At first, I didn’t believe Nadya Suleman, the infamous mother of octuplets. No doctor would have the gall to transfer more than two embryos into a 33-year-old woman, right?
My initial guess was that she had pulled a Bobbi McCaughey. While trying to conceive, McCaughey took Pergonal and became the mother of septuplets, born in 1997. She did not have an ultrasound to determine how many eggs were waiting for the sperm.
As a result, McCaughey had seven premature babies, one with hypotonic quadriplegia and one with spastic diplegia. The situation seemed avoidable if she’d been under the care of a responsible reproductive endocrinologist who could have warned her against trying to conceive that particular month.
I’ve since learned that Pergonal was not to blame for Suleman’s conception. She did indeed have six embryos implanted by in vitro fertilization (IVF), two of which split, creating eight premature babies who may suffer a host of problems (including heart and brain defects).
If you purposely create more than one child in utero, there’s a good chance they’re going to have to come out early. Who in the world would wish prematurity upon their children? And what physician would consent to a massive embryo transfer?
The parents in my community have been discussing this situation almost nonstop since the story broke. While everyone agrees that Suleman made a terrible decision and her complicit doctor should be punished, no one can agree what the guidelines should be. Here are some of the suggestions:
“How about no IVF after three kids?”
Sounds responsible. But then I think of the well-to-do mother whose fourth child (an IVF baby) takes swim lessons with my daughter. Would I deny her the right to a fourth child just because she is over 35 and her reproductive system stopped cooperating?
“You have to show you can financially support your embryos before you create them.”
But if this were the case for natural conception, so many kids wouldn’t be here today. And the bills related to assisted reproductive technology (ART) tend to drain the savings accounts of even the most fiscally responsible parents. Most insurance companies don’t cover ART, acting as an artificial barrier to prevent low-income women from conceiving through IVF.
Comments (17)
This was totally crazy! Where do we draw the line when it comes to things of this nature? She clearly is in no position to have and care for these babies. Most of my friends and I have discussed this story, we all agree that this should not have been allowed. Each situation is different, but reason needs to play the biggest part in this choice, for it is a huge resposiblity to care for more than one child at a time, especially when they have health problems from the very beginning of their lives.
Thanks for your comment, Holly. I wonder what a reasonable solution IS! Legislating morality is so difficult and possibly futile, but so many of us feel the something has got to change to prevent this type of thing from happening in the future.
First of all, nice article Erica. This one has been on my mind as well…
Honestly, I think no matter how old, no more than 2 embryos should be allowed to be implanted. Actually, that IS a law here in Germany to avoid exactly these situations. I’m sorry, but try IVF a couple of times and if it does not work, then it is not meant to be. There are other options. Adoption, for example. Upping the chances by implanting more than 2 is irresponsible.
I’m glad I am not the only one struggling with this situation! It is very hard to judge what should be right or wrong concerning this matter. Two embryos, only, would be a great start to help with this. Having twins is a very intense, stressful situation, why would you purposely have more than two babies, knowing the dangers that can follow? I have a friend who just had twin girls earlier this month, not thru IVF, they are perfect! But the mom knows what is in store for her and the girls, lots of work, and twice the love!! She and her husband have already decided that they are done with having babies, they are greatful for the gifts God has given them, but don’t want to push the issue any further, for twins run on both sides of their families.
I only get “ugly” with the situation when I/we as taxpayers have to pay for other peoples selfishness/mistakes. Have all the babies you want as long as the taxpayers DON’T have to pay for them!!!!
This is crazy. Why would you want to do this to yourself and your kids? I dont understand.
I’ve had IVF done in both the UK and Canada. Both countries only allow a maximum of 2 embryos at one time until the age of 38+ and then they will allow 3(I think that is the age, but not sure). People who deal with infertility are desperate…these controls are in place to protect the mother and yet-to-be-born children. Why is the USA so far behind?
I had invitro performed 3 years ago, in NC. When I was having the workup for the procedure (at the time I was 32), the clinic wanted to place 4 embryos, and for me to have a selective reduction on 2 embryos if I got pregnant with all 4. I made it clear, that if I got pregnant with quadruplets, I would NOT have an abortion. We elected to have 3 embryos placed. That was a personal decision. On the first attempt, it worked, and I became pregnant with triplets. I was overwhelmed. But happy. I lost one child after 10 weeks. If I had all 3, I would have been okay. But I have 2 beautiful boys out of the process. During our workup, one of our FIRST appts, was with a psychiatrist. Obviously, in her case, she did not have to meet one!!!
I don’t think that the fertility specialist should get into determining whether you can pay for a child or not, before he decides to implant embryos, but I do believe she has an obsession with being pregnant and having children that is unnatural. There should be some guideline, some limit, as to how many embryos, in a healthy, young adult we should be placing. Especially if you won’t have an abortion. Its an ethical issue that has the world, and the fertility community talking… and its about time.
Nadya told Dr. Phil that she tried to adopt but they would not allow it because she had no job, no money, was single, and no home (that SHE owned or rented). But still she wanted one more…However, she had six at home and two of those are disabled. I understand the quandary over legislating morality, but this was clearly a bad plan from the start. BEFORE she had this last round of IVF she was jobless, single, in a home that was thousands of dollars behind in mortgage payments, and her most obvious support (her parents) begged her and her doctor not to do this. I think that there should be some counseling involved before women are allowed to undergo IVF, just as if they were adopting. If a desperate situation for any child can be avoided, it should be. Those sweet babies were foisted into this turmoil and no other delusional woman should be allowed to intentionally introduce children into a life of constant struggle.
Shana, I did hear of this. Her mom is not happy about this! Her parents have been supporting her for quite a while, I bet they are just tired. Also, CNN said that family services was checking into removing the children from her care, even though she is the birth mother. There has been alot of noise over this. Most are very concerned for her well-being as well as all the children. Counseling would be a great place to start when you are thinking of having IVF, no matter your situation.
I think the doctor that was so eager to have her carry her babies, should be arrested and have his licensed revoked. He should buy her a home, pay for all medical bills, clothing, food a new car and all things she will ever need.
What???? 8 babies and the doctor Never once thought about her, the mother of six children already. I blame the doctor, he was looking for a Name and noteriety for Himself. This is all about the Doctor.
Now, this dear young woman carried 8 babies, did not abort Thank God for that and suffers the lost of al lof her children if she Doesnt find work , work she has 14 children to raise thats WORK. but someone especially her nutty doctor should have made the decision knowing that she was incapable at the time. its the doctor’s fault!!!!!!
Been there done that…You have the best solution of all. Yes, the USA is slow to learn and doesn’t seem to help out in matters such as this one. I will continue to pray for her and Bless those beautiful 14 children.
I just keep thinking; what will she do when she is out of diapers, or formula? Will she get it then?
I think it should be like adopting, there should be rules…if they did not see her fit to adopt then why in the world would it be ok for her to have so many children? I don’t know much about this but from what i’ve heard it isn’t cheap…so if this woman has no job and lives with her parents how did she pay for it? 2 embryos should be the limit, plus you should need a job or some kind of income and your own home to raise your children. I think DCF should take her children from her…there is no way a single mom could take care of all those children and not lose her mind. I have 2 children of my own (5 month boy and 2 year old girl) and 2 step chilren (3 year old girl and 7 year old boy) …sometimes I feel like i’m going to go crazy and they are all healthy kids! I feel for her parents because you know they are probably doing most of the work when it comes to the children, and I feel for the chilren…if they stay with their mother and grandparents it’s going to be like being raised in a daycare.
I have 5 children, with 1 on the way. I think this woman has mental issues. I’m a stay at home mom and my boyfriend works. There are days when I wish I can crawl under a rock. But my kids have never been left with anyone. If she couldn’t do it with the six she had? I don’t see why they would let her keep the eight. I pray for those children!
I am a mother of 3 boys as well as an OB/GYN RN. I have seen a lot of diverse situations & my most bizarre was when I had a 60 (you read that right) – 60 year old post partum mom. This woman had taken hormones in every way possible to reverse her menopause & “ripen’ her uterus. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy with the aid of donated eggs as well as IVF. Do I think this should have been taken to the Ethics Committee?? You bet! This woman has subjected a fetus to untold amounts of hormones which, as we all know, drive cancer cells. Who knows what the long term health risks to this boy will be?? Who knows if his mother will be alive to take him to Kindergarten?? Further the MD responsible for this?? He no longer did deliveries. Poor guy – he had an injured back (Do you hear violins playing?) – anyway, the entire situation was monetarily driven & it makes me ill thinking of the potential consequences. It is roughly the same ETHICAL scenario as the Octo-Mom and I just want to know when the focus will be on irresponsible MDs??
I’m a neonatal ICU nurse. I’ve seen some very ugly results from multiple pregnancies esp due to IVF. Any or all of those babies could have been severely handicapped (maybe they are, we don’t really know. Wait’ll they start school) I’m talking about wheelchair- and respirator dependent, not to mention severely mentally retarded. Either that mother hasn’t a clue, or she’s just too selfish and immature to see beyond her own needs. At any rate, you and I will be supporting those kids, no matter what the mother says.