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Two of Nadya Suleman's sons, Noah (weighing 5 lbs., 13 oz), and Isaiah (weighing 5 lbs), were released to her care yesterday.
Both boys can now drink from a bottle, are gaining weight, and can maintain their own body temperature, all important factors before premature babies can be released from the hospital.
The Kaiser Permanente hospital where the babies have been staying released the following statement: "After several home visits Kaiser Permanente determined that Ms. Suleman has safe housing, sufficient child care support and the supplies and equipment needed to care for the first two octuplets. The remaining six babies continue to progress well and remain at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center. All continue gaining weight and remain on either formula or donated pasteurized breast milk."
Suleman said that 2 nurses from the non-profit agency Angels in Waiting and 2 nannies are ready to be on hand to help with the babies. However, Suleman says that she wants to do most of the work herself.
Her older 6 children are expected to join her and the newborns at the family's new home in La Hambra, CA, by this weekend, after astro-turf and a climbing wall are installed in the backyard.
Source: People.com
Like I said before, I'm curious to see how all of this goes for Suleman. I'm glad that she will have plenty of help - she'll need it! No one can take care of newborns and 6 older children by themselves.
Comments
How assuming. Individuals can/do/always will be able to take care by themselves of large numbers of children including many babies in cirucumstances even more challenging, unsupported and basic than Sulemans could ever have been. Fact. Get over it. Its the most natural thing in the world for some women, without other people trying to stress them out about it or undermine their control of the situation. Sulemans cool, she'll handle it. But shes lucky she had anyway a whole army of friends and associates who WANT to help this cool family. Although they dont actually need it. People can do all sorts of feats that spoilt, overcautious modern America gets hysterical about quite forgetting their pioneer ancestors handled much more, often alone, without the pampering and the planning. Even without diapers, disposable or other - a very modern American invention. Women used to have 20-30 children in various parts of europe, often in poverty. Husbands may die off due to poverty effects and with or without extended family, large families did ok. Its still happening that people, due to pregnancy or other situations care for much large quantities of children than Sulemans, all at once. America needs to get out more and see real life situations in much of the globe where single mothers or fathers handle real life better without all the fuss and nonsense you hausfraus get worked up about for nothing. Its a sign of modern American woman that she gets so neurotic about being a mother. So theyre kids. And 8 babies. So what? Its not that big a deal unless youre not a kid person who could easily manage kids of all ages all at once. Women who can might find accountancy stressful, or other jobs - just as those gifted at other jobs might find it draining and stressful to spend time with a 2 year old or boring to be stuck at home raising preschoolers. Other women and men would have a ball with that. From your attitude, youd think noone had ever successfully cared for large families or even bigger numbers of babies that that. Dont limit other ladies by your own limitations and expectaions.
MC says "so what:. We are talking about home safety here. Sorry Mc but doesn't matter if your a kid person or "cool. One person has only 2 eyes and hands. Those kids will have 28 hands and 28 feet with only 24 hrs to a day. Not humanly possible. And if you think she is going to have a "whole army" to help her for 18 years, you are as delusional as Nadya is. She'd be lucky to sustain for 18 months after all this newness rubs off. So, how many hours 24/7 for 18years did you say you have committed to???
my great grandma raised 19 children by herself the youngest was not even born when her husband died in the 1st world war. there was barely a year between some of them and she had two sets of twins and one retarded. she was immigrant so had no family near to help but she raised all her kids to go to church and contribute to community. 3 became engineers, 2 teachers, 2 police, 1 died young, some girls were housewives, 2 armed forces, others farmers, store owner, prison warden and my grandpa went to college and became an architect. all the next generation have gone to college and and grad school. they are engineers, doctors, dentists, teachers and architects or other responsible professions. im very proud of coming from a big family raised by a single mom. no-ones ever been mentally ill, unstable or unhappy. we have a positive work ethic and believe in community, church and family. kids didnt watch tv those days, my grandpa said they had to do chores and help each other and their neighbours. they were respected and real popular. i dont know if mc is right but our great grandma wouldnt take help from anyone and weve all been raised like that to be on the go, industrious and get on with it. at work they say i get through quicker than anyone doing the job. guess thats like a greatgrandma of 19 had to be back then. i agree times have changed a lot but i think people are less active now and expect more.
Sceptical? Check out Nuria Everitt's log on large families web ring. They have 27 kids, about 10 elementary age and lots of infants. You dont need 14 pairs of hands or more than 1 or even 2 for 14 kids. You just dont. Nursery careworkers, child professionals and parents who handle much bigger numbers than that will tell you that you can do it well with good management of children, environment and time and keep cool all day or overnight too if its residential. Its just experience, attitude, expertise and good children skills. You have to be a bit physically fit though not even that much. It is not hard to feed, wash or dress 8 babies on your own, its nothing really once you do it. 24 babies, no, you need one or two assistants. Nadya managed to feed her octuplets not only under 30 minutes as the hospital wanted but in 15. Getting breakfast for 6 was a breeze for her because she said shes used ot it. If you are well organised as the best teachers have to be everyday to manage double the number doing all sorts of tasks with so many routine and unpredictable things going on and many kids special needs or mixed age groups you can manage parenting 14 no problem. That is relaxing in contrast. Or if you see work overseas in orphanages of over 60 kids and hardly any staff you can take over and reorganise things so there is enough attention, time and routine to involve everyone and keep them happy 24/7. Its just a lot of hype because American women are nowadays so out of touch with lots of kids and the domestic scene. Its no more tricky than steering a ship or flying a plane and once youve got the daily rythmn going, you dont even notice what might seem to outsiders as practical impossibilities. Its easy for some women just like being a math professor is to others.
I am also skeptical, but I have noticed that "necessity breeds innovation." I have only two children, but after I brought my newborn home from the hospital, my toddler became much more self-sufficient. Maybe mothers of LOTS of kids learn how to multi-task better than the rest of us. Maybe their children learn to take care of themselves at an earlier age. I hope so, anyway. I, too, am curious to see how this goes for Suleman.
Michelle (DC Metro area parenting examiner)
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