<p>If the oldest child is 7, is it possible that the six children and the 8 newborns are all from one IVF cycle? That would make at least 15 embryos produced in one IVF cycle - which is not unheard of. So, over a period of time - 7-8 years, not wanting to discard or donate the embryos, she has had these embryos implanted in her. It is possible to freeze embryos for years, although viablitiy decreases over time. Maybe, she felt she was obligated to implant these embryos, never expecting so many “to take”. I didn’t read every post, so I apologize if this has been suggested before.</p>
<p>This is really quite simple - her dream is to be Vice President and this seemed like a shortcut. </p>
<p>Seriously, do you think the Extreme Makeover show has contacted them already?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Back in the day, I used to spend a lot of time on boards concerning infertility and I heard a lot of women complain about lack of coverage, from many different countries.</p>
<p>If the goal is to have women do this in as safe as a way as possible, then it should be covered. Several countries pay for infertility treatments for one or two children. Past that women have to pay for it out of pocket.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be wonderful if an infertile would-be mom who feels strongly that she couldn’t abort a multiple could have an embryo transferred from a would-be mom who doesn’t want the baby instead of implanting multiple embryos? Does anyone know if this is possible or in the works?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Interesting perspective, but how does having it paid for by insurers change it’s safety? And why would not regulations and medical ethics be sufficient over payment source? Apologies for my ignorance.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>sunnyflorida - question… if a woman has given birth to six children already, including a set of twins, when she goes to the doctor for a pelvic exam, can’t the physician kind of tell from the exam that this is not a virgin womb? I’m guessing that from giving birth to six children, there have to have been some scars from tearing or stitches.</p>
<p>I don’t think having it paid by insurers changes its safety, but if a woman can have 2 children with insurance, she would be less likely to try and self-medicate and end up with 8. If all that this story implies turns out to be true, I doubt there will be much income from selling the rights. They are not likely to be the completely photogenic J&K+8 or the mind-boggling Duggars but who are paying their own way and whose children do seem articulate and well-behaved (even if a bit robotic). No one hears about the family in Iowa with 7 (a couple of them have handicaps). If the mother truly has mental problems, I don’t think that will make a popular reality show. The only hope would be the National Enquirer if they turn out to be space aliens.</p>
<p>I think the whole reality TV ‘if my life is weird enough or miserable enough someone will build me a new house in a weekend or give me free plastic surgery or give me my own TV show’ deal is a manifestation of our ‘era of excess’ which is currently ending. In one show I saw there is reference to the ‘push back’ in the community where the family lives; people just get burned out with ‘let’s have a fund raiser so the quints can have strollers’ events.</p>
<p>As the details of this family unfold, the only choice any of us have is to buy or not buy the magazine, watch or not watch the TV show, buy or not buy the lottery ticket to raise money for their fund raising. </p>
<p>I don’t think any sane person would choose fertility treatment when they have 6 young children and no money to maintain their own home.</p>
<p>The article stated that the embryos were transferred, which implies that she underwent an IVF cycle, the embryos were created in a lab, and at least 8 were transferred. If this happened, the doctor should be put in jail. When I did IVF at age 40-42, the doctors only tranferred 3 embryos per cycle to prevent high-order multiples. In younger women, they would transfer only 2. </p>
<p>But I find it hard to believe that this happened. I would be willing to bet that the article is wrong, and she actually conceived the octuplets by combining gonadotropins with an uncontrolled situation (intercourse, IUI, turkey baster). </p>
<p>S1 was conceived by IVF in 1992. I am appalled that these drugs are now being used without medical supervision. </p>
<p>Schmoomcgoo, to answer your question, it is possible for excess embryos created with one couple’s cells to be transferred to a different woman - this is a form of adoption facilitated by many IVF centers. Often the embryos are frozen in the meantime. But it is not possible to remove an embryo/fetus from a woman’s body and transfer it to another woman (and have it survive).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No need to apologize. This is knowledge I wish I did not have, believe me. tango summed it well (although they apparently disagree with the statement as well?)</p>
<p>Infertility treatments are heart stoppingly expensive. The temptation to go with the higher risk choice is considerably higher when there is only money for one chance. Or even if a woman has more money, at some point she faces her last chance. </p>
<p>The pressure on the clinic/doctors is high as well. That this takes place in the marketplace puts on pressure to produce good numbers. The odds are low enough, a clinic or doctor that is having more success is going to attract a lot more business. </p>
<p>When something, anything, is commercialized, the ethics seem more flexible. I do not see that inferility treatment is going to be the exception to that, driven both by patient and doctor.</p>
<p>[FOXNews.com</a> - Reports Cast Octuplets’ Mother in Less-Flattering Light - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,485924,00.html]FOXNews.com”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,485924,00.html)</p>
<p>–previously filed for bankruptcy and abandoned one home
–no husband
–all ready had 6 kids
–what the hel. is wrong with her, her family for going along with it, and whatever doctor helped her get pregnant with this second litter</p>
<p>She knew enough to have these babies in the US. Now it’s up to the taxpayers to pay for her and the addition of this second litter of babies. More babies–more welfare–medicare–social security for the little ones with disabilities–special services to address any developmental issues, food stamps–and in 18 years or so they’ll all get huge financial aid packages so they can attend any college that accepts them regardless of the price tag.</p>
<p>I really would like to know why any woman with 6 kids, no husband, and in a poor financial situation would feel that it’s appropriate to use fertility treatments to have more children.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Don’t know if this is reliable info or not…but it certainly is food for thought…</p>
<p>teriwtt-- good question. A woman could actually admit to having one previous child and her exam might not be different than a woman who has had 6. Some women heal and recover remarkably well. This is not true for all women, but it is for some.</p>
<p>The comment that she worked in a fertility clinic has been made a few times. I also read the someone close to the family has said they were “all fathered by the same sperm donor.” I continue to wonder about her “behind the scenes” efforts to conceive.</p>
<p>“More babies–more welfare–medicare–social security for the little ones with disabilities–special services to address any developmental issues, food stamps–and in 18 years or so they’ll all get huge financial aid packages so they can attend any college that accepts them regardless of the price tag.”</p>
<p>Careful there.
They’re still kids. And members of our society. No less than any other. We should care for them should they need it. Even if their mother may have made a poor decision.
It’s not like we aren’t already paying for the welfare, medicare, disability social security, financial aid, etc. for children of so-called proper parental decisions. Or the social costs of only or overprotected children.</p>
<p>Very well said, fb10.</p>
<p>Did she just stimulate the economy or slow it down?</p>
<p>I cannot imagine being the grandmother. Not only is the poor woman already caring for 6 children under the age of 7, now she is going to be caring for 8 additional infants while under public scrutiny and the object of a significant amount of scorn for her family. She must be torn between love for her grandchildren and much more negative emotions. How she feels about her daughter at this point one can only speculate.</p>
<p>You know exactly the point that I was trying to make. This single mom with no job, no husband, no home, no money, and with 6 little kids all ready is to blame here. It’s not like she didn’t all ready have kids. She obviously could not financially make ends meet with the kids she all ready had, yet she chose fertility treatments to have more. This was not a case of an oops. </p>
<p>I honestly hope this woman wanted these kids out of love and not because of some morbid need on her part to gain attention.</p>
<p>I too hope so, nysmile. I have a suspicion that the grandparents may have something to do with this “puppy mill”.</p>
<p>I really think that there is little chance that there is not some kind of mental illness at work here.</p>