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Chapter 6 - Alternative Pathways

Becoming a Parent through Reproductive Donation or Adoption

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2022

Catherine McMahon
Catherine McMahon
Affiliation:
Macquarie University, Sydney
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Summary

This chapter considers the more complicated process of becoming a parent when one or both parents is not genetically related to the child, and there is a third party (donor, relinquishing parent, or surrogate) involved. The chapter first sets out the key psychological and social challenges that are shared across all modes of non-biological parenthood, and then examines theory and research evidence on the transition to parenthood for heterosexual couples conceiving with donated sperm, eggs, or embryos, women who choose to embark on parenthood alone, with the assistance of a sperm donor, lesbian couples, gay couples, and those who adopt a child.

Keywords

Meg’s Story: Adopting a Baby GirlMeg describes her experience with her woman partner, adopting their daughter through the welfare system.Josh’s Story: Two Fathers, Two BabiesJosh describes the journey to becoming parents of twins with his partner Sean and the assistance of a surrogate in the United StatesGenetic relatednessGestational relatednessDonated spermDonated eggsDonated embryosSurrogacyAdoption
Type
Chapter
Information
Becoming a Parent
Contemporary Contexts and Challenges during the Transition to Parenthood
 , pp. 131 - 167
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Alternative Pathways
  • Catherine McMahon, Macquarie University, Sydney
  • Book: Becoming a Parent
  • Online publication: 18 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108870641.007
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Alternative Pathways
  • Catherine McMahon, Macquarie University, Sydney
  • Book: Becoming a Parent
  • Online publication: 18 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108870641.007
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Alternative Pathways
  • Catherine McMahon, Macquarie University, Sydney
  • Book: Becoming a Parent
  • Online publication: 18 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108870641.007
Available formats
×