Suleman octuplets explained

Birth Name:
  • Noah Angel Solomon
  • Maliyah Angel Solomon
  • Isaiah Angel Solomon
  • Nariyah Angel Solomon
  • Jonah Angel Solomon
  • Makai Angel Solomon
  • Josiah Angel Solomon
  • Jeremiah Angel Solomon
Birth Date:26 January 2009
Birth Place:Bellflower, California, U.S.
Known:First known surviving set of octuplets

The Suleman octuplets are six male and two female children conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and subsequently born to Nadya Suleman on January 26, 2009, in Bellflower, California. Residing in Lancaster, California, they are the first known octuplets to survive their infancy. The extremely controversial circumstances of their high-order multiple birth have led to debates in the field of assisted reproductive technology and an investigation by the Medical Board of California of the fertility specialist involved in the case.[1]

Background

Conception

Suleman's octuplets were conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) conducted by Dr. Michael Kamrava. Suleman claimed to have requested the transfer of six embryos that she had accumulated from previous IVF treatments, despite being informed that the recommended guideline limit for a woman her age was three.[1] She stated she wanted all six transferred, as they were all that remained from previous harvest cycles, and she neither wanted to destroy them nor to continue paying for their frozen storage.[2] A subsequent Medical Board of California investigation revealed that 29 embryos remained in frozen storage; nevertheless, Suleman underwent a fresh embryo transfer cycle, and Dr. Kamrava transferred 12 fresh blastocysts into Suleman at her request.[3] The mother's health and gestational status were followed from her first trimester.

Birth

The delivery (via a scheduled Caesarean section) involved 46 medical personnel and was practiced twice beforehand at the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Offices in Bellflower, California. Suleman carried the babies to 31 weeks. Doctors anticipated seven babies, so the eighth came as a surprise.[4] Born over the course of five minutes, all eight babies were immediately reported in stable condition; though two required intubation and a ventilator, and another required extra oxygen.

Names

The babies' names are Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Makai, Josiah, and Jeremiah. Suleman stated that she chose biblical names and gave all eight the middle name Angel, and that their surname would be Solomon, after their biological father.[5] [6] [7]

The following data from Kaiser Permanente indicate their birth order, birth time, weight, and given name at the time of discharge:[8]

Baby orderTime of birthGenderBirth weightName
A 10:43 am Boy 2lb Noah
B 10:44 am Girl 2lb Maliyah
C 10:45 am Boy 3lb Isaiah
D 10:45 am Girl 2lb Nariyah
E 10:46 am Boy 1lb Jonah
F 10:47 am Boy 2lb Makai
G 10:47 am Boy 1lb Josiah
H 10:48 am Boy 2lb Jeremiah

Baby C (Isaiah) was the largest of the children at 3 lbs, 4 oz, and Baby E (Jonah) was the smallest. Baby H (Jeremiah) had not previously been visible on the ultrasound.[8]

Post-delivery

Two days after birth, five of the eight infants received their first tube-feeding of donated breast milk. Josiah rejected his first tube-feeding and was returned to intravenous feeding, as his stomach was unable to absorb breast milk. At that time, three of the other infants had been fed intravenously since birth and had yet to receive their first tube-feeding.[9] [10]

Six days after birth, all eight babies were breathing without assistance and were being fed donated breast milk, as well as intravenous nutritional supplements. A hospital spokesman said the octuplets were expected to remain in the hospital for several more weeks.[11]

One week after birth, the Suleman octuplets became the longest-living octuplets in United States history, as the smallest of the Chukwu octuplets born in Houston in 1998 died seven days after birth.[12] [13] Suleman set the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered at a single birth to survive.[14]

Ten days after the birth of her octuplets, Suleman was released from the hospital. In her February 5, 2009, interview, Suleman stated that she held each of the octuplets for 45 minutes a day, holding the smallest, Jonah (born at 1 lb, 8 oz), the longest.[15] [16]

The hospital where the octuplets were expected to spend seven to twelve weeks, requested significant reimbursement from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, for care of the eight premature babies.[17]

Family

Paternity claims

Suleman's mother stated that a single sperm donor named David Solomon[18] was used to produce the octuplets as well as her previous six children.[19] [20] Suleman stated that she dated David once, but then realized that she only wanted him to father her children and not to pursue any relationship with him.[21] The octuplets' grandfather and others have accused Suleman of making up a fictitious David Solomon, as she had used the name for the father on birth certificates of her other children, but with a different birthdate.[22] [23] [24]

On the February 23, 2009, edition of ABC's Good Morning America, a man named Denis Beaudoin claimed to be the biological father of Suleman's children. He said they had dated from 1997 to 1999 and that Suleman asked him if he would donate the sperm. Beaudoin requested a paternity test to verify his claim. Suleman denied that he was the donor.[25] [26] [27]

Suleman's ex-husband, Marcos Gutierrez, who divorced Suleman in 2006, denied being the biological father.[28]

Grandparents

In 2009 the octuplets' maternal grandfather, 67-year-old Edward Doud Suleman, identifying himself as a former Iraqi military man, said he would be returning to his native Iraq as a translator and driver, in order to financially support his daughter and her 14 children.[29] [30] Their grandmother, 69-year-old Angela Victoria Suleman, a retired teacher, has helped look after the first six children. She indicated that she was overwhelmed looking after them, and was critical of her daughter in her public statements in 2009. For example, she said that her daughter did not contribute toward housing or food costs.[31] [32] [33]

Reception

See also: Nadya Suleman. News of the octuplets caused an international media sensation.[34] Suleman had even gone into hiding.[35]

There has been much public discussion about Nadya Suleman's decision to transfer, carry, and give birth to octuplets.[36] [37] Many expressed concern that her decision for more children, despite being unemployed and unmarried, would burden taxpayers via public support.[38]

State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod introduced legislation to have fertility clinics placed under the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California.[39] The transfer of twelve embryos in a woman under 35 years of age who already had children raised many controversies and led to calls for legislation to limit the number of simultaneous embryo transfers.

Dr. Kamrava investigation

The Medical Board of California announced on February 6, 2009, that it was investigating Dr. Kamrava, the physician who transferred the embryos, in an attempt to substantiate if there was a violation of the standard of care. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine expressed interest in assisting the Board in its investigation.[40] [41] [42] Kamrava had also provided fertility treatment to a 49-year-old woman who was uninsured, 5 months pregnant with quadruplets, and hospitalized at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where at least seven embryos were used.[42] [43] In October 2009, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine announced that it had expelled Dr. Kamrava.[44]

In January 2010, charges were filed with the California Medical Board in relation to the conception of the octuplets. The complaint also stated that Kamrava had exercised gross negligence, acted "beyond the reasonable judgment" of any physician, and used a number of embryos that "far exceeded" existing guidelines.[45] [46]

On June 1, 2011, the California Board announced that Dr. Kamrava's license would be revoked effective July 1.[3] [47] The charges also included the assertion that fresh, non-frozen embryos were used each time.[45] [48]

On May 8, 2013, the State Medical Board of Ohio denied Kamrava restoration of his medical license after he filed an appeal to practice there as it was the state where he was educated.[49]

According to The New York Times, Kamrava hid his assets in the Cook Islands, making use of its asset-protection trust laws.[50]

In July 2016, Kamrava filed an appeal with the California Medical Board to reinstate his license to practice in California. The Board rejected the appeal in September 2016.[51]

Later years

A 2018 New York Times article stated that the octuplets at age nine were "small for their age, but they're polite, they cook, they're vegan, they read two books a month and do their homework without being prompted. In spite of all of the horror stories in the tabloids since birth, they're model fourth graders." With 14 siblings in all, the children ate in shifts and some slept on the couch.[52]

In March 2019, the Australian current affairs program Sunday Night interviewed Suleman for the octuplets' tenth birthday; it was noted that the Suleman household is run with "military precision", and the children are "happy, healthy, and well-mannered".[53]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: California Medical Board probes octuplet birth. 2009-02-06. Mohajer . Shaya Tayefe. Associated Press. news.yahoo.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20090207211046/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090206/ap_on_re_us/octuplets. 2009-02-07. dead.
  2. News: Octuplets mother defends accused fertility doctor . 2010-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100108182553/http://news.aol.com/article/octuplets-mother-defends-accused/723709 . 2010-01-08 . Mojaher . Shaya Tayefe . Associated Press . news.aol.com . dead.
  3. News: Suleman's fertility doc has license revoked. Mojaher . Shaya Tayefe. Associated Press. More health news on NBCNews.com . NBC News. 2011-06-01 . 2012-09-01.
  4. Web site: Octuplets' mother had depression, suicidal thoughts while starting a family. 2009-02-06. Yoshino, Kim . Garrison, Jessica . Blankstein, Andrew . Los Angeles Times. 2009-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20090210144354/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-octuplets6-2009feb06,0,2541257,full.story. 2009-02-10. dead.
  5. Web site: Octuplet's mom chooses names. Scruby. Airan. whittierdailynews.com. Whittier Daily News. 2009-02-10. 2009-03-03. 2009-03-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20090317042911/http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_11674892. dead.
  6. Web site: First look: Octuplet mom shows off babies. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211150045/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29086126. live. 2009-02-11. Celizic . Mike. 2009-02-09. Today Parenting. NBC News.
  7. Web site: First Pictures Of The Octuplet Babies. Blue. Taylor. 2009-02-10. Knocked Up Celebs. 2009-02-11. 2012-07-14. https://archive.today/20120714090304/http://knockedupcelebs.com/2009/02/10/first-pictures-of-the-octuplet-babies/. dead.
  8. Web site: Clinical Excellence - Octuplets Born at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower, Calif. . 2009-04-13. kp.org. Kaiser Permanente. 2012-09-01.
  9. News: One of Calif. octuplets rejects tube feeding . Associated Press . Mohajer . Shaya Tayefe . 2009-01-28 . 2012-08-31 . SFGate.com . San Francisco Chronicle . https://web.archive.org/web/20090203071704/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2009%2F01%2F27%2Fnational%2Fa151625S24.DTL&tsp=1 . 2009-02-03 . dead.
  10. News: 8 babies born to Calif. parents who expected 7. Dillon . Raquel Maria . 2009-01-27. Associated Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131003055/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxSFp2Kpyv6vAKJJUQIg_xh5SnGgD95VDQR80. 2009-01-31. dead.
  11. News: Suleman octuplets still stable. Ari . Bloomekatz. 2009-02-01. Los Angeles Times blogs.
  12. News: Octuplet birth raises ethical questions . Delthia . Ricks . 2009-02-03 . Newsday.com. 2009-02-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20090205141310/http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-lioct0412423780feb04,0,6804101.story. 2009-02-05. dead.
  13. News: Octuplets mom gets TV, book offers to tell story. Associated Press. Rogers . John. Huffington Post. 2009-02-02.
  14. Web site: Most children delivered at a single birth to survive. 2012-09-01. Guinness World Records.
  15. News: Octuplet mom defends her 'unconventional' choices . Today Parenting. NBC News. Mike . Celizic . 2008-02-06 . 2008-02-12.
  16. News: Octuplets' mother will talk to NBC's Ann Curry . Yoshino . Kimi . Garrison . Jessica. Los Angeles Times blog. 2009-02-05. 2009-02-05.
  17. News: Octuplets could be costly for taxpayers. Los Angeles Times. Yoshino . Kimi . Garrison . Jessica. 2009-02-11 . 2009-02-12.
  18. Web site: Octuplet mom driven by lonely childhood, babies' grandmother says. Connor . Tracy. New York Daily News. 2009-02-03.
  19. Web site: Neighbor: Octuplets From Sperm Donor. momlogic.com. 2009-01-30.
  20. Web site: Octuplets' Mom: Can She Afford to Raise 14 Kids?. ABC News. 2009-01-31.
  21. News: Hedley . Caroline . Octuplets mother was celibate for eight years . telegraph.co.uk . The Daily Telegraph . 2009-02-14 . 2009-03-04 . London.
  22. Web site: Transcript - Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell - Criminal Record for Missing Girls' Father?. 2009-02-23. CNN.com. VELEZ-MITCHELL: Pete Demetrious, we only have a little bit of time, but Nadya has said that this other guy who has just come forward is not the real father. And on some of the birth certificates of four of the six children she had before she had the octuplets she listed a David Solomon, but they had different birth dates for this so-called father. Is David Solomon a real person or a fictional person?
    DEMETRIOU: Doesn't matter whether he's real or fictional, because the mother is not obligated under law to provide any real data on the parent or the father. Not only that, in the case of a sperm donor, she probably wouldn't know anyway. So she could name David Solomon, John Doe or Chewbacca, for all that we know.
    VELEZ-MITCHELL: I'm sure Chewbacca is going to be coming up soon and saying that he donated the sperm..
  23. Web site: Supporters Donate to Octuplets' Web Site, California Could Foot Hospital Bill. 2009-02-11. Von Fremd . Mike . Ferran . Lee. Good Morning America - Parenting. ABC News.
  24. Web site: Daly . Bridget . Nadya Suleman to Lose her House on March 5th . hollyscoop.com . HollyScoop . 2009-02-23 . 2009-03-04.
  25. Web site: Possible octuplet dad demands paternity test . smashits.com . SmasHits . 2009-02-24 . 2009-03-04.
  26. Web site: Carson . Angela . Nadya Suleman & Dennis Beaudoin Battle Over Octuplets, Sperm Donor Wants DNA Test . nationalledger.com . The National Ledger . 2009-02-23 . 2009-03-04.
  27. Web site: Lovelace . Dennis. Octuplet's Mom Former Boyfriend: Am I the Daddy?. myfoxla.com. KTTV FOX 11, KCOP My13, Los Angeles, CA. 2009-02-23. 2012-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20090411161610/http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/Octuplet_Mom_Former_Boyfriend_Am_Daddy20090223. 2009-04-11.
  28. Web site: Octuplets' Mom's Ex: Those Aren't My Kids. 2009-03-03. Dodd . Johnny. People.com. People.
  29. Web site: Octuplets' Family Filed For Bankruptcy . . 2009-01-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100106001034/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/earlyshow/health/main4764432.shtml . 6 January 2010 . en . 23 July 2023.
  30. News: Octuplets' mother wants Oprah to turn her into a $2m TV star. Harlow . John. The Sunday Times. 2009-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604174814/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5627531.ece. 2011-06-04. dead.
  31. Web site: Octuplet Grandma Calls Daughter 'Unconscionable'. Francescani . Chris. 2009-02-09. Good Morning America. ABC News. - references Radar Online article Web site:
  32. News: Grandma says mother of 8 obsessed with having kids. 2009-01-31. CTV News. Bell Media Television. 2009-02-03.
  33. Web site: Octuplets' mom was hoping for 'just one more girl,' grandmother says. 2009-01-31. 2012-09-01. Garrison . Jessica . Yoshino . Kimi. Los Angeles Times.
  34. News: Veil about to be lifted on octuplets' mystery mom. Rogers . John. Associated Press. USA Today. 2009-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20090209124800/http://google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilIx-PXnXPpwF1a_nlRYF00fzBIQD965O37O1. 2009-02-09. live.
  35. News: Threats send California octuplets mom into hiding. Gorman . Steve. Reuters. 2009-02-11.
  36. Web site: Octuplet Mother Remains Target Of Ethical Debate. Bates . Karen Grisby. 2009-02-06. npr.org. National Public Radio. - radio transcript
  37. Web site: Octuplets' birth spawns outrage from public. 2009-02-07. Garrison . Jessica . Yoshino . Kimi . Ho . Catherine. Los Angeles Times.
  38. News: Taxpayers may have to cover octuplet mom's costs. Associated Press. USA Today. 2009-02-11.
  39. Web site: Proposed legislation would regulate fertility clinics. Demers. Benjamin. Whittier Daily News. 2009-03-03. 2009-03-16. 2009-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20090415065751/http://www.whittierdailynews.com/octuplets/ci_11825251. dead.
  40. News: Medical society probes octuplet fertility doctor. Associated Press. USA Today. 2009-02-11.
  41. Web site: California Probing Octuplets Case. CBS News. 2009-02-05.
  42. News: California Medical Board probes octuplet birth . 2009-02-06 . Associated Press . Mohajer . Shaya Tayefe. 2012-09-01.
  43. Web site: Octuplets fertility doctor at center of another multi-pregnancy. 2009-02-12. Zarembo . Alan . Garrison . Jessica . Yoshino . Kimi. Los Angeles Times Blogs.
  44. News: Medical society boots doctor who did IVF in Suleman octuplets case. 2009-10-19. Duke . Alan. CNN.
  45. Web site: Octomom Defends Doc Against Allegations of Negligence. KTLA News. 2010-01-05.
  46. News: Octomom doctor Michael Kamrava accused of negligence. 2010-02-03. Associated Press. Mohajer . Shaya Tayefe. Huffington Post. 2012-09-01.
  47. News: 'Octomom' doctor's license to be revoked, state medical board rules . Los Angeles Times Blogs. 2011-06-01. 2012-09-01. Rong-Gong Lin II.
  48. Web site: License Information, G 41227, Michael Kamrava. Medical Board of California License Lookup System. 2012-09-01.
  49. Web site: Dr. Michael Kamrava - Phone & Address Info - Beverly Hills, CA - Fertility & Reproductive Endocrinology & Obstetrics & Gynecology . Healthgrades.com . 2013-07-21. - references documents from State Medical Board of Ohio Web site: letter to Dr. Kamrava from State Medical Board of Ohio . May 8, 2013. Healthgrades.com.
  50. News: Wayne . Leslie . December 14, 2013 . Cook Islands, a Paradise of Untouchable Assets . The New York Times . New York City . September 21, 2017 . Lawyers drumming up business say they have found just the place: the Cook Islands. And, thanks to a recently released trove of documents, it's become clear that hundreds of wealthy people have stashed their money there, including a felon who ran a $7 billion Ponzi scheme and the doctor who lost his license in the Octomom case."; "Dr. Michael M. Kamrava, who lost his medical license after implanting embryos allowing Nadya Suleiman, the so-called Octomom, to give birth to octuplets, placed his interest in a Beverly Hills surgery center and a Swiss bank account on his 'Athena Trust'..
  51. Web site: September 28, 2016 . Petition for Reinstatement of Revoked Certificate . November 30, 2023 . mbc.ca.gov.
  52. Web site: Popescu . Adam . The Octomom Has Proved Us All Wrong . The New York Times . 15 December 2018.
  53. Web site: Octomum Natalie Suleman's octuplets celebrate their 10th birthdays. 2019-03-10. 7NEWS.com.au. en. 2019-03-28.

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