Deck

We're fascinated by "multiples"-- even identical twins draw attention, never mind those incomprehensible sets of six or eight babies. Websites and reality television shows chronicle the ordinary, yet extraordinary lives of families with quintuplets, sextuplets and septuplets. And while there's some debate over whether these modern multiples are over-exposed, a half century ago, these children were sometimes blatantly exploited for their novelty. In the 1940's, the famed Dionne quintuplets were displayed in an attraction called "Quintland" near Ontario for years.

 
 
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  • Posted By: KikiNJ @ 10/09/2009 7:24:47 AM

    Thank you for clarifying that, Heather. It's frustrating when the terms IVF and IUI are used interchangably, as they are very different procedures. I expect a publication like Newsweek, that describes itself as "dedicated to journalism" to do the basic research necessary to accurately present this information.

  • Posted By: HeatherV @ 10/08/2009 1:19:00 PM

    I would like to point out that both the Gosselins and the Dilleys used IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination), in which sperm is put into the uterus and conception takes place within the woman's body, NOT IVF. High order mulitples result most often from IUI because either the couple is told that they have too many eggs maturing at once, and they go ahead and inseminate or have intercourse anyway, or their doctor underestimates how many eggs are maturing. Most fertility specialists will not transfer more than two or three embryos during an IVF, except in cases where the woman has had multiple failures or is of very advanced age.

  • Posted By: foridatriplets @ 06/20/2009 12:00:27 AM

    We are no different then the parents who had their kids one at a time. The only thing that sets us apart is having them all at once. I am the mom of triplets plus one. And it is not easy, but I can say that the work would be the same if I had them one at a time. We are lucky to have the opportunity to have them in the first place. The same day i found out I was having NATURAL triplets was the day my co-worker found out that her 4th IVF treatment had failed. My heart was broken for her and filled with disbelief that some could have as many as many as 8 at once and some could not even get one.

    For those of you who can not help it but say: "Are they triplets?", "You have your hands full", "Better you then me" and "How do you do it" HERE is the answer:

    They are MY children whether they were born at the same time or not, they are MY children. They are special to me and my family. They are not for you to gaze, point, or wisper about. We are not different then the Dugars family with 18 kids. And all that matters is that we love them as individuals.

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