Her mother also gives additional details to the press.
The mother of octuplets spoke out for the first time Thursday, saying in a statement she was "ecstatic" and thanked the public for their "positive thoughts, prayers and generosity."
In the statement issued though Kaiser Permanente hospital in Bellflower, Calif., the anonymous mother says:
"We understand that you are all curious about the arrival of the octuplets and we appreciate your respect for our family's privacy. Please know, in our own time, we will share additional details about this miraculous experience.
"The babies continue to grow strong every day and make good progress. My family and I are ecstatic about all of their arrivals. Needless to say, the eighth was a surprise to us all, but a blessing as well.
"Thank you to the extra special nurses and hospital staff for their tireless support. Ever since I came to Kaiser after becoming pregnant, I've been grateful for the phenomenal medical team responsible for the extraordinary care that my babies and I received.
"Finally, we thank all of you for the positive thoughts, prayers and generosity."
The statement was signed, "The Family."
Yesterday, the woman's mother also spoke to the LA Times and said her daughter never expected that the fertility treatment she received would result in eight more babies.
The woman, who has not been publicly identified, had embryos implanted last year, and "they all happened to take," Angela Suleman said, leading to the eight births Monday. "I looked at those babies. They are so tiny and so beautiful."
She acknowledged that raising 14 children is a daunting prospect.
"It's going to be difficult," Suleman added, noting that her daughter's father is going back to Iraq, where neighbors said he worked as a contractor, to help support the expanded family.
The mother of the octuplets lives on a well-kept cul-de-sac in Whittier, where more than a dozen reporters and camera crews descended Thursday.
Neighbors said she and her six children -- ages 7, 6, 5, 3 and 2-year-old twins -- live there with her mother. Her marital status is unknown. Family members did not answer the door, but when a reporter called the home asking for Suleman, she spoke briefly.
According to her account, when her daughter discovered that she was expecting multiple babies, doctors gave her the option of selectively reducing the number of embryos, but she declined.
"What do you suggest she should have done? She refused to have them killed," Suleman said as the sound of children could be heard in the background. "That is a very painful thing."
The information about the family came amid growing questions about the medical ethics of the case and how the woman came to carry eight babies to term.
Dr. Harold Henry, a member of the delivery team, said doctors counseled her regarding the options and risks -- among them aborting some of the fetuses.
"Our goal is to provide the best possible care, no matter what the situation or circumstances are," Henry said. "What I do is just explain the facts. I always talk about the risks. The mother weighs those options, and she chooses the option based on spiritual or personal makeup."
Henry said the eight children would "require quite a bit of resources. You need many diapers, bottles, car seats, food -- quite a bit."
Already, Kaiser officials said, the mother is receiving gift baskets, sealed envelopes and flowers.
In the statement issued though Kaiser Permanente hospital in Bellflower, Calif., the anonymous mother says:
"We understand that you are all curious about the arrival of the octuplets and we appreciate your respect for our family's privacy. Please know, in our own time, we will share additional details about this miraculous experience.
"The babies continue to grow strong every day and make good progress. My family and I are ecstatic about all of their arrivals. Needless to say, the eighth was a surprise to us all, but a blessing as well.
"Thank you to the extra special nurses and hospital staff for their tireless support. Ever since I came to Kaiser after becoming pregnant, I've been grateful for the phenomenal medical team responsible for the extraordinary care that my babies and I received.
"Finally, we thank all of you for the positive thoughts, prayers and generosity."
The statement was signed, "The Family."
Yesterday, the woman's mother also spoke to the LA Times and said her daughter never expected that the fertility treatment she received would result in eight more babies.
The woman, who has not been publicly identified, had embryos implanted last year, and "they all happened to take," Angela Suleman said, leading to the eight births Monday. "I looked at those babies. They are so tiny and so beautiful."
She acknowledged that raising 14 children is a daunting prospect.
"It's going to be difficult," Suleman added, noting that her daughter's father is going back to Iraq, where neighbors said he worked as a contractor, to help support the expanded family.
The mother of the octuplets lives on a well-kept cul-de-sac in Whittier, where more than a dozen reporters and camera crews descended Thursday.
Neighbors said she and her six children -- ages 7, 6, 5, 3 and 2-year-old twins -- live there with her mother. Her marital status is unknown. Family members did not answer the door, but when a reporter called the home asking for Suleman, she spoke briefly.
According to her account, when her daughter discovered that she was expecting multiple babies, doctors gave her the option of selectively reducing the number of embryos, but she declined.
"What do you suggest she should have done? She refused to have them killed," Suleman said as the sound of children could be heard in the background. "That is a very painful thing."
The information about the family came amid growing questions about the medical ethics of the case and how the woman came to carry eight babies to term.
Dr. Harold Henry, a member of the delivery team, said doctors counseled her regarding the options and risks -- among them aborting some of the fetuses.
"Our goal is to provide the best possible care, no matter what the situation or circumstances are," Henry said. "What I do is just explain the facts. I always talk about the risks. The mother weighs those options, and she chooses the option based on spiritual or personal makeup."
Henry said the eight children would "require quite a bit of resources. You need many diapers, bottles, car seats, food -- quite a bit."
Already, Kaiser officials said, the mother is receiving gift baskets, sealed envelopes and flowers.
See Also:
- Holy Moly! Octuplets Born in California
- Eight is ENOUGH
- How Much Are Octuplets Worth?
- I Wish the Octuplets Weren't Born in California
- Wi ll Mom of Eight Ever Sleep Again?
- Breast feeding Eight Babies?! Yikes!
- Octuplets Are Gross
- Earth Doesn't Have Room for Octuplets!
- Octuplets: Scientific Miracle or Life-Long Danger?
- Social Services Allow Octuplets in Home?
- Octuplets Mom Has SIX Other Kids -- No Dad?
- Having 14 Kids Should Be Illegal!
filed under: california octuplets
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