Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Octuplet obsession: Who, what, where, when and...WHY?!
editor
As we continue to read news
stories about the mother who gave birth to octuplets last week,
many of us have even more questions that begin with
"who," "what," "where,"
"when" and "why" and "how."
All of the questions are tinged with opinion and they usually go
like this:
- Who is going to help take care of these
babies? (And how are the other children doing?) Also, who foot the
bill for her in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
- What kind of doctor would implant a
single mom -- with six kids under the age of seven -- with multiple
embryos? (And who are we to even think anyone has the right to tell
a woman how many babies she can have?)
- Where were the early signs that the mom
had some
sort of obsession with having babies? (And
shouldn't someone, oh, a doctor maybe, have
noticed?)
- Why would a single woman with six very
young children, all living in Grandma's three-bedroom home
(Grandma filed for bankruptcy last year), want more kids? (Again,
who are we to judge?)Also, why doesn't the fertility specialist
who handled her IVF make himself known?
- How will the mom afford to take care of
her family? (There are reports that
her own dad is returning to work in Iraq to help provide for his
daughter's new family. Sure, it takes a village,
but that just makes me sad.)
The mom is 33-year-old Nadya Suleman and details continue to emerge
about her background. She is now a client
of the PR firm Killeen Furtney Group so they can
handle -- and profit -- from her new-found celebrity. As you can
imagine, she's
received a plethora of interview requests and offers of book
deals, all with cash attached. A mom with 14 kids
probably needs the money. How will she find the time to
handle all the activity, especially
if she's still planning to breastfeed all of her
newborns?
We know
she is an "amazing patient." We know she
wanted more kids. But she won't allow the sharing of any
details regarding her IVF. (And why should we care?)
The
ethical questions surrounding the birth of these
babies will continue to run deep and hopefully cause
the medical community to re-evaluate how they monitor fertility
clinics and specialists.
Endocrinologist
Suleena Kansal Kalra of the University of
Pennsylvania told AFP, "It's a
complete failure when something like this happens, a poor
reflection of what we do." I find this statement very
telling.
I feel that many, many more details are yet to come and sadly, I
believe we'll be even more perplexed by it all.
So Shine readers, what are your thoughts about this
"Octuplet Obsession"?
(Also, you should
check out this cute cartoon from
Shine user Devonia.)
Related: pregnancy, octuplets, in vitro fertilization
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Posted by DeAnn Tue Feb 3, 2009 11:24am PST
Personally, I blame the doctors and her parents for this one. Her mother should have ushered them out long ago - just drop them off at a shelter. Tough love is hard to give, but when you enable an addiction it only gets worse.
I blame the doctor who did the implantation because he obviously went against medical guidelines and implanted more than two. I guess she's very anti-abortion, so she didn't want all her embryos destroyed, but couldn't afford more than one more IVF treatment, so asked they all be implanted at once. Maybe it wasn't 8, and she got some identical twins or maybe even triplets out of the deal.
Still, the doctor should not have done this. It was dangerous to her health and the health of her babies.
IVF is kind of a last resort, I would think. I mean, if you want that many kids, why not adopt or take in foster kids? At least then the state would help you pay for their care. This all seems whacko and selfish to me.
The logistics of caring for so many children must be lost on her, and honestly, she does not have the ability to care for all of these children properly. Even if the grandpa comes home to help, that's one crowded house. She's going to need more room for this family, more food, and help to monitor all of these little ones.
I can't believe if you fail to clean your house properly CPS will take your kids away, but if you have no job and no place of your own you can have 14 children you can't possibly take care of without a problem. There's something wrong here.
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Posted by Devonia Tue Feb 3, 2009 11:32am PST
Multiply every mom's concerns by eight (actually 14!) was the thought that almost winded me. Then, I questioned how "fair" this was to each of the children and what effect it might have on their opportunities to experience a normal childhood. What could these doctors have been thinking of?!?!?
Awww, thanks for adding the link, Charlene. I appreciate it. I'm trying as hard as I can to engage Shine users in the fun. Shine staff is invited to participate too.
Devonia
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Posted by Not a one Tue Feb 3, 2009 11:37am PST
I wish someone could beat this lady with a bat. She's beyond selfish! I do blame the doctors too, but come on! Now she wants 2 million for interviews? That's ridiculous! She did this to herself she should have to learn to support herself! And I don't mean by getting financial aid! I, as a tax payer, do NOT want to support this stupid person and her kids.
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Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Tue Feb 3, 2009 12:11pm PST
Devonia -- you are so very welcome. It's cute! And your post was reading my mind. Also -- can you email me at shine_charleneprincebirkeland AT yahoo.com? :)
Not a one and DeAnn -- yes and yes! Your thoughts are shared my many.
Charlene
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Posted by Rowdygirl Tue Feb 3, 2009 12:13pm PST
It's probably all about the money and attention. There are so many shows on tv now glorifying huge families that she's probably looking at this as a gold mine opportunity. It seems that she may have some mental health issues along with everything else. But she's not stupid.. she's gonna get on that multiple train and let it pay for everything.
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Posted by Sandy Tue Feb 3, 2009 12:27pm PST
I could be wrong but I thought I heard this morning that her parents bought her that house and then THEY came to live with her (I'm guessing because they went bankrupt?!)
I think it's obvious now how she will afford to care for them. I'm sure she will get book deals and her own reality show. Just like the Duggars and Jon and Kate plus 8.
Why do I even care? I wonder why she would even WANT to care for that many children. I mean I find it hard right now to give all 3 of mine equal time. It takes TIME to care for them. It's a mental game. So why would she want 8 more? and all under 8 yrs. old! Still shaking my head on that one...
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Posted by Cecily Tue Feb 3, 2009 1:56pm PST
If her concern was to not abort the embryos (I absolutely feel the same way), there are adoption services for embryos!!! It's called Snowflake Adoption. They did NOT have to be implanted in HER. She's insane.
http://www.snowflakeadoption.com/
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Posted by ellen Tue Feb 3, 2009 3:18pm PST
I had five children--doctors are to blame for childrens bad health if they dont know what they are doing 9 months and delivery, .my son was5lbs 14 ounces because kept making me drastically diet;;second two he did something, one evil something wrong-at birth not enough oxogen, too much anethesia? third retarded.....I did not wanto be pregnant anymore...Catholic----two more , second doctor saw I needed duirectics--not starvation. third doctor ,younger, smarter, watchedme a nd gave me spinal----healthist and smart ,If new mothers to be would be more careful as to the doctors as they do buying anything---healthier babysand mothers. church is wrong,,,,,babies babies it is the doctors experimenting on her----not her fault,,every puts her down, those doctors should have their licenced taken==period. being a mother is good , being mistreated by doctors incompentancy and stgupidity iks a CRIME.
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Posted by DMLady Tue Feb 3, 2009 3:47pm PST
This woman's publicists have claimed that money is not the reason why she is selling her story. Just how stupid do they think the American public is???
Her publicist has regarded her as "intelligent" and "articulate". She can't be that intelligent if she is 33, already has 6 children, is unmarried, unemployed and lives with her parents in a three-bedroom home.
Why has social services not come knocking on their door, already, due to the fact that NINE people are living in a three-bedroom home???
I'm sure social services will be making A LOT of visits once the other 8 children go home.
I will surely boycott any t.v./news program, any radio program, any magazine or newspaper, any food, clothing or toy company that gives this woman (or pay her for) ANYTHING. They will lose my business and respect FOR GOOD.
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Posted by DMLady Tue Feb 3, 2009 3:49pm PST
I feel sorry for her other children. She has just robbed them of their childhood. Why? Who else do you think is going to be raising the new siblings? The mother? Ha! That's a laugh. I've read and heard countless stories of the older children who have had to step up and feed, bathe and clothe their younger siblings due to their parents negligence.
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