Nadya Suleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natalie Suleman
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_at_Ha_Ha_Cafe_-_2011.jpg)
Suleman in 2011
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| Born |
Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman
July 11, 1975 Fullerton, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Natalie Denise Suleman (current full name) |
| Known for | Suleman octuplets |
| Spouse(s) |
Marcos Gutierrez
(m. 1996; div. 2008) |
| Children | 14 |
| Parents |
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Natalie Denise Suleman (born Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman; July 11, 1975), often called Octomom by the media, is an American public figure. She became widely known in January 2009 when she gave birth to the first surviving octuplets. This event brought a lot of attention to her and to the topic of assisted reproductive technology.
Suleman had her octuplets and her six older children through a specific medical procedure.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Natalie Suleman was born in Fullerton, California. She is the only child of Angela Victoria Suleman, a schoolteacher, and Edward Doud Suleman, a restaurant owner who later became a realtor.
She went to Nogales High School in La Puente. Later, she attended Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, where she earned a license to work as a psychiatric technician. She also earned a bachelor's degree in child development. For three years, she worked at a state mental hospital.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1996, Natalie Suleman married Marco Gutierrez. They separated in 2000 and their divorce was finalized in January 2008.
Her Children
Suleman began medical treatments in 1997 when she was 21 years old. In 2001, she had her first son, Elijah. In 2002, her first daughter, Amerah, was born. She continued treatments and had three more pregnancies. These resulted in two more sons, Joshua and Aidan, and a set of twins, Calyssa and Caleb. This brought her total to six children: four sons and two daughters.
In 2019, Suleman shared that her son, Aidan, has severe autism. He needs help with all his daily activities. Natalie Suleman is a vegan, and she says that most of her children also prefer vegan food.
The Octuplets' Birth
In 2009, Suleman stated that she had six embryos left from her earlier treatments. She asked for all of them to be placed into her uterus at once. For a woman her age, doctors would usually transfer a maximum of three embryos. Suleman said she wanted to use the remaining embryos so they would not be destroyed.
News of the octuplets' birth created a huge international media buzz. There was a lot of public discussion about Suleman's decision to have so many children. Many people worried that supporting the children would be a burden on taxpayers. Suleman said she could support her children on her own. She planned to go back to school to get a master's degree in counseling. Records showed she had received financial support for a back injury she had in 1999.
In February 2009, there was concern about when the octuplets would be released from the hospital. Suleman also worried about keeping custody of them. By April 14, 2009, all the children were home with their mother and grandmother. The octuplets celebrated their first birthday on January 26, 2010. Suleman told People magazine that she did not get much sleep. She said, "It's hard, but I'm continuing to move forward with my life and trying to be the best mother I can be."
Public Attention and Media
After the octuplets were born, Natalie Suleman quickly became famous. Within the first week, the media started calling her "Octomom." She appeared on many television shows. In a February 2009 interview with Ann Curry, Suleman denied that her choices were selfish. She said she would be able to care for her children after finishing her schooling.
On April 16, 2009, Suleman announced a deal for a reality TV show in the UK. On July 24, she signed an agreement for her children to earn money for starring in a reality show. Filming was set to begin on September 1. FOX later aired a special called Octo-Mom: The Incredible Unseen Footage. Many parodies and other media events were based on her story.
Suleman was featured in the February 2010 issue of Star magazine. Several photo shoots followed, mainly focusing on her weight loss after giving birth to the octuplets.
In April 2010, Suleman appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She denied having plastic surgery and said she refused to star in certain types of movies. She also said she had seriously thought about her decision to have and raise her children. She hoped to become a teacher. She made another appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss financial issues and a personal challenge she had since childhood.
In March 2019, the Australian TV program Sunday Night interviewed Suleman for the octuplets' tenth birthday. She admitted that she was "young, dumb, irresponsible, selfish, reckless" at the time. However, she said she does not regret any of her children. The show noted that her household is run very efficiently. It also said the children are "happy, healthy, and well-mannered."
Other Activities
In June 2012, Suleman recorded a song with recording artist Adam Barta. In December 2012, a video she appeared in won an award for Best Celebrity Video.
Suleman also participated in the launch of an internet debate site called Deeyoon.com. She took part in an online debate about parenting.
Film Depiction
In 2025, Natalie Suleman's life was shown in the Lifetime film I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story. Suleman narrated the film herself. The movie stars Kristen Gutoskie as Suleman, Caitlin Stryker as her best friend Beth, and Anita Wittenberg as Angela Suleman.
See also
In Spanish: Nadya Suleman para niños
