The Baby Keeper

Given the current state of world affairs, and the current economic crisis and the risks of global warming, I think it is terribly selfish for any one to have children and it is tantamount to child abuse to give birth to one child, let alone multiple children. My observation of most parents is that they are fulfilling some selfish need in themselves - like looking to have something to love. Then they are raising children who are even more spoiled and selfish than their parents are. All of you folks who think you are great parents are in total deniial. Our society is proof that the children who are growing into adults have no concept of what's right or wrong, and what we should be doing to make the world a better place. We now have three living generations of people focused exclusively on their own selfish needs and not the needs of the community as a whole. It is not about class or economics - even well educated, financially sound folks are raising spoiled brats who do not contribute to society. Most parents I have met think they are great parents, while as an outside observer, I think they are totally lying too themselves and are quite delusional. Most people should quit having babies. Period.

It is un-natural, un-healthy, and even dangerous for everyone involved, including the fathers. The euphamistic term, 'super twins,' puts an emotional spin on life threatening behaviors of very self absorbed people who are determined to waste vast sums of money, medical, and even scientic recources, to intentionally fly in the face of nature becuase of other euphemistic terms such as heroism, 'christ like', and special. When the highflying truth comes crashing down around them, i.e. the deaths of the mothers, the deaths of the children, or worse, the long term disability and need for life long governmental support, maybe then more responsible people in our society will work through government to stop these insane behaviors. Naturally these couples are infertal for a reason, religiously God has rendered them barren for His own reason, morally there is a reason childless couples should adopt, and ethically there is a reason good society should step in and stop all of these insane, and un-natural procedures, and treatments, including invetro fertilization. Let's quit being so euphemistic, be more realistic instead. Call this what it is, self appointed Gods bringing litters of babies into a traumatic, and dangerous futures, while simultaniously and un-neccessarily endangering the lives and futures of infertal people. Can't have babies of your own to love? Then do what's right, and start loving your neighbor's cast aways that fill the hell holes of the world's gutters. Love thy neighbor, and not thy self. Isn't that really more 'Chrsit like," in the end? T.Lee Madison, WI

Okay, so I'm one of those 'poor unfortunate women that never knew the joy of giving birth to my very own child'. Poor me - INSTEAD I'm RAISING 2 children when their own mother goes out drinking/partying/sleeping around. Do I WISH oh my god that they LOOKED like me? Do I feel like I MISSED something? NO. I get the whole parental experience - minus passing a football between my legs. I HAVEN'T MISSED ANYTHING. NOTHING. I feel REALLY SORRY for you wasted individuals who feel that the only 'true' thing that has happened in your entire life was giving birth. Cockroaches give birth - humans should strive to raise decent, educated, articulate, productive OTHER humans no matter who gave birth to them. It is NOT a life requisite that you physically reproduced.

For all that are using their faith to argue fertility, remember what the bible says about judging others. Unless you have been faced with infertility, infertility treatments, HOM pregnancy, the decision to keep or reduce, your opinion really doesn't matter. And yes, most couples who utilize fertility treatments, could first afford the IVF procedures that got them to the HOM pregnancy, in our case it was triplets that cost us around twelve thousand dollars to conceive, and I can say the government didn't help one bit. Our babies were born 15 weeks early and are now happy and healthy. We struggle financially and sometimes even mentally (as most parents I'm sure), but I wouldn't give up any one of my children. As I look at these gorgeous little people, I sometimes cry that I could have made a huge mistake and ended one of their precious lives before it even got started. Thank you Dr. Elliot for what you do.

I first of all would like to say to GeorginaKlanica that is the most horrific, back woods, thing I have ever heard!! Why shouldn't everyone be given the wonderfull experience of pregnancy. The advances that we have made in the infertility field are wonderful. Many loving parents would not have had the oppertunity to be parents if not for these advances. Not all infertilty results in "super multiples" You can never imagine the pain and heart ache an woman who is unable to concieve a child on her on goes through. This woman that already had the six children, that is a different story. But please before you say something so heartless please thingk first.

How long does it take for a woman who believes in God to realize He's said NO? God doesn't always say yes. And if a woman gives birth to basically a litter, the size of which would embarrass a cat, there are bound to be health consequences for those babies. In this economy I can't imagine bringing so many into the world -- where -- unless some big company pays all her bills in exchange for advertising -- those children will only know poverty. I think she proved herself an unfit mother by having these children -- something God evidently saw beforehand.

To those of you who do not have children and are condemning those that do...How in the world do you think you got here?

For those of you that have gone through fertility treatments to have kids...HOM or not...Congrats on your family.

For those of you who believe in "selective reduction" you are sick and twisted.

For those of you who thing the earth is over-populated...Get over yourself.

For those of you who think that the mother with 14 kids is crazy...I agree...but get off your high horse. Its not your life.

For those of you who think infertility is part of "God's plan" and you are messing it up by using fertility drugs...Yes adoption is great...but you may not understand the desire to have biological children and the fear that you may never conceive.

I think that Dr. Elliot is doing a remarkable thing by helping mothers with HOM. My own mother was put on a "mag" drip for pre-term labor and, although she hated it, she and her three children, all singles, all full term due to Magnesium Sulfate, all heathy, are all here because of it. Stop complaining and arguing about something we don't have control of. If its not your life, its not your business.

"Is it her right and her life? Sure.' - Let me rephrase that. My body, My choice. I can't tell you how sad it is that females use this phrase. Ya, I'll tell you why, because the choice your making isn't about your body but the one you are carrying. When you have to play with words like that to make your defense does the defense really exist. The only difference between you and a fetus is time.

Why is it that everyone thinks they have the right to judge this woman? And what's wrong with accepting money for the rights to just about every aspect of her octuplets? I don't hear anyone judging the Duggers (TLC'S 17 Children and Counting) for accepting money for their show. And jps74, are you a mental health professional? And have you examined this woman? I think not...your observation is your opinion. And last, do any of you like strangers judging you and your lifestyle? I don't!! Oh, and by the way, 17 kids in Arkansas is nothing. I know of people with 25+!

Of course Dr. Evans opposes Dr. Elliot, he threatens his bread and butter - 'selective reduction'. A nice way of saying abortion, which is BIG business, several hundred dollars a pop. State funded of course. I am not saying I think we should all run out there and have multiples, that it is always healthy or safe or best. It is refreashing though to see a male doctor respecting the wishes of the mother, wishes that go against todays grain of 1.6 children per family. I agree that something was not right in the recent situation with the single mother ending up with 14, but are we forgetting Jon & Kate, or even the Duggars - 17 and counting? Both very succesful, loving and functional homes. I am the oldest of 6, all singles, spread out over 15 years. Our parents were our parents, and we were the children. My mother was, and is a veritable super-mom. She chose to have a large family, dedicated herself to that, and was extremely succesful. I only hope that I can do half as well, and I also want a large family. I find it interesting that a woman's 'right to choose' is so well respected as long as that choice is the same one that society chooses - 1.6 children. Much more than that, and there must be something wrong with the woman.

This is sick. Now, there are 14 kids that will end up on the public rolls. The doctor and clinic ought to be sued in order to support the kids. As for the mother, get her a job and it does not matter what it is.