Nadya “Natalie” Suleman is telling her story and that of her 14 children for the first time in the Lifetime docuseries Confessions of Octomom. After living a reclusive life away from the public eye, the mother of multiples lets viewers inside her life in a very public way. In Touch takes a deep dive into the docuseries, where Nadya declares, “This is our story. The real one.”
What Is ‘Confessions of Octomom’ About?
The six-part docuseries goes back over Nadya’s history-making birth of her octuplets in January 2009, through her life today as a mom of 14 children. It even includes her new role as grandmother after one of her 10 sons welcomed a baby in September 2024.
“With her octuplets turning sixteen this January and her other six children ranging from 17 to 23 years-old, Suleman has been out of the public eye for years and now, for the first time, Suleman and her 14 children reveal a much different life than the world has ever been privy to before,” Lifetime’s synopsis of the show reads.
It continues, “The series also follows the octuplets through their challenges and triumphs, growing up in the spotlight and their desire to move beyond their now secluded life.”
“I’ve been waiting a very very long time to tell my true story, and I believe the world is ready to hear it,” Nadya declared in the trailer that dropped on February 27, 2025.
Nadya Suleman Now Goes By ‘Natalie’
While Nadya is her actual first name, the mom now goes by Natalie and wants to be called that. She’s referred to by the latter in the show’s production materials and throughout the docuseries.
Nadya Suleman Discusses Why She Hides Her Face When Going Out in Public
In the trailer, Nadya is shown putting on a hat with a full face covering attached. When a producer asked, “Explain to me again why you cover up?” She replied, “It helps with my social anxiety,” later adding, “It doesn’t draw any attention because people don’t look and stare.”
Nadya Suleman Always Wanted a ‘Big Family’
“I always wanted to be a mom. I wanted a big family,” Nadya said in a confessional. “I set my mind to achieving a goal. You know, I achieved that goal. I think I may have overachieved.”
Nadya used a sperm donor and had her embryos implanted to welcome six kids followed by her octuplets.
She welcomed son Elijah in May 2001, followed by daughter Amerah in July 2002. Son Joshua came along in 2003, followed by Aiden in 2005. Nadya gave birth to twins Calyssa and Caleb in 2006.
In 2008, Dr. Michael Kamrava implanted Nadya with eight embryos when the recommendation for women is two at a time. As a result, she gave birth to the only surviving set of octuplets in history in 2009. They are Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Makai, Josiah and Jeremiah.
Nadya Suleman’s 14 Kids Are Featured in ‘Confessions of Octomom’
Now teenagers and adults, the show takes a look inside the lives of Nadya’s children. Their story is told for the first time from their perspective.
“My mom did everything in her power to protect her kids,” one of Nadya’s daughters told the camera. “The main reason we’re doing all this is to get the truth out there,” one of her adult sons said in a confessional.
One of their older siblings was seen telling several of the octuplets, “I know you guys all have each other right now, but you guys are going to have your own lives.” The eight youngest siblings were also shown taking off their protective hats and face masks, smiling and showing off their identities without hiding behind anything.
The Biological Father of Nadya Sulman’s Octuplets Speaks Out for the 1st Time
Nadya never revealed the identity of the sperm donor she used to conceive her children, and he speaks out for the first time in the docuseries.
“The topic of my biological father has come up,” one of Nadya’s daughters said in a voiceover showing the kids during an outing in the trailer.
Son Noah said of his biological dad, “He’s a donor so we can’t meet him. He’s anonymous.”
Next, a man came into view and sat on a sofa, shown only from the waist down. “I was the sperm donor,” he announced.
Nadya Suleman Discusses Difficult Decisions About Making Money
“I had just given birth to eight [children]. I could not financially afford them. I was struggling. I was really desperate to make any money,” Nadya said in a confessional.
Blogger Perez Hilton appears in the documentary series. He explained in a scene from the trailer, “She had been getting these offers to do adult films and finally said yes.” Dr. Drew Pinky also appears, telling producers, “It was this vine where fame itself had the greatest potential to get some income for her kids.”
Nadya briefly turned to stripping in 2012, followed by a sex tape and posing for nude photos in 2013.
“When someone comes up to you at school and asks you if your mom is a stripper, you don’t know what to say,” one of her sons explained.
When Does ‘Confessions of Octomom’ Premiere?
Confessions of Octomom premieres on March 10, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
