After being released from Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center, Nadya Suleman, the "octuplets mom," sat down with NBC's Ann Curry, to give her side of the story - her reasons for having so many children. Suleman says she "loves her children," and that she's not selfish.
Video link after the jump!
Here are some excerpts from Ann Curry's interview with Nadya Suleman:
Suleman said she came from a dysfunctional family and that she had always wanted a "huge" family. She denies she's irresponsible for having so many babies.
Curry said, "People feel, you know, this woman is being completely irresponsible and selfish to bring these children in the world without a clear source of income and enough help to raise them. The world outside is saying, ‘What are you doing?’"
Suleman replied, "I know I'll be able to afford them when I'm done with my schooling,” the 33-year-old single mom replied. If I was just sitting down watching TV and not being as determined as I am to succeed and provide a better future for my children, I believe that would be considered, to a certain degree, selfish."
Nadya said she holds each of her 8 premature babies 45 minutes a day, and that she's a good mom.
"All I wanted was children. I wanted to be a mom. That's all I ever wanted in my life. I love my children.
"I'm providing myself to my children. I'm loving them unconditionally, accepting them unconditionally. Everything I do, I'll stop my life for them and be present with them. And hold them. And be with them. And how many parents do that? I'm sure there are many that do, but many don't. And that's unfortunate. That is selfish."
The 33-year-old of 14 children said she was fully aware of the risks of carrying eight fetuses.
"Those are my children, and that’s what was available," she said. “It’s a gamble."
A gamble is right. Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC's chief medical editor, said that the risk goes beyond the babies - such an extreme pregnancy can result in complications to the mother, even death.
"That risk is not only to mom — her uterus can rupture and she can die — there’s a phenomenal risk to eight babies. Eight babies, by definition, cannot be born normal weight and robust," Snyderman told TODAY's Matt Lauer.
She adds, "They’re going to watch these kids very carefully for eating problems, growing [problems], and then seizures, jaundice, heart problems, lung problems, blindness, developmental delays — there’s a laundry list of things. Long term, because some of these children will be physically or mentally challenged, there’s a looming price tag out here. The hospital bill alone will run $1.5 to $3 million. Forget about getting to college; just to get through special-needs stuff — it’s going to have to come from somewhere, either the taxpayers of California or her family or her church or the hospital. But she can’t do it alone."
Dr. Gail Saltz, NBC contributor and psychiatrist, said Suleman will face emotional issues as well.
"Undoubtedly these eight children are going to have issues: at the minimum, the issue of neglect.
"Obviously, she’s saying she’s going to love them, but there are 14 children and [only] one of her. There’s going to be an absence of some emotional needs. There will probably be developmental delays at best in these children; maybe learning disabilities. There are going to be major issues that they’re going to need various therapies for."
Suleman dreamed of a "huge" family, and felt like she was missing something, growing up as an only child.
"That was always a dream of mine, to have a large family, a huge family, and I just longed for certain connections and attachments with another person that I really lacked, I believe, growing up.
"I didn't feel as though, when I was a child, I had much control of my environment. I felt powerless. And that gave me a sense of predictability. Reflecting back on my childhood, I know it wasn't functional. It was pretty dysfunctional, and whose isn't?"
We've all had "issues" growing up, some worse than others of course, but you don't pop out 14 kids to fill that void or whatever it is you're trying to grasp. Talk to someone - get therapy, but to have an obsession with having babies - not normal. So, does this mean it's up to her children to somehow make her whole?
She said she spends 45 minutes per day, holding each of her 8 babies - what about her other six children? How much time do they get their mom now? How can one person possibly devote enough time to each child when there are that many? Suleman has to have time to eat and sleep, so where will she fit those two basic human needs in? And as mentioned, it's likely that her babies could have health issues or development struggles - as a mother of a special needs child myself, I know how time consuming ONE child is, but imagine if all 8 have special or physical needs? Or even if only half do - it will be an overwhelming task for one woman.
What about her saying she grew up in a dysfunctional family - yet, she is relying on her parents (you know, the ones she grew up with in that dysfunctional home) to care for her children while she goes back to school. Interesting.
How will Nadya pay for schooling? Childcare? Medical treatments for her babies should they need it? Clothing? Food? Diapers? Doctor appointments? The list is endless. And so are the questions with not many answers.
Suleman admitted that all of her children have the same "father," but that he is very overwhelmed and she hopes one day he'll be in their lives.
Video HERE.
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