Blue
14-06-2006, 16:22
Hello all. Just stumbled across this forum. :wave:
I don't know whether there are any lesbian parents reading and contributing to this forum on a regular basis - if not, this might be a bit of a space filler, I'm afraid. Not to exclude straight parents, but I've got a couple of lesbian parent-specific queries.
My partner and I have recently decided that we would make a start, baby-wise, in a couple of years time. Although it might seem premature to start asking about the hows and wheres, I think it's going to take a lot of that time to get sufficiently prepared for the conception part alone.
I've been doing quite a bit of research online and have made a few phone calls as well. Thus far (20-odd calls later), I haven't found any new information which addresses the rights of and options available to lesbian parents in Queensland. There's quite a bit online for lesbians in Victoria, and some of the information is universal, but a lot of legal stuff seems to differ from state to state.
At this stage, we would like to conceive our first baby with the help of a sperm donor. My understanding at the moment is that you can access artificial insemination and anonymous donor sperm via IVF/fertility clinics, as well as artificial insemination using a known donor with the same IVF/fertility clinics. Of course, you also have your flask-and-turkey-baster-at-home option as well.
There are a lot of issues that I'm really not sure about right now, both from a legal and personal point of view. I've read a lot of positive stories about donors and also quite a few horror stories as well - everything from donors deliberately misrepresenting themselves to accounts of women who later regret not knowing the identity of their donor. I've also seen the phrase 'Family Order' tossed around here and there too, but I have no idea how realistic this is for non-birth partners to obtain in the current climate.
I know I'm asking for some rather personal details here and I don't mean to put anyone on the spot. I just want to be as informed as possible, with information from real people who have gone through this. If you have anything you can pass on - be it relating to what's legal in Queensland or other states, what you have found to be benefits or disadvantages of known donors vs. anonymous donors, things you'd do differently relating to that, positive or negative experiences of selecting a donor privately, even what your kids call you ('Cause we can't agree on that one :o ) - I can't tell you how grateful I'd be.
Look forward to hearing some responses. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I don't know whether there are any lesbian parents reading and contributing to this forum on a regular basis - if not, this might be a bit of a space filler, I'm afraid. Not to exclude straight parents, but I've got a couple of lesbian parent-specific queries.
My partner and I have recently decided that we would make a start, baby-wise, in a couple of years time. Although it might seem premature to start asking about the hows and wheres, I think it's going to take a lot of that time to get sufficiently prepared for the conception part alone.
I've been doing quite a bit of research online and have made a few phone calls as well. Thus far (20-odd calls later), I haven't found any new information which addresses the rights of and options available to lesbian parents in Queensland. There's quite a bit online for lesbians in Victoria, and some of the information is universal, but a lot of legal stuff seems to differ from state to state.
At this stage, we would like to conceive our first baby with the help of a sperm donor. My understanding at the moment is that you can access artificial insemination and anonymous donor sperm via IVF/fertility clinics, as well as artificial insemination using a known donor with the same IVF/fertility clinics. Of course, you also have your flask-and-turkey-baster-at-home option as well.
There are a lot of issues that I'm really not sure about right now, both from a legal and personal point of view. I've read a lot of positive stories about donors and also quite a few horror stories as well - everything from donors deliberately misrepresenting themselves to accounts of women who later regret not knowing the identity of their donor. I've also seen the phrase 'Family Order' tossed around here and there too, but I have no idea how realistic this is for non-birth partners to obtain in the current climate.
I know I'm asking for some rather personal details here and I don't mean to put anyone on the spot. I just want to be as informed as possible, with information from real people who have gone through this. If you have anything you can pass on - be it relating to what's legal in Queensland or other states, what you have found to be benefits or disadvantages of known donors vs. anonymous donors, things you'd do differently relating to that, positive or negative experiences of selecting a donor privately, even what your kids call you ('Cause we can't agree on that one :o ) - I can't tell you how grateful I'd be.
Look forward to hearing some responses. Thanks for taking the time to read this.