A 33-year-old woman in California gave birth to eight babies on Jan 26, marking only the second time in recorded U.S. history that live octuplets were born.
The mother, Nadya Suleman, had been prepared to deliver seven babies at the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center in southern California. However, after the seventh baby was delivered, members of the 46-person medical team confirmed that an eighth, albeit unexpected, baby was on the way.
Doctors speculated that the surprise baby had been tucked into the horn of the mother’s uterus, and went undetected because it shared a small space with seven other siblings.
The eight babies, temporarily named with the letters A through H, weigh from 1 pound, 8 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Two are girls and six are boys. They will remain in the hospital for two months, having been born nine weeks prematurely.
The octuplets make a total of 14 children for Suleman, who is currently unemployed, divorced and lives with her parents. The Cal State Fullerton graduate (she has a BS in child development) has hired an agent and is hoping to score a $2 million television interview with either Diane Sawyer or Oprah WInfrey, or to find a gig as an on-air childcare expert. The Los Angeles Times reports that, according to neighbors, Suleman is “obsessed with children” and was “hoping for just one more girl.” Wishes do come true.
