Octuplets' Mother Has Six Older Children Already (VIDEO)

The mother in California who gave birth to eight babies on Monday has six children already, CBS news discovered. Today on the Early Show, a segment on the now-doubled family aired. They took cameras to the home and neighborhood where the mom lives in a house with her parents, four older sons and two older daughters. Below the video is the transcript.

WATCH:

RUSS MITCHELL, anchor:

An update now on those octuplets born Monday in Los Angeles. They're doing

well, but when they go home in a couple of months, it will be to a really full

house. EARLY SHOW national correspondent Hattie Kauffman explains.

Story continues below

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HATTIE KAUFFMAN reporting:

CBS News has learned the mother who gave birth to octuplets has six other

children.

Unidentified Man: She lives over there. She's got six kids already.

KAUFFMAN: An acquaintance who didn't want to be identified says the mom has

four older boys and two girls.

Unidentified Woman: She is young, fairly young and she has six children

already.

KAUFFMAN: She already has six children.

Woman: Yes.

KAUFFMAN: So that makes six plus eight is 14.

Woman: Correct. Yes. And in those six children she has a set of twins.

KAUFFMAN: While the hospital has not confirmed that the mom used fertility

drugs, there are no documented cases of naturally conceived octuplets.

Doctors say the babies, born Monday, are all breathing on their own, but the

babies are all under four pounds and are expected to remain in the hospital

for weeks.

The woman and her children live on this cul de sac, with her parents. We

knocked on the door and a man confirmed he's the grandfather of the octuplets,

but he refused to speak to us.

From what you know of this family and this household, do you think that

they'll be able to support 14 kids?

Woman: Well, so far they've been fine with the six they have. Fourteen, I

don't know.

KAUFFMAN: They'll be living in this neighborhood where homes have just two or

three bedrooms. It'll be tight. Hattie Kauffman, CBS News, near Los Angeles.

MITCHELL: It'll be tight. That's the line of the day.

HARRY SMITH, co-host:

Tight.

JULIE CHEN, co-host:

Wow.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ, co-host:

Tight and tense, maybe. That's a lot of people.

SMITH: I'm the youngest of eight. Eight is a lot.

CHEN: You're the youngest of eight.

SMITH: Yes.

Comments

[kamhwy08]

Honestly? TY90 is right - women, families who want large families, lots of children should have them...that's their right. It's also my right as a tax payers to be disturbed and criticise ANYONE who, due to their actions, because a burden on social programs and society. The woman is irresponsible; broke, and derranged. If you're so passionate about her rights to have 14 kids, I have one suggestion - earmark 10% of your annual income (non-tax deductable) to the Suleman Family Foundation, until the children reach 18. That would be a great way to demonstrate your support for this kind of behavior. As far as I'm concerned when you make a decision (deliberately)- single mother or as a couple - to have large famiy and more children than you can afford, it is YOUR responsibilty, duty to provide for them; NOT the state. To those who seem to think that if one is a Liberal, therefore you ought to support that type of behavior, really doesn't understand anything about liberalism. That's a very wrapped notion of being compassionate. That's encouraging irresponsibility.

[Tugar]

Friday, 2/6/2009

I just watched the video on the mother of the California born, Octuplets shown on the "Today Show." This woman is out of her mind in a very dangerous way. She has brought 8 babies into the world to join her other 6 at home, with no visible means of support, no father/husband to help her with these kids, and is saying she will take care of them herself with the aid of friends and her church. However, a few days ago, it was reported that she wants a "Million dollars" for her story.

In a very short time, I believe it will become very apparent that she cannot do so. I also strongly suggest that the state of California keeps a careful eye to monitor the home life quality of these children and if need be, remove them from the home to give them the nurturing, stability that they will undoubtedly need, even if they have to be placed in other homes with loving parents. But this woman; "Mother" should not get a dime, or free package offer from anyone.

The State of California is already on a 4 day work-week, trying to save taxpayers money. Now this thoughtless, greedy woman comes along and dumps millions of dollars worth of hospital bills, etc on them for many years to come.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

She can have all the kids she wants as long as she can take care of them (no public assistance) read the article, no husband no nothing WTFFFFF!!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/01/31/2009-01-31_octuplet_grandmas_shame_daughter_has_14_.html

[JohnnyL]

wait a second....what do you mean "as long as no public assistance?" would you say this if she were a poor minority and had multiple kids?

[Ty90]

Like i said, my aunt has 10 kids. All by the same father and she can afford to have them.

She is also married, not that it matters. The Duggar's have 19 or 20 kids. So what?

They can afford it to. Mind your own business people. If you hate kids and family that's your own business but leave people who prefer larger families alone!

[JohnnyL]

wait a second....what do you mean "as long as no public assistance?" would you say this if she were a poor minority and had multiple kids?

[FabulousAt52]

When did your aunt start her family? Was it before say... 1980? Larger families weren't that unusual a couple of generations ago. But these days, to INTENTIONALLY have MANY children, not for the love of them as individual beings, but for RELIGIOUSLY political reasons, like the Duggars and other selfish "Quiverfull Families..." is a disgrace.

To intentionally scheme and plot to have IVF and multiple births just to 'cash in' on the freebees
and financial gain these kids MAY bring, is disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

In MY opinion, NO ONE, no matter how "wealthy" or able to care for children they may be, should proudly strive to have more than a "few" kids... 3, 4, perhaps 5 at most. To have more than that is selfish and detrimental to the hard economic atmosphere we find ourselves in, and to the environment as well.

This woman having 8 babies thanks to somehow finding an unethical doctor to administer IVF is just plain mentally ill. I am really waiting in anticipation of her Psychological Evaluation results.

[FabulousAt52]

When did your aunt start her family? Was it before say... 1980?
Larger families weren't that unusual a couple of generations ago. But these days, to INTENTIONALLY have MANY children, not for the love of them as individual beings, but for RELIGIOUSLY political reasons, like the Duggars and other selfish "Quiverfull Families..." is a disgrace.
To intentionally scheme and plot to have IVF and multiple births just to 'cash in' on the freebees and financial gain these kids MAY bring, is disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

In MY opinion, NO ONE, no matter how "wealthy" or able to care for children they may be, should proudly strive to have more than a "few" kids... 3, 4, perhaps 5 at most.
To have more than that is selfish and detrimental to the hard economic atmosphere we find ourselves in, and to the environment as well.
This woman having 8 babies thanks to somehow finding an unethical doctor to administer IVF is just plain mentally ill. I am really waiting in anticipation of her Psychological Evaluation results.

[Ty90]

When did i say that my aunt did NOT have kids for the love of them as individuals as you so chose to put it? Whose to say that people that have a lot of kids do not?

It just means they have a lot of love to give. My aunt did not have kids by "IVF"
but naturally, but either way, i can't see how it matters.

People that love kids and will take care of them should have as many as they please.

[Tugar]

hey, Ty90...

It sounds like there's at least a dad around in both cases. But for this single mom with no visible means of support even to do this with 6 kids already, living on God knows what is ridiculous. And she will definitely be seeking Public Assistance, costing every taxpayer in California and yes, America as a whole, untold amounts of money to pay for her children's medical bills alone. Forget about food, lodging, education, and Lord knows, counseling.

SO IT IS MOST DEFINITELY, OUR BUSINESS !

[micifus]

I can see why this woman wants to hide her identity. Her irresponsible behavior can certainly infuriate people, particularly at this time. If her address became known I could see angry villagers with torches and pitchforks showing at her door asking for punishment, especially if it turns out that she's getting government bailout, I mean welfare money. And oh the humanity if she happens to be of an ethnic minority! I can just hear the Limbaughs on talk radio. She could become the scapegoat for everything that's gone wrong and certainly an easier target than Bernie Madoff or the Gordon Gekkos on Wall St.

[Seven7s]

She's smarter than the lot of them:

1 out of those 14 kids have to be successful by probability alone. Why work when u can birth a meal-ticket? lol

NO but seriously....WOW

[wakeup804]

Ok, help me out here. I thought fertility treatments were for people who have trouble conceiving. This woman has 6 kids, 14 now, and the doctors that performed this procedure, should be up for diciplinary action. When this woman goes to the state for support for her 14 children, let the doctors who implanted her with 8 embryos, pony up child support for the next 18 years. This is a disgrace, and goes against basic medical ethics.

[kadie3]

When the news eight babies born, I was was wondering how on earth are the mum and dad going t o do it, Then said ok they might have alot of help, through family friends etc, Then the whole story comes out, six other kids no husband, no job, etc.... my heart went right out for those kids, the six including the eight, and when her mother who broke the truth, good for her. perhaps there is a mental case here with this women. Did she fall through the cracks? She has placed a huge burden upon her mother and father, and cause a great injustice to those innocent children.

[GiannaX]

And, ultimately the burden will fall to the ALREADY overburdened taxpayers of California. There is a distinct possibility that some or all of these innocent children will have learning and physical disabilities for their lifetime. I'm sorry, but this woman and her fertility doctor were horribly irresponsible and cavalier in their actions.

[ggirl]

I have nothing against people having as many children that they want as long as they can afford them. Public Assistance is okay but it is for people who are having hard times that they have no control of. If you are not married or even if you are having 14 children is a major expense and the government should not get involved in anyway if she took drugs to have these children. The doctor who put 8 eggs in this woman should have their license revoked. 17 people living in a three bedroom home is crazy but I think CPS should look in on them every few months.I feel so sorry for children with parents who don't think about their children's welfare.

[cdnnewsjunky]

This isn't about fertility drugs, this was in vitro fertilization. No accident.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090131.wocts0131/BNStory/International/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

[Seaglass]

Correction to my post: the Duggars have four more children than Octuplet Mom--eighteen total, and as they love to ominously chirp, "counting.".

[Tugar]

And the Duggers should be ashamed of themselves. The Mom and Dad are in their mid 40's. The oldest son just got married, and Mom & Dad told the happy couple "to have as many children that God will give them. So, we all know what to expect there in about a years' time.

Shows like the Duggers and Jon & Kate+8 are cleaning up with America's fascination about the number of kids they have. I hope that know, we will all get a grip on this nonsense, and reject the idea of people making money because of the number of kids they produce. It's just another form of welfare. But we can plainly see it when a mother like this one of the "Octuplets" do such a thing, but totally miss it when it comes to reality TV shows like the Duggers, etc.

[KarlaElisa]

Insanity prevails. The irresponsibility of this woman to be a baby farm is unbelievable.

People like her make me SICK. She is selfish, thoughtless, and it would appear if this is true she took fertility drugs....it's all premeditated.

She lives with her PARENTS and there is no life partner involved?

Who pays for this all? Who pays for the prolonged hospital stay of 8 under weight children? Who will support a family of now what? 16?

[leatherbunny]

Sorry.. reading these comments.. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have nothing to do with this story. They don't glorify having children because Ms. Jolie had two pregnancies and adopted three children before the last pregnancy which made up their 6 children.

Having children or not having them, is a personal choice. That being said IMO, this woman is Nuts. How could she be able to pack up 14 kids in carseats or on a bus, on her own? Let alone nurse them, bottle or not? One has only so many hands, and unless you are very rich and can hire lots of help I can see no way for these babies to get the care they will need unless the mother imposes on others.

And what about the doctor who actually gave the in vitro fertilization to a woman who already had 6 children?

[dmay]

When I was young (in the 70's) there was a lot more open, undeveloped land in the West. Not so much anymore. Why? Here's one clue - in the last 100 years we have gone from 1.65 billion people on earth to an estimated 6.75 billion. That's only 3-5 generations (depending on the age your folks were).

What she did has direct and immediate consequences on my quality of life, and the quality of the environmental health. Individuals have to take responsibility. If they don't, it will come down to regulation - and we all see how well that worked in China, right?

There's nothing that can be done now, and if I were ever to meet one of the children I would want them to feel cherished and welcomed as individuals. But the mother? Not happy one bit with her; no congrats from me - no matter how the kids turn out.

Stop fertility treatments - they are unethical, irresponsible and just plain gross. Adopt or volunteer with young ones if you can't have kids. Your desire to have a mini-me is not tenable. Sorry.

[colorperdaughter]

The media has been glorifying motherhood (Angelina Jolie for instance) for some time. It is not surprising that fame and babies go hand in hand. Someone not too stable will glom right on. This fad will likely do the way of Paris Hilton's little dogs. Let's hope these babies have a better outcome, the focus should be on providing for them regardless of the stupidity and vanity of adults.

[FabulousAt52]

Please don't drag Angelina Jolie into this... she's ADOPTED more kids than she's had naturally.
She is not out having multiple births due to planned IVF. And I believe Brad and Angelina have what- 5 or 6 kids? At least three were adopted as far as I recall (I really didn't pay much attention) ... but that is not 8, 10, 14, or 18 kids!

There is plenty to discuss and debate about the EXTREME cases like this one and the Duggars, etc... we don't need to bring up Angelina -- it's not nearly the same thing.

[FabulousAt52]

Please don't drag Angelina Jolie into this... she's ADOPTED more kids than she's had naturally. She is not out having multiple births due to planned IVF. And I believe Brad and Angelina have what- 5 or 6 kids? At least three were adopted as far as I recall (I really didn't pay much attention) ...
but that is not 8, 10, 14, or 18 kids!

There is plenty to discuss and debate about the EXTREME cases like this one and the Duggars, etc... we don't need to bring up Angelina -- it's not nearly the same thing.