Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Eight Too Many?


I have had a rocky past for pregnancies and in the past ten years I have had several miscarriages. After our last miscarriage the doctor suggested fertility drugs which I knew I did not want to do because of the side effects. My hormones would be increased along with my ability to conceive multiples, both risks I am not willing to take and I am not looking just after myself here. I am looking out for my family who should not have to deal with an even more emotional me and realistically we do not need more than one.
This is a realistic approach.
What is an unrealistic approach?
A women and her doctor implanting her with six embryos after already having 6 healthy children. This story bugged me even before it blew wide open. I have a pet peeve against parents who use these fertility treatments and end up with multiples and then want to talk about how rough life is for them. I most definitely understand the desire to want to be pregnant but I can logically look at the risks not only to me and my family but the impact of carrying more than one fetus.
So here are some statistics.

1 out of 80 natural births will result in twins.

1 out of 4 IVF pregnancies will result in twins or triplets.
Risks to the babies of just twins and triplets, as the number of babies increase so does the chance of complications.
About 126 IVF children die each year as a consequence of being in a multiple birth.
51 deaths due to still birth
42 deaths in the first week of life
33 deaths in the first year of life
Low birth weight is 50% greater for twins and 90% greater with triplets.
Death in the first week is increased 5x higher for twins and 9x higher for triplets
Chances for the baby developing Cerebral Palsy 4x higher for twins and 18x higher for triplets
pre-eclampsia is then 3x higher in mothers expecting twins and 9x higher in mothers expecting triplets.
Those statistics are scary even just for twins and triplets, this lady had eight, granted they were only trying for six. I could fine no information on how the statistics would increase with eight fetuses.

So what will their life look like once all her children come home?
She had six children previously although I am not sure if they are all IVF babies.
She will have a total of 14 children in her home all under the age of 7.
Now I know most reading this post have been parents before and know the amount of time each child needs but I thought the math would paint the unrealistic picture more vividly.

So for this example I am admitting right off that it is hypothetical. My numbers are mostly all for the new 8 babies she will be bringing home so as you read remember she still has six other children to add to the equation two of which are disabled.

I broke it down in 24 hour days split between 14 children leaves her about 2 hours per child.
8 of the children will eat on average every one-two hours which will add up to about 96 feedings per 24 hour period which does not include the time it will take her to make food for the older 6 children in her home.
She is claiming she is going to breast feed these babies so she will have to breast feed about 96 times in a 24 hour period and lets say about a half an hour per baby, 15 per side. 30min * 96 feedings she will be doing in a 24 hour period will add up to 48 hours to feed all eight babies. Every child should eat about 1-2 ounces per feeding meaning 96-192 ounces per 24 hour period. That means she will have to make 12-24 cups or 6 pints to over a gallon of breast milk per 24 hour period. Over the next month she could have to produce about 30 gallons of breast milk.
Now what about waste? Again I am going on the average and a new born can poop every time it eats so based on the earlier math that would be about 96 diapers per 24 hour period. If you times 96 diapers by 30 for the month it would come up to 2880 diapers per month.
88 diapers sell for about 26 dollars. 2880/88=33 packages*26=858 dollars per month in diapers.
While the math is easy to add up it may be the division that is that hardest. How does a mother of 14 children divide her time fairly between them. While I believe single moms can be strong this is more than any one person should have to deal with. Normally in these situations at least there is two parents running around passing tasks onto each other to even out the burden. She talks of loving these children but even the largest amount of love will not create a way for her to spread herself out for these 14 children.
You must also look at the financial aspect of her situation. She does not have a job. She has admitted to bringing in 490 dollars per month plus food stamps. The amount of things she will have to buy is astronomical ranging from clothes to a way to transport that many children.
She had even made a complaint to the media that she was not receiving the gifts and donations that other families with multiples had.
Then we get onto a doctor who implanted her with those six eggs KNOWING she had six children at home all or some of which were conceived through the same procedure.
So really it comes down to a couple of questions after all that rambling.
Did this women do this for the attention and the money?
If she did is she in the right frame of mind considering the risks she took to purposefully have six kids and the lack of consideration into the burden of all her children?
Where did a mom on welfare with six kids get the money to do this procedure?
Why would a reputable doctor agree to this procedure and what consequences should he face?
Should strict requirements be in place for potential parents of IVF treatments eliminating parents who already have a set number of children or a poor financial situation?






3 comments:

Stan Harrington said...

A lot of data compiled by you and each point well documented. A lot of people are asking the same questions that you closed with. I understand that the typical procedure is that only two are implanted, why this doctor increase the amount is being investigated. One point that you did not bring out is that she lives at home and expects her parents to help her out, they are furious and concerned about the ladies mental health. Being logical and from her comments that she had not yet received the amount of gifts she had expected, I can only assume she did it for the $$$$$$$. Hollywood types sell their baby pictures to magazines for millions. How much can a welfare mother sell her pictures for? She is looking for the bucks and the4 kids are secondary. How she paid for the implants is not known, again one can only assume that perhaps the good doctor is also looking for the bucks and publicity, how else can you explain the break in normal procedure. I am not sure about her other six children, I know some of them were also from implants. They live with her parents in a two bedroom home. If she does not make the big mega bucks for her photos and stories, guess who is going to be paying for this, we the tax payers. However, someone will come along with the money for her exclusive story and she will be happy - but will the children be happy?

Stan Harrington said...

On the news tonight, this story is picking up speed. They showed inside pictures of the house, it is filthy! Looks like the state may step in and they are investigating the doctor. The girl said that it has cost about $100,000 for her implants when she is living on welfare. All of her children have been implants. She also has a fixation with whats her name (Brad Pitts mate), dresses and tries to act like her, she looks a little like her. Strange lady.

real eyez said...

Poor kids.