Octomom in rehab after years under intense media spotlight
Octomom – mother of the longest-surviving octuplets, plus six other children, all conceived through in vitro fertility treatments – checked into rehab this week. She has been constantly in the media spotlight since her octuplets were born four years ago.
Nadya Suleman, also known as "Octomom," poses with some of her 14 children at their new home in Palmdale, Calif. last week.
Antelope Valley Press/AP
Los Angeles
"Octomom" Nadya Suleman – under an intense media spotlight since giving birth to octuplets in 2009 – has checked herself into a rehabilitation center, citing anxiety, exhaustion and stress, a spokeswoman for the mother of 14 said Tuesday.
Ms. Suleman had been under a doctor's care to deal with her problems, but she felt she needed a treatment program to help with her recovery, spokeswoman Gina Rodriguez said in a statement.
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Suleman checked herself into the Chapman House Treatment Center on Oct. 23 and "will be in treatment for 28 days or more if needed," Ms. Rodriguez said.
The rehab facility declined to confirm it is caring for Suleman because of patient confidentiality laws.
Meanwhile, three nannies and two of Suleman's friends will care for her octuplets, who will be 4 years old in January, and her six older children.
A driver will take the kids to and from school, and their Palmdale home in the Mojave Desert has around-the-clock security, Rodriguez said.
Suleman has repeatedly been investigated by social services over allegations of neglect and child abuse. Prosecutors decided not to file charges earlier this month following the most recent allegations. Rodriguez said the woman who made the allegations was obsessed with Suleman's children.
Suleman had lived in Orange County until she moved her brood to the Palmdale home earlier this month. After the move, she told the local newspaper she was happy because she was no longer receiving death threats.
Over the past four years, Suleman has tried to cash in on her notoriety in a variety of ways, including endorsing milkshakes, making a pornographic video, posing for semi-nude photo shoots and participating in celebrity boxing matches.
Rodriguez said the rehab center offered to treat Suleman at no charge, but she opted to pay for the program.
All 14 of Suleman's children were conceived through in vitro fertility treatments. Her octuplets are the world's longest-surviving set.