In 2009, Nadya Suleman, then a single mother of six, became an international sensation when she gave birth to the world's first surviving octuplets through in-vitro fertilization. This momentous occasion, however, was met with a wave of both public fascination and intense criticism. Suleman recently recounted the challenges she faced, including death threats and the difficult sacrifices she made to provide for her suddenly large family.
To support her 14 children, Suleman engaged in various ventures, including working with tabloids and appearing in an adult film. She describes the years following the octuplets' birth as a period of intense public scrutiny, a feeling of being under attack from the world's judgment. It wasn't until her youngest children were around four years old that she felt able to reclaim some semblance of her former life, escaping the global condemnation she had experienced.
Suleman admits to financial struggles, initially relying on nannies but eventually finding herself unable to afford long-term childcare. She credits her strong faith for helping her navigate these difficult times. All 14 of her children were conceived via IVF with the same anonymous sperm donor.
In a 2018 interview, Suleman stated she felt misled by her fertility specialist, Dr. Michael Kamrava, regarding the number of embryos implanted. She claimed he had told her six embryos were lost, which led to the implantation of six more. Kamrava later had his medical license revoked in California after admitting to implanting 12 embryos in Suleman. He disputed Suleman’s account, claiming she had pressured him.
Suleman's story is the subject of a new Lifetime movie, "I Was Octomom," and a subsequent docuseries, "Confessions of Octomom." The docuseries will feature Suleman's children speaking publicly for the first time. Suleman explains her motivation for revisiting her story is to help other women facing struggles, particularly single mothers, and to offer her perspective on the events that shaped her life. She emphasizes that she is more than just the "Octomom" caricature, but a mother striving to raise her family.
Her daughter Nariyah expressed excitement about the docuseries, hoping it will allow her mother to share her side of the story and address the unfair criticism she received.
