Product Description

Helping the Stork The sourcebook for all the information parents-to-be need to know about the choices and challenges of donor insemination Each year donor insemination (DI) offers a pathway to parenthood for the hundreds of thousands who turn to family-building alternatives. Although DI is considered as often as adoption, couples facing male infertility, as well as single women and lesbian couples, have had few places to turn for information about this method, which has been shrouded in secrecy. In Helping the Stork, parents-to-be, as well as friends and family, doctors, and counselors, can explore the choices and challenges raised by this alternative to overcoming childlessness. This comprehensive handbook moves through each step of the process: reaching a solid decision about whether donor insemination is the best choice for a family's future; handling the difficult issue of privacy; selecting a donor and getting started; and learning to thrive as a family meeting DI's added challenges. Full of wisdom from medical and mental health experts, Helping the Stork is also enriched with stories from many families who share their insights and experiences. This book is a reassuring, supportive, and helpful guide that no one considering or going through the process of donor insemination should be without. Visit us online at http://www.mcp.com/mgr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166817 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From the Back Cover
Helping the Stork The sourcebook for all the information parents-to-be need to know about the choices and challenges of donor insemination Each year donor insemination (DI) offers a pathway to parenthood for the hundreds of thousands who turn to family-building alternatives. Although DI is considered as often as adoption, couples facing male infertility, as well as single women and lesbian couples, have had few places to turn for information about this method, which has been shrouded in secrecy. In Helping the Stork, parents-to-be, as well as friends and family, doctors, and counselors, can explore the choices and challenges raised by this alternative to overcoming childlessness. This comprehensive handbook moves through each step of the process: reaching a solid decision about whether donor insemination is the best choice for a family's future; handling the difficult issue of privacy; selecting a donor and getting started; and learning to thrive as a family meeting DI's added challenges. Full of wisdom from medical and mental health experts, Helping the Stork is also enriched with stories from many families who share their insights and experiences. This book is a reassuring, supportive, and helpful guide that no one considering or going through the process of donor insemination should be without. Visit us online at http://www.mcp.com/mgr

About the Author
Carol Frost Vercollone, M.S.W., became the first clinical social worker to join the staff of the national infertility organization Resolve, and currently offers workshops for those involved with donor insemination. Heidi and Robert Moss have two children conceived with the help of a donor, and share their experiences throughout the book. Heidi created a DI hotline for a Resolve chapter, and earned her degree in social work in order to counsel parents-to-be Robert is a college biology professor and contributor to both science and education journals.

Customer Reviews

Not good if you're looking for information
If you're looking for information about donor insemination, this is not the place to find it. You won't find anything about ovulation, LH surges, or the pros and cons of using frozen sperm in this book. This is a book strictly for heterosexual couples about the "emotional journey" of deciding to use donor insemination when they realize the husband is infertile.

Helping the Stork
Honestly, I felt this book was "just okay". It was informative, but a dry read. Also, it focuses mostly on couples.

Great book!
My wife and I have read this together as we started our journey with DI. Yes, the book does concentrate on heterosexual married couples, but it states that in the forward. Even if you aren't the norm, there is plenty of general info on DI that is useful for anyone using this method to create a family. Our favorite parts were the personal stories and experiences. They are sprinkled throughout the chapters and really gave us a chance to talk out some of our different thoughts and emotions.
There is technical/medical information, but it is not very in-depth. Most of the book deals with the emotional aspect of DI. Overall I highly recommend it.