Get in touch
With Hayley
If you have any questions about Paths to Parenthub, working with me or sharing your donor conception experiences, I’d love to hear from you!
Use the email address or contact form below. Alternatively connect with me on Instagram.
hayley@allthingsdonorconception.com
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If you would like to join the All Things Donor Conception Community, and stay up in the loop by receiving the latest newsletters please sign up here.
FAQ
I have just found out that I am donor conceived, I don't know what to do.
Firstly, pause and take a breath. I was in this very same situation back in 2015. In that moment it felt like nothing changed, but EVERYTHING changed. You may be feeling distressed, helpless, confused, angry, hopeful or any other emotion in between. All of your feelings are valid and these are allowed to ebb and flow as you now begin to work out what this new information may mean for you as you move forward. For more support, please check out my ‘for donor conceived people’ section, where there are organisations that can help as well as links to blog posts that cover this topic.
Remember, this is your story now – and you get to say how it’s told.
I don't know where to start with telling my child that they are donor conceived
Firstly, there is help so do not panic! If your child is under 6 there are a number of very good children’s books out that have been created to assist parents with ‘telling’. These can be read to your child in the comfort of your own home, and many of the books now cater for a range of different families. For a full list of of children’s books that I personally recommend, please sign up for my free resource ‘The Nugget Series- Recharged’ where these titles will be sent to your inbox along with other helpful tips and info for parents of donor conceived children.
How will my child feel about being donor conceived?
This is probably one of the most common questions I get asked by parents, especially parents of young children. If I could answer this question definitively I would! However, what I have come to realise from working within this community for several years now, is that donor conceived people are just that – people, with their own personal experiences, thoughts and feelings regarding their conception story.
However, whilst we can not control how our children will feel, what I have learnt (first hand) is that with support, education and being open to listening, we as parents can choose to walk alongside our children on their journey. In particular, as a parent I have found it helpful to listen to the voices of other donor conceived people, and learn from their lived experience. For more info, on this topic, please feel free to check out my posts in the blog section or indeed take advantage of the links in the free resources page.
I have previously donated my sperm/eggs and I am looking to speak to others in a similar situation, can you help?
Firstly, I just want to say a huge THANK YOU! It is individuals like you that have enabled families like mine to exist.
Secondly, I wanted to acknowledge that very often Donors are overlooked in this process when it comes to emotional support. Many Donors report being left to ‘fend for themselves’, receiving very little by way of updates or information about what to expect in the coming years after donation. For more information about support and info for Donors, please see my resources section, or feel free to reach out to me via the contact page where I will happily point you in the right direction of suitable support.
