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How Many Is Too Many?

© Jodi Michael Horner

Couples who are desperate for a child have used fertility drugs to have a baby, maybe two or three all at once. Of course no one (hopefully) would ever choose to have eight babies simultaneously. Some then ask, why take the risk? Physicians experienced in the use of fertility drugs supposedly know how to avoid such traumatic birth situations. http://multiples.about.com/gi/dynamic/of... Women obviously cannot determine nor control how many eggs are ovulated, though in the case of fertility treatments very often couples are told in advance how many follicles have "ripened;" each follicle being a potential conception. The couple can decide for themselves if they want to proceed with fertilization.

Four boys, four girls: eight is more than enough. The Chukwu octuplets born in Houston in 1998 raised the issue of the ethics involved in using fertility drugs. One baby girl died. http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/28/octuplets....

[Octs'_Parents]

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~garyh/preemie... http://multiples.about.com/gi/dynamic/of...

A woman who has been through the arduous process of fertility treatments says, "People who are willing to push that envelope...need to be able to deal with the repercussions. I pushed hard. After 3 rounds of injectible hormones...we had only enough money and emotional energy for one more try. Our 4th round was showing 12 ripening follicles (our earlier tries had shown 5-8 ripening). That's when our RE sat us down and laid out the facts again about the chances of multiples, what the probable outcomes were for higher order pregnancies, the risks of reduction, everything. Flat out, no holds barred, no sugar coating." Couples taking fertility drugs must accept a level of accountability.

The option of "reduction," terminating some of the embryos in an attempt to raise the odds of a healthy pregnancy with fewer babies, is a path taken by many. But for many others that is not even a consideration due to their views on abortion. http://multiples.about.com/gi/dynamic/of... Still, the hunger for a child drives them to take great measures. And great risks.

After six years of trying for a child, an Italian couple conceived octuplets in 2000 when they had turned to fertility drugs. The mother went into labor just 25 weeks into her pregnancy, and gave birth to one of the girls on September 13. The other seven babies were delivered on September 16, (2000), but one died immediately after birth. Three others died in the next few days. http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/world/... Some medical experts have been critical of the fertility treatment the couple received, saying more careful monitoring might have prevented the mother from conceiving such a dangerously large number of babies. Purportedly, the couple rejected aborting some of the fetuses to enhance survival chances for the rest.

Chukwa Babies

Chukwa Toddlers

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