Well now..., octuplet family

I guess only white, middle-class people in nice homes have the right to procreate, kind of like the Duggars.
That I am sure, is what the news media is implicitly suggesting by the "facts" that they are "reporting." My understanding is that the woman was trying to protect her anonymity. Judging by some of the commentary/reaction, I'd say her instincts were right on the money.

People assuming that she is on assistance or has other kids living with other people is exactly the same as those who assume everything is "normal".

In both cases, people are assuming things based on partial information. One is not more right than the other.

It is natural for people to discuss things based on available information- even if that information may change.

I really don't care about the fertility deal IMO it's beyond ones control how many kids they get when messing with nature. I respect her for chooseing to carry all. My issue like with every mass producing family out there is the enviornmental resorces that will be used up by all thease kids when they grow into adults. That's it. As long as she's not draining the government or hurting or neglecting anyone i kinda just shake my head for mother earth and then walk away.

I read an article that said her mother apparently claimed the woman has been obsessed with children since she was a teenager. If the article is true, the grandmother of the babies is leaving before the mother gets home from the hospital

I read that too... and that all of her children were conceived through invitro fertilization (I wonder who the doctor is that implanted eight embryos into a woman with 6 children ) -- and that none of the children are her ex-husbands.

I do have to say... I think and have thought stricter regs need to be in place on fertility drugs/means... and this is a prime example...

but this story gets weirder everyday.

So the grandmother's going to leave... and the grandfather is taking a "high paying job in Iraq"... that leaves that single mom with a whole lotta kids to take care of on her own.

I dont agree that regulations should be placed on people who want to do this.
I am never for government telling me what I can and cant do.
I think this woman had every RIGHT to do what she did, but she might not have used common sense. Again my issue is that she cant possibly give each one of those 14 kids her attention and the time they need and deserve. And what if God for bid something happened to her. Who is going to take care of here babies.
I think the entire thing is rather sad. I feel sorry for the kids really.

I'm all for someone having as many children as they want. Really, I am.

This disturbs me a little bit, though. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_...icle5627531.ece

I guess a lot of people seek money out to tell "their story".

Just like the Duggars, I think it is no one's business as long as the babies are being taken care of.

However, if what I heard on the news this morning is true, then someone should lose their medical license. The news had an interview with the Grandma, who said her daughter had always been obessed with kids. She is a single Mom and had the eggs implanted with all her children. (The doner is the same for all the children). She had these last eggs implanted because she did not want her eggs destroyed. However, from what I understand from the medical professional on the news, they are not suppose to implant more than two eggs at a time. Having multiples is dangerous for the mother and the babies. If this is the case and the doctor implanted eight, then his license needs to be reviewed. I also think that in this case, counseling should have been offered before the service was provided. I am sure the doctor had a case history.

However, I would caution... the news doesn't always get all the facts straight.

On the up side, I heard that all eight babies are doing well. However, it's frightening to hear that the medical bill for all eight babies in ICU will come to nearly $3 MILLION dollars.

Update: I just finished watching an interview with the Mom's agent. Appearantly she was only trying to protect her anonymity and hasn't spoken to the media because she wants to tell her story for $2M. When the reported asked the agent if the reason she had the babies was to sell the story, the agent said he is not at liberty to give any details at this time. I hope it isn't true that she had these babies in order to sell her story.

ITA!!

Uh huh . . .

That's what I was saying yesterday. I can't believe the money issue!

That's what I was saying yesterday. I can't believe the money issue!

I read your link after I posted, it pretty much summed up the interview I saw on the news. Something just isn't right here.

That's what I was saying yesterday. I can't believe the money issue!

I read your link after I posted, it pretty much summed up the interview I saw on the news. Something just isn't right here.

I agree, and I hope I'm wrong with my thoughts, because that is a lot of children for one mother who might have "issues". I'm not saying she does, but the news makes her out to and I truly hope it's all wrong for the sake of all those children.

She might have had "the right" to do it - but 1) she is messing with God's creation - AND 2) like as IF she can pay the 3 million it's costing to take care of her babies in the ICU. At what cost to the rest of you is her right allowed? Where should the line be drawn?

The right to do something doesn't mean it's God Given. The government should have stepped in. Seriously? Some people take it too far, with all their sense of entitlement. Having the right to do something doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Especially if what i hear is true, and that she's waiting to sell her story for 2m$.

I believe that she has the RIGHT to do what she did, however, I believe that it was extremely irresponsible on her part, and the part of the Dr that preformed the procedure.
It is extremely dangerous to the babies and to the mother to be pregnant with that many. The likely hood of them surviving and having no ill effects from this were very slim. IMO it is not okay to risk the health of innocent children just to "see if it can be done" or to make a buck off of it.
The best thing that can be done now is for the general public to just ignore the whole thing and let it pass so that she can't profit off this.

Just Raygen in the NICU for 2 weeks cost right at $500,000.00. That doesnt include the c-section or me at all. That was just HER bill.

hmmm, do California tax payers have the right to refuse to pay the 3 million dollars or more it will cost them to attend to these babies that the mother made just to sell her story for 2 million dollars?
And is the mother willing to share her 2 million dollars with Cali tax payers?
I think she should get her 2 mil and then be forced to use all of it to pay off some of the ICU costs.
In principle, I certainly don't think anyone should be denied necessary health care in the US or anywhere for that matter but I do have a problem with a woman becoming a baby machine just to sell her story. 2 mil would start to pay off the NICU bill and I think it should so that people don't think this sort of thing is ok.
As for her having the right to do this or not, I guess I take a traditional Jewish opinion on this one--parents have the right to have as many kids as they can afford to feed, clothe and educate. If times get tough, that is one thing but at the time they you pop of your privates you should be able to feed, clothe and educate them on your own.
And btw, for those of you who became pg unexpectedly and perhaps weren't in the best of circumstances, I see that as very different than purposely implanting 8 embryos that you know you can't afford to feed or diaper and hoping that someone will pay you millions for your story.

Take a perhaps mentally unstable, disadvantaged woman, pop her in front of TLC on any given night where she can see two unusually large families whose financial well-being was enhanced exponentially by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their families, and you get, well you get what we have now in California. The Duggars exchanged their modest ranch home and broken down RV for a house the size of a roller rink and a gleaming new tour bus, and apparently the Gosselins moved into a new house in between their all-expense paid vacations.
This woman's a logical extension of our "reality" tv consuming, cult of motherhood, high-tech medical procedure happy, confessional culture--we made her. I don't admire her choices, I question the ethics of the doctors involved, I'm sorry for the babies, but I can't say that I'm surprised by any of it. We as a culture practically dare people to do idiotic things so we can gape and judge from the sidelines while they collect their fat paychecks.

The Duggars own commercial property that they rent out.

The Gosselin's wrote a book!

They didn't do it to make money, like this lady is seemingly doing. When Jon & Kate decided to have just "1" more they got 6. They didn't go into the dr. and say hey, can I have 6 please. The Duggars also just recently started their show in the past couple of years, their oldest child is 20 something.

This lady said HEY Jon & Kate and the Duggas have a show, Im a SINGLE PARENT I think 8 babies to add to my 6 would be SUPER! I could make money by doing this.

You are absolutely right. And I agree with many of the above statements...
you should intentionally have only the children you can care for and just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean it's right to do.
I just hope these children fare better than I expect.

Hmm, I agree with both Jeanne and Jessica in many ways, although their opinions are different.

I know nothing about the Duggars, but what I've seen of the Gosselins.....well sometimes they can make me sick. I mean I love the show, but hearing Kate talk about all their financial struggles and trying to make others who may have a lot of other kids see how they can make it just like them......uhmmmm well not everyone else with a bunch of kids get what they get. Yes, they didn't have that many kids to have a show, but they are taking every handout they can get and then making others think they can do it to. Quite frankly I think they struggle less than most of us do with a lot less kids. They don't announce on the show all the free and give-away stuff they receive just to make it. Either Kate's husband has an AWESOME salary that i have no clue on that allows him to raise a big family, kids dressing in nice clothes (a lot nicer than mine sometimes), go on vacations, etc, etc.........or they are receiving help. With the reality tv world they can make people feel like "hey if they can do it so can we" but the only way to do it is to sell your soul to the industry that will give you everything for free.

Ok, I probably got off topic. Don't mind me.

Bingo, Karen. I often wonder how the kids will feel years from now as they see themselves, particularly Maddie, whose parents make no effort to hide their disgust with her. Set up the therapist appointments now, I say....

I have to say, we all keep our children's best intrest at heart.

At the same time, yes Jon & Kate got a TON of help, with volunteers, and diapers, and clothes. My point was this lady was like HEY if I have 8 babies I can get all that, and that wasn't what the Duggars or the Gosselins did. I just feel they are being bashed for having big families.

DH and I want a big family (given how this pregnancy goes). But we will never have more than we can afford and SURELY wouldn't get pregnant hoping that we got a Huggies sponsorship out of it.

I totally understand what you mean and the difference between the families. I am ALL for big families. My dad was a part of a big family (13) and if I could afford more family and still have my life like I want it I'd have more too. It's a personal choice how many one wants, how much they want their life to change, etc. I just think profiting from it even after you've decided to have a lot of kids (and didn't do it for the money to begin with) is sort of wrong in my eyes. I know most would not agree with that, and I understand that and that's ok with me. And of course I am basing a lot of my opinions on speculation, which I know is not right by any means. My grandparents had 13 kids and didn't seek out the attention some of these big families do and get. My grandmother died when the youngest was 6. I think my grandpa's struggle to raise 13 kids by himself (well 2 of them died at birth so 11) would make a great story as well, especially since he became disabled and couldn't work to financially raise his family. Unfortunately like Jeanne said, WE make it happen along with the industry, and when I say WE I mean me as well.