Contemplation - Phase 1 Donor Conception

Have the words "donor conception" just entered your world? If you're feeling shocked, overwhelmed, or even a little hopeful, you are in the right place. This gentle course is a soft place to land, designed for the exact moment you find yourself standing at the threshold of a new, unexpected path to parenthood. We're not here for decisions or logistics yet. We're here to talk about the real, messy, and valid feelings that come up when this door first opens.

Navigating the First Wave of Feelings

When the door to donor conception opens, a flood of emotions can rush in. We’ll create a safe space to validate every single one—from shock and numbness to a surprising sense of relief. You’ll have permission to feel exactly how you feel, without judgment.

Honoring Your Original Dream

A new path often means grieving the one you always imagined. This is a tender space to acknowledge the thought, "But this isn't how I pictured it." We'll explore the real and valid sense of loss that comes with shifting dreams and give you the space to mourn with compassion.

Finding Your Footing with Gentle Curiosity

After the initial waves, a quiet curiosity can begin to emerge. We’ll explore the shift from resistance and overwhelm toward asking tentative questions. This is where you’ll find the strength to manage the complexities and rediscover a new, more resilient kind of hope.

About the course

"Entering the Conversation" is a foundational course from GrowingMyFamily designed for individuals and couples at the very beginning of their donor conception journey. If you're grappling with the initial suggestion of using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos, this course is your emotional first-aid kit. We gently walk you through the common (and often unspoken) feelings of shock, grief, hesitation, and unfairness. Rather than focusing on the "how-to," we create a safe, non-judgmental space to process your experience, validate your reactions, and help you move from overwhelm to a place of tentative, hopeful exploration. You'll learn that you are not alone in your feelings and find the language to understand your own heart during this pivotal time.

Curriculum

12 Chapters · 154 Lessons

1
Welcome
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Introduction
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Her Letter to You
3. (Included in full purchase)
  His Letter to You
2
The How & the Why
1. (Included in full purchase)
  The How & the Why
2. (Included in full purchase)
  A Gentle Introduction to Donor Conception
3. (Included in full purchase)
  What is Donor Conception?
4. (Included in full purchase)
  The Paths of Hope
5. (Included in full purchase)
  The People Who Make It Possible
6. (Included in full purchase)
  The Promise of a Legal Agreement
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Your Journey's Map
8. (Included in full purchase)
  The First Big Step
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Medical Process
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
3
Opening the Door
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Opening the Door
2. (Included in full purchase)
  A New Door Opens
3. (Included in full purchase)
  "But That's Not How I Pictured It"
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Resistance & "Not Yet"
5. (Included in full purchase)
  The "Why Us?" Feeling
6. (Included in full purchase)
  The Identity Question
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Body Feelings
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Information Overwhelm
9. (Included in full purchase)
  Tentative Curiosity
10. (Included in full purchase)
  The Weight of Early Contemplation
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Hope, Revisited
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
4
Integrating the Complexities
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Integrating the Complexities
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Two Hearts, One Path (Maybe)
3. (Included in full purchase)
  Thinking About the Donor
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Known vs. Unknown Donor Feelings
5. (Included in full purchase)
  The Concept of "Matching"
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Parenting with Openness
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Embracing Openness
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Imagining the Long View
9. (Included in full purchase)
  Sharing Your Family's Story
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Listening to Your Inner Compass
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
5
Practicalities When Considering Donor Conception
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Practicalities When Considering Donor Conception
2. (Included in full purchase)
  The Financial Factor (Again)
3. (Included in full purchase)
  Feeling Different?
4. (Included in full purchase)
  The Comparison Trap Revisited
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Crossroads of the Heart
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Egg, Sperm, Embryo - Does It Feel Different?
7. (Included in full purchase)
  The Emotional Side of the "System"
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Legal & Ethical Labyrinths
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Timeline Pressure
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Information Gathering Burnout
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Impact on Work & Daily Life
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Considering the "What Ifs" of the Process
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
16. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
6
Weaving the Threads
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Weaving the Threads
2. (Included in full purchase)
  The Donor, The Child, & Openness
3. (Included in full purchase)
  Open-Heartedness
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Voices & Experiences
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Why Anonymity is Challenged
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Known vs. Unknown Donor Feelings
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Parenting with Openness
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Embracing Openness
9. (Included in full purchase)
  Beyond Baby Longing
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Sibling Stories
11. (Included in full purchase)
  The Family Galaxy
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Imagining the Long View
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
16. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
7
Contemplating Embryo Donation
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Contemplating Embryo Donation
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Exploring Embryo Donation
3. (Included in full purchase)
  Uncovering Deep Motivations
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Understanding Embryo Donation
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Processing Grief
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Envisioning My/Our Solo Family
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Building My/Our Village
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Addressing Societal Perceptions
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Foundation of Trust
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Legal Considerations
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Am I/Are We Ready?
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
8
The Path to Parenthood with a Sperm Donor
1. (Included in full purchase)
  The Path to Parenthood with a Sperm Donor
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Considering Sperm Donation
3. (Included in full purchase)
  My/Our "Why" for Considering Sperm Donation
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Understanding Sperm Donation
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Processing Paternal Genetic Link Grief (If Applicable)
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Envisioning My/Our Family with a Sperm Donor
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Building My/Our Village
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Addressing Societal Perceptions
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Foundation of Trust
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Legal Considerations for Using a Sperm Donor
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
9
Donor & Surrogacy
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Donor & Surrogacy
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Am I Ready to Explore This?
3. (Included in full purchase)
  Understanding the "Why"
4. (Included in full purchase)
  The Landscape of Loss
5. (Included in full purchase)
  What is Donor Conception?
6. (Included in full purchase)
  What is Gestational Surrogacy?
7. (Included in full purchase)
  The Dual Consideration
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Thoughts & Feelings About Working with a Donor
9. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Thoughts & Feelings About Working with a Surrogate
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Envisioning Your Future Family
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Financial & Legal Realities
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Building Your Support System for the Contemplation Journey
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Making an Informed Choice
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
16. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
17. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
10
Considering Egg Donation
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Considering Egg Donation
2. (Included in full purchase)
  Acknowledging Where You Are Now
3. (Included in full purchase)
  My/Our "Why" for Considering Egg Donation
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Understanding Egg Donation
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Processing Maternal Genetic Link Grief (If Applicable)
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Envisioning My/Our Family with an Egg Donor
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Building My/Our Village
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Addressing Societal Perceptions & My/Our Own Inner Critic
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Foundation of Trust
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Legal Considerations for Using an Egg Donor
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Am I/Are We Ready?
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
11
Journey to Solo Parenthood Contemplation
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Journey to Solo Parenthood Contemplation
2. (Included in full purchase)
  The Threshold of Choice
3. (Included in full purchase)
  My "Why" for Solo Parenthood
4. (Included in full purchase)
  Understanding Donor Conception
5. (Included in full purchase)
  Processing Genetic Grief (If Applicable) as a Solo Parent-to-Be
6. (Included in full purchase)
  Envisioning My Solo Family
7. (Included in full purchase)
  Building My Village
8. (Included in full purchase)
  Addressing Societal Perceptions & My Own Inner Critic
9. (Included in full purchase)
  The Foundation of Trust
10. (Included in full purchase)
  Initial Legal Considerations for the Solo Parent Using Donor Conception
11. (Included in full purchase)
  Am I Ready?
12. (Included in full purchase)
  Chapter Complete
13. (Included in full purchase)
  Journaling Prompts
14. (Included in full purchase)
  Worksheets
15. (Included in full purchase)
  Action Planning Steps
12
Conclusion
1. (Included in full purchase)
  Congratulations on Completing the Conception Phase!

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Begin Your Journey and Find the Support You Deserve.

$40.00

Individual Course Pass (30 Day Unlimited Access)

Contemplation - Phase 1 Donor Conception

Navigating the First Wave of Feelings

Honoring Your Original Dream

Finding Your Footing with Gentle Curiosity

About the course

Curriculum

Welcome

The How & the Why

Opening the Door

Integrating the Complexities

Practicalities When Considering Donor Conception

Weaving the Threads

Contemplating Embryo Donation

The Path to Parenthood with a Sperm Donor

Donor & Surrogacy

Considering Egg Donation

Journey to Solo Parenthood Contemplation

Conclusion

Ready to Begin Your Journey?