Donor Conception Network
| Knock Yourself Up: A Tell-All Guide to Becoming a Single Mother by Louise Sloan |
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This book is a collection of anecdotes about the journey to single motherhood put together by Louise Sloan, a single lesbian New Yorker. Available from the author |
| Sperm Donor Offspring: Identity and Other Experiences by Lynne W Spence |
Lynne Spencer is a donor conceived adult and this book is derived from her Master of Arts in Humanistic and Clinical Psychology thesis completed in 2000. Her theoretical perspective was one of qualitative phenomenological exploration, addressing the question, “What is the experience of confronting the reality of being a donor offspring”. Eight donor offspring, four male and four female, ranging in age from 39 to 57 were interviewed in person or by ‘phone. Their age of being informed about their donor conception varied from 18 to 47. The study is unusual in that it includes the experience and voice of the author who adds her own personal standpoint to those of the participants. The book is divided into three parts and for most people the middle section where Lynne sets out the answers that her participants gave to her questions will hold the most interest. The others are about the academic context and perspective and a vast number of references. This book is recommended for the above and for the warmth and humanity of the author that is evident throughout. Published by her and available from Amazon or www.booksurge.com |
| DVD Maybe Baby – A 90 minute documentary film from the USA |
 DVD Maybe Baby – A 90 minute documentary film from the USA by which features six single women in their thirties and forties trying to conceive using donor assistedconception.The film was made over a period of four years, and the emotional impact of going through fertility treatment as a single woman is clearly conveyed. It also includes reactions from family and friends, and features a woman who needs egg as well as sperm donation. There is one copy in the library available to borrow, or can be ordered from their website |
| The Complete Guide to Female Fertility Piatkus Books Ltd |
This is the book that no woman who ever wants to have a baby should be without, no matter what her situation or how old she is now! Kate Brian describes with great clarity how women’s fertility changes over the years, the different feelings that modern women have as they move their focus from contraception to wanting a baby, and the heartache that infertility can bring. There is well-researched, straightforward information between these covers but even better there is empathy and humour from someone who knows what it is like to decide the time is right to have a baby and not to be able to achieve this easily. Olivia Montuschi |
| Making Babies the Hard Way: Living with Infertility and Treatment by Caroline Gallup Published by Jessica Kingsley 2007: £12.99 ISBN 9781843104636 |
This is the story of Caroline and Bruce who discover quite early on in their quest to have a child that Bruce does not appear to be producing sperm. |
| Swimming Upstream: The Struggle to Conceive (2006) By David Rawlings and Karen Looi Published in Australia by Peacock Publications ISBN: 1921008253 |
 The authors are a man who has been through the experience of infertility and an experienced Infertility Counsellor, and the book explores the issues very well from a male perspective. Topics discussed include; why men don’t talk about problems conceiving, social isolation and putting on a brave face in a child-centred world, and issues that are particular to a man’s experience, like sperm tests, dealing with your father and understanding what your partner goes through. |
| Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice (2006) By Rosanna Hertz Published in the USA by Oxford University Press ISBN: 0195179900 |
 Rosanna Hertz interviewed 65 women from a range of backgrounds for this book, and examined their motivation for motherhood, and how the single by choice family fits into the world around them. It also explores how mothers incorporate a known donor into their family, how they juggle work and family life and provide male role models for their children. The book is quite academic and not as easy to read as other similar books. |
| Volume 1 of Voices of Donor Conception, Behind Closed Doors: Moving Beyond Shame and Secrecy Edited by Mikki Morrissette in affiliation with the Donor Sibling Registry |
 Voices of Donor Conception is a collection of first-person essays by people - fathers, mothers and adult children - involved in donor conception. This collaborative venture by the Donor Sibling Registry and Mikki Morrissette - author of Choosing Single Motherhood - is designed to take some of the stigma out of donor conception and enable more open conversations within families and between families and professionals. Essays include - The honest fears of an infertile father The motivations and concerns of a sperm donor who is in contact with one of his adult offspring The insight and advice of two people (Wendy Kramer and Olivia Montuschi) who have had contact with thousands of families affected by donor conception Three donor conceived adults, reflecting on the effects of their origins as well as on the misperceptions of what it means to them This book is available at a reduced price until 8th January. Please email Mikki at dcvoices@gmail.com for UK mailings. Further information will be posted for prices and availability after this date. 2 copies in the library, to buy from DCN £7 plus postage or email |
| Creating Life Against the Odds: The Journey from Infertility to Parenthood by Ilona Laszlo Higgins MD, FACOG published by Higgins 2006 |
 A brief review of this book 2 copies in the library and to buy from www.LonnyHiggins.com |
| Who Am I: experiences of donor conception |
 A brief review of this book which covers the stories of three donor conceived women |
| The Infertility Rollercoaster: What it feels like for a guy |
There are two copies of the DVD in the library to be borrowed by members or to buy a copy contact Steven Sonsino at the infertilityrollercoaster.comwhere the film can be previewed as well as purchased. |
| Mommies,Daddies,Donors,Surrogates: Answering Tough Questions and Building Strong Families Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D Published in the USA by Guildford 2005-11-09$16.95 (£9.50) from Amazon.com or the web site of the publisher. |
 2 copies in the DCN Library
Don’t be put off by the rather ‘American’ title
of this book. It is well worth reading for both those contemplating
family building by donor conception and those who are already parents,
whether in heterosexual or lesbian couple or single parent families.
As a developmental psychologist Diane Ehrensaft is able to address
and empathise with all the complicated thoughts and feelings of
would-be parents whilst keeping a strong focus on the developmental
needs of the children. The chapters on the why, how and when of ‘telling’ are
some of the best material around. |
| Important New Book For Those Contemplating Egg Donation Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation By Ellen Sarasohn Glazer and Evelina Weidman Sterling Published by Perspectives Press |
 The first really comprehensive book for
individuals and couples considering egg donation is published in
the USA in April. We are able to offer UK readers copies at the discounted price of £14 (inc.p+p) Although some parts of this American book are not relevant to the UK situation, all the emotional and ethical issues are familiar and covered in depth. Highly recommended. Review and publicity flyer |
| Before You Were Born: Our Wish for a Baby By Janice Grimes ( 2004) Published in the USA by XY and me |
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There are 16 versions of the story books in this series, and they can be used for children conceived in many different circumstances. The language is simple and the word “cells” is used rather than egg and sperm. The colourful bear characters are intended to be gender and ethnically neutral, and they appeal to young children. The books can be purchased online at www.xyandme.com, or can be borrowed from the library. The two- parent books cover the following circumstances: IVF, Donor Insemination, IVF with Donor Sperm, Egg Donation, Frozen Embryo Transfer, Embryo Donation, Traditional Surrogate and Gestational Carrier. There are also books for Female Partners using Donor Insemination, and Male Partners using a Surrogate Mother. |
| Beyond Childlessness: For Every Woman who Ever Wanted to Have a Child- And Didn’t (2005) By Rachel Black and Louise Scull Published in the UK by Rodale International Ltd ISBN: 1-4050-7761-1 |
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The authors interviewed over 200 women for this book, with a wide variety of reasons for remaining childless, including infertility, early menopause, leaving it too late, not finding the right partner at the right time, and being with a partner who doesn’t want children. The book sensitively examines how the experience of childlessness effects a woman’s relationship with herself, her partner and the rest of the world. It discusses coping mechanisms, dealing with grief, and alternative lifestyles and alternative nurturing, including adoption. Recommended |
| Other Suggestions |
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Other additions include the book by Caroline Lorbach “Experiences of Donor Conception
- Parents, Offspring and Donors through the years” which
is particularly recommended. Also a book from Australia by Kate
Bourne called “Sometimes it takes three to make a baby” which
is a valuable addition to the books available for children. Library
copies of our own publications are also available. Missing
Links: Exploration into the Identity Issues of People Conceived
via Donor Insemination Geraldine
Hewitt Videos: The Watson Family 2004 Searching Questions: Identity, Origins and Adoption Devised
by Julia Feast of British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering
2003 |
Video of a speech given by Steven Sonsino on his experiences of infertility at the National Infertilty Day 2006 conference. The DVD also has an interview with Clare Brown from Infertility Network UK and a podcast of Steven on how to talk and how to listen.
