Wow!  I am sure this couple was encouraged to “selectively terminate” some of the babies—thanks be to God they gave these precious children a chance at life!  May God provide them with the grace & resources needed to care for their new houseful of blessings!

Forgive me for this, but I have a difficult time with these mega super births.  I don’t know why, but the thought comes to my mind that we (as women) are not dogs or cats, and shouldn’t be giving birth to litters of humans.

Anon,
I can understand your hesitation to celebrate.  I thank God that this couple didn’t choose to “reduce” the number of babies in utero but you’re right, we’re not designed to carry so many at once.  The chances of problems are greatly increased for both Mom and babies.  I think it can be traced back to the consumer mentality about children and how they’re commodities that we have a right to produce or destroy at our own will.  These parents must believe in the sanctity of life to have resisted “suggestions” to reduce and my prayers are with them and the babies.  It’s the age old Satan tactic of taking something good (the blessing of children) and thowing in a lie (that we have a right to them and that our children belong to us, not God) to worm his way into our lives and decisions.

When I first heard of “selective termination” of multiple babies in utero…..I was appalled.  Who can think of such things?...Of course it is the enemy, the evil one.  I can’t imagine killing one of my miracles granted by God.  I pray for all of the unborn…but I need to do more.  Do you have any suggestions.  I’m so afraid for little children who are at the mercy of pending legislation.  I’d appreciate any feedback.

Re: comment #2

I am the mother of triplets. Does that make me a dog?

#2:  I agree with you and so does our late Pope John Paul II who expressed reservations about the use of the fertility drugs that can result in a high number of embryos (a number not normally produced naturally).  Not that is was wrong to use these drugs but they do present some problems.

To MR:

I do not consider triplets to be a “super mega” birth.  Please do not read into what I said.

I’m sure this family didn’t plan on having eight kids. Even if they made a mistake in the use of fertility aids (which may not even be the case, as likely as it is), they should be respected for their insistence on carrying the babies (as I’m sure they suffered lots of pressure to selectively abort). I will also be praying for them and for lots of helpers for them because there’s a very good reason God designed us to usually only have one baby. Besides being safer for pregnancy and birth, caring for one newborn is stressful enough! I’ve managed it three times with the help of husband, mother and mother-in-law. I just can’t imagine getting through the first year with eight! They need God now more than ever.

I agree with Kansas Mom.  Good for the mother for not selectively reducing!  But how incredibly scary!  I can’t imagine eight preemies, can you?  May the Lord and our Blessed Mother look after them and send them a community of helpers!

Kansas Mom,
I agree with you.  It takes a lot of courage to go through with the pregnancy. My neighbor chose to freeze her unused embryos and now, is hoping that someone will adopt them.  She’s had four embryos frozen for ten years now.  Selective reduction, freezing embryos, the whole thing makes my stomach turn.

Wow…I cannot even imagine. Congratulations to the family and praise God that all the babies appear to be doing well. I also heard that they were “only” expecting seven babies…somehow an eighth baby “snuck” in!

I hope it’s an error of omission but I hope there’s a father in there somewhere.  This kind of story makes me happy and sad and is truly a commentary on our society at this time.

Pope Benedict said he condemns invetro fertalization and other ways of getting pregnant other than the natural way.  It’s on Youtube.com.

Congrats to this couple for having healthy babies.  I hope they have wonderful lives…but good luck, they’ll need it!!

Will there be an update perspective on this since we’ve learned they had 6 other children and did fertility treatments for these precious 8?

Thank God they did not selectively abort!

I was just interested if there would be more perspective on this. Thanks!

Let’s see, she used a sperm donor, did invitro fertilization, is not married, and is under the care of a psychologist for mental instability.  Oh, and she already has sextuplets to care for from the last invitro.  This is a good example of how not to do things.

ITA with MM, #15.

Not sextuplets—six kids, including one set of twins, all under 8. One of them has autism; I cannot fathom why she thinks she needs more on her plate, although she seems to be a stranger to anything we would recognize as judgment.
The carrying all eight to term? Because she wants to become a childcare expert on TV, not because she viewed them as babies deserving—well, anything. This is about her. It is very, very sad.

Becca, I’m planning a follow up post this week—lots more to this story that was immediately apparent ...

Her first six are not sextuplets but singleton births with the exception of one set of twins.
This situation is the perfect example of why the Churchs stance on IVF is so correct.
While she is to be commended on not aborting any of her children a) they shouldn’t have been created in the first place and b) she shouldn’t have been implanted with 8 embryos.
IMO, the doctor that did her IVF and transfers should be disciplined by the CA medical board. What reckless irresponsibilty to implant 8 embryos! Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.