Adoption is one way to become a single parent. However, to raise a child not biologically yours sometimes poses problems especially when it comes to instilling discipline. The adoption can also be a difficult process to some parents as adoptable babies or children are now hard to find. Another option for single parenting is by donor insemination or the use of medical technology for a woman to bear a child. The following are helpful information on donor insemination:
Donor insemination is the process of conceiving a child through the use of medical technology. It is done by injecting the semen to the uterus of a female. The semen donor may be known to you or not. Laws in the United States about the donor identity vary. For example, in California, Ohio, and Wisconsin, a known donor releases himself from legal responsibility if the procedure of DI is done with a physician’s involvement. In Colorado and New York, a known donor may assert parental rights; however, it is unclear if a court would impose any responsibilities on a known donor in the two states.
According to a study, the reason why many single women choose to bear a child by donor insemination is because they feel they are running out of time to fulfill the lifelong dream of having a child. If you are in the thirties, this kind of feeling is not uncommon to you. Waiting for Mr. Right to come along and being able to conceive a much-wanted child may be one of the issues that press you especially if you are already established in your career.
Donor insemination allows you to become biologically and emotionally connected with your child. This connection will help you a lot in child rearing especially because you will be dealing with parenting alone. Adoption can sometimes be complicated. Some single moms who had tried adoption before having a child by donor insemination say that finding for the “right” baby is a tough process.
Single parenting by donor insemination is a nontraditional way to build a family and many child and family experts are studying its effect on the well-being of a child. Among of the issues that may affect children is the conception method used in the insemination. There are options in choosing a donor: through known donor, directed donor, an anonymous donor and open-identity. Each of these options poses unique situation for a child to deal with. In a known donor option, a child is given the opportunity to know about his genetic identity and medical history. It can be more complicated than other options but some mothers feel better about knowing who is the child’s father is.
A directed donor on the other hand allows the mother and donor protection from custody and support issues. It tends to give greater legal protection for the mother and donor but the greatest legal protection is given through an anonymous donor. However, a child is still given some options in dealing with few potential identity issues. The last option is the open-identity donor. It gives a child a fair and just entitlement to choices – to contact the donor after the age of 18.
Sometimes the child has no interest in knowing his or her roots but nevertheless, the mother’s choice of donor is based on the understanding that one day an offspring will be curious about his identity.