Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman Gutierrez (born Natalie Denise Suleman, July 11, 1975) known as Octomom in the media, is an American woman who came to international attention when she gave birth to octuplets (multiple birth) in January 2009. The Suleman octuplets are only the second full set of octuplets to be born alive in the United States and, one week after their birth, surpassed the previous worldwide survival rate for a complete set of octuplets set by the Chukwu octuplets in 1998. The circumstances of their high order multiple birth (Multiple birth#Higher order multiples) have led to controversy in the field of assisted reproductive technology as well as an investigation by the Medical Board of California of the fertility specialist involved. Public reaction turned negative when it was discovered that the single mother already had six other young children and was unemployed and on public assistance (welfare) programs. She conceived the octuplets and her six older children via in vitro fertilisation (IVF).