially induced ones. Then again, I'm not an easy person to impress, so that could have something to do with it.

Carry on...

[TitsMcGee]

Apperently there isn't even a father in the situation from what I'm seeing in stories now. She got a sperm donor. It's HER father that is in Iraq trying to find work.

[wormsinwombs]

I already thought it was really outrageous that she was a single mom who had six kids to begin with wanted to have more but when I found out she didn't have a job I just couldn't believe it, I'm so disgusted.

[wormsinwombs]

OMG wait it's her father O.O I thought it was just a "friend"

[Rev.Reverence]

Whole new level of idiot....

.....they are breeding an Army perhaps???NWO anyone???

[StormKnight (1)]

Supposedly she has a 168K in benefits from being disabled in a psychiatric ward fight. Don't know if that is a one time or annual payment. Still short of the $1.4 million (14 children x $100,000 per child average) it will take to raise all of them from birth to college age in this nation. And the octuplets are already going to be more than that (being premature, staying long term in the Neonatal ICU, and having risk for multiple medical issues in the future.)

After reading some of the interviews online, it appears this woman has some serious uncontrolled psychiatric issues that might not be conducive to raising a child, let alone 14.

[TitsMcGee]

Supposedly she has a 168K in benefits from being disabled in a psychiatric ward fight. Don't know if that is a one time or annual payment. Still short of the $1.4 million (14 children x $100,000 per child average) it will take to raise all of them from birth to college age in this nation. And the octuplets are already going to be more than that (being premature, staying long term in the Neonatal ICU, and having risk for multiple medical issues in the future.)

After reading some of the interviews online, it appears this woman has some serious uncontrolled psychiatric issues that might not be conducive to raising a child, let alone 14.

I love how those disability payments were for a back injury. And during the time she was getting the payments she had the the first 6 kids. So much for back pain...

[taysteewonderbunny]

I love how those disability payments were for a back injury. And during the time she was getting the payments she had the the first 6 kids. So much for back pain...

Maybe it was back labor.