Rare vs. Common

From the Associated Press...

Octuplets born in California doing 'very well'
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON

• The octuplets born to a mother in Southern California are doing "very, very well" and breathing on their own, one of their doctors said.
  

• Two of the newborns — the second live octuplets born in U.S. history — were initially put on ventilators, but their breathing tubes have been removed. The doctors cautioned that there is still the possibility that one or more of the octuplets may need a breathing tube again, and more dangers await when they begin feeding. The children could face serious health risks, including breathing problems and neurological damage

• There were six boys and two girls weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces, and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The eighth baby was a surprise to the parents and doctors who had been expecting only seven children.

• The mother checked into the hospital in her 23rd week of pregnancy and gave birth to the premature babies seven weeks later.

Read the whole article at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxSFp2Kpyv6vAKJJUQIg_xh5SnGgD95VH76O0

We always hear about these types of cases. Rare, risky, romantic. The stuff of news.

But what about the more common outcome: assisted reproductive technology yielding no offspring? If you look at the statistics (which are usually broken down by age so as not to dash the hopes of all considering this option), chances are a couple will not have a baby using this technology, especially if they are toward the end of their reproductive years. But you never hear about that in the media.

It gives people the false impression that assisted reproductive techniques are far more successful than they are, and that babies are easy to come about through these medical interventions.