Nadya Suleman

Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman Gutierrez (Arabic: نادية دنيس داود سليمان كويتيريز) (born Natalie Denise Suleman; July 11, 1975) or better we known Nadya Sulaeman, known as Octomom in the media. Nadya Sulaeman is an American woman who came to international attention when she gave birth to octuplets in January 2009. The Suleman octuplets are only the second full set of octuplets to be born alive in the United States and, one week after their birth, surpassed the previous worldwide survival rate for a complete set of octuplets set by the Chukwu octuplets in 1998. The circumstances of their high order multiple birth have led to controversy in the field of assisted reproductive technology as well as an investigation by the Medical Board of California of the fertility specialist involved. Public reaction turned negative when it was discovered that the single mother already had six other young children and was unemployed and on public assistance programs. She conceived the octuplets and her six older children via in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Nadya Sulaeman stated that in 2008 she had six embryos left over from her previous IVF treatments. She explained at the time that she requested that all of the remaining embryos be implanted, despite the norm for a woman her age being two or three implanted at the most. Suleman states that part of her reasoning for attempting a sixth pregnancy was so that the frozen embryos would not be destroyed. Supposedly, the six remaining embryos were implanted and two of the embryos split into twins, resulting in a total of eight embryos. However, time has shown that there are no identical sets of twins in the group. In fact, Dr. Kamrava stated recently that she insisted on all 'fresh' cycles, and in fact she still has embryos stored with Dr. Kamrava. Since her medical records are confidential, the public does not know how many embryos she had transferred during the IVF. Five fetuses were evident after just one month and when offered the option of selective reduction, Suleman declined.

News of the octuplets caused an international media sensation. Public response was largely negative and even included death threats. There has been much public discussion about Suleman's decision to have the octuplets, including a minor protest outside the Suleman home. Many expressed concern that Suleman's decision for more children would burden taxpayers via public support.

As of March 2009, Nadya Sulaeman bought a new house in La Habra, and many stories questioned that the octuplets would be released from the hospital, while Suleman expressed concern about losing custody of them. In the early morning hours of April 1, the day she would bring the seventh octuplet home, vandals threw a baby seat through the back window of her Toyota minivan. As of April 14, 2009, all of the children are home with their mother and grandmother, although public outrage has not subsided.

The octuplets celebrated their first birthday on January 26, 2010. Nadya Sulaeman told People Magazine, "I don't get much sleep, about two or three hours a night. But I'm continuing to move forward with my life and trying to be the best mother I can be." She added that the family ate birthday cake and pizza in celebration.