Recipient Parent

Bringing a child into your family through third party reproduction is a journey filled with contemplation, excitement, and a mix of other emotions. As recipient parents, while the joy of building your family is undeniable, it’s natural to have moments of uncertainty about the future, the genetic connection, and the importance of open communication and conversations you’ll eventually need to have with your child.

Our goal is to guide you through these unique experiences, offering support, education, and strategies to help you feel confident in your role as a recipient parent, whether through donor conception or surrogacy.

Getting Support On Your Journey

Addressing Genetic Connection Concerns

One of the most common concerns among recipient parents is the lack of a genetic connection with their child. Even though the love and care that built your family is unshakeable, feelings of insecurity may arise. While each parent knows their child would not be here without them, concerns and insecurities can build over the lack of genetic connection contributing to genetic grief. Parents often report feelings of anxiety at the prospects of future conversations about how the child came into the world.

Finding Peace in Your Family's Story

As your family grows, the story of how you came to be may shift from being central to becoming part of the background. Yet, reminders and reflections on the unique way your family was built can arise at unexpected moments. It’s important to make peace with these experiences and integrate your family’s journey into your daily life, so it feels like a natural and celebrated part of your identity as a parent.

Future Conversations with Your Child

Talking to your child about their conception story can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll help you develop tools and language to ensure your child understands their origins in a loving, age-appropriate way. From discussing half-siblings to understanding the importance of sharing medical and mental health information, we will explore how to approach these essential conversations with openness and care.

Recipient Parent Workshop

In this workshop, we explore the unique challenges and rewards of being a recipient parent, with a special focus on disclosure: how, when, and why to talk to your child about how your family came to be. You’ll gain insights, tools, and strategies to help you feel confident about navigating these conversations with love and honesty.

In this workshop, we will explore:

  • Processing your family-building journey.

  • Short-term and long-term considerations as you raise your child.

  • Empowering yourself for questions and concerns that may arise

  • When and how to tell your child their story

  • Navigating relationships with donor siblings

Whether you’re already parenting a donor-conceived child or preparing for future conversations, we are here to support you, your child, and your family every step of the way.

Coming Soon

Support Groups

Parenting through donor conception is a unique and rewarding journey, but it can also bring questions and emotions that are best shared in a supportive community. Our support groups for recipient parents provide a safe space to connect with others who understand your experiences, offering encouragement, guidance, and practical advice as you navigate parenthood. Join a group designed to empower and uplift you as you navigate the joys and challenges of parenting through donor conception.