Mommies, Daddies, Donors, Surrogates: Answering Tough Questions and Building Strong Families - Hardcover

by Diane Ehrensaft (Author)

Ours is an extraordinary time for anyone straight, gay, single, or coupled who's ever wanted a baby of his or her own. Many aspiring parents now depend on some form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to fulfill their dreams of starting a family. But as Dr. Diane Ehrensaft points out, parents who conceive with the help of a donor or surrogate often struggle with unforeseen questions. How can you help the child understand where he or she fits into the family and into the world? Exactly who is the mommy, and who is the daddy? How will grandparents and other family members react? What will the donor or surrogate have to say about it?áIn Mommies, Daddies, Donors, Surrogates, Dr. Ehrensaft addresses these topics and guides readers through a host of other concerns that may arise before, during, and after assisted conception. Provocative, compassionate, and immediately practical, Dr. Ehrensaft's far-ranging inquiry raises issues no one affected by ART should ignore.

Author Biography

Diane Ehrensaft, PhD, is a developmental and clinical psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area and Director of Mental Health and founding member of the Child and Adolescent Gender Center, a partnership between the University of California San Francisco and community agencies. Dr. Ehrensaft's research and writing focus on the areas of child development, gender, gender-nonconforming and transgender children and youth, parenting, parent-child relationships, LGBTQI families, and psychological issues for families using assisted reproductive technology. She has published several books and articles in these areas and lectures, serves as an expert witness, and makes media appearances nationally and internationally on these topics. Dr. Ehrensaft has a clinical practice in Oakland, California, where she sees adults, children, and adolescents.