The "Before You Were Born" series of books, by Janice Grimes RN, pretty much covers the waterfront of ways a child can join the family through assisted reproduction. The illustrations are the same for each book with the text changing to fit the specific conceptual situation. The characters are a family of bears and the gender of the adult and child bear is not apparent. You can see a sample of one book online. The following is a list of titles that are available:
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of An IVF Baby
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the sperm and egg of the parents. The child is genetically related to both parents. This book does not use the words sperm or egg. The terms "test tube baby" and in vitro fertilization are used.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Frozen Embryo
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the sperm and egg of the parents. The embryo is frozen, thawed at a later time, then placed inside the mother. The child is genetically related to both parents. This book does not use the words sperm or egg.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Donor Insemination
A baby conceived by intrauterine insemination using donor sperm. The child is genetically related to the mother and the donor, but not the father. The story does not use the words sperm or egg. The terms donor, mommy, and daddy are used in the book.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Donor Egg
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the father’s sperm and a donated egg. The embryo is placed into the uterus of the mother, who then carries and delivers the child. The child is genetically related to the father and the egg donor, but not the mother. This book does not use the words egg or sperm. The term donor is used.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Donor Sperm (IVF)
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the mother’s egg and donor sperm. The child is genetically related to the mother and the donor, but not the father. This book does not use the words sperm or egg. The term donor is used.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Gestational Carrier
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm. The embryo is placed into the uterus of another woman called a gestational carrier. This woman carries and delivers the baby. The child is genetically related to the mother and father, but not the gestational carrier. This book does not use the terms sperm or egg. It does use the term gestational carrier.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of Surrogacy
A baby conceived via intrauterine insemination, using the sperm of the father and the egg of the surrogate. The surrogate carries and delivers the baby. The child is genetically related to the father and the surrogate, but not the mother. This book does not use the words sperm or egg. The term surrogate is used.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: The Story Of A Donor Embryo
A baby conceived by in vitro fertilization using the egg and sperm of another man and woman. The embryo is then donated to the mother and father. The embryo is placed into the uterus of the mother, who then carries and delivers the child. This child is not genetically related to either the mother or the father. This book does not use the terms sperm or egg. It does use the term embryo donation.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: A Baby Conceived For Female Partners
A baby conceived for female partners by intrauterine insemination using donor sperm. The child is genetically related to the partner that uses her egg and the sperm donor. This book does not use the words sperm, egg, or have any reference to sexual preference. The term donor is used.
- Before You Were Born…..Our Wish for a Baby: A Baby Conceived For Male Partners
A baby conceived using the sperm of one male partner and the egg from a surrogate via intrauterine insemination. The child is genetically related to the donating male partner and the surrogate. This story does not use the terms sperm, egg, or have any reference to sexual preference. The term surrogate is used.
- Single Mom – Donor Insemination
A child conceived for a single mother by choice using insemination with donor sperm. The story does not contain the words sperm or egg. The term donor is used. There is no reference to a father.
- Single Mom – IVF using Donor Sperm
A child conceived for a single mother by choice using in vitro fertilization with the mother’s egg and donor sperm. The story does not contain the words egg or sperm. The term donor is used. There is no reference to a father.
- Single Mom - Embryo Donation (Adoption)
A child conceived for a single mother by choice using an embryo donation or adoption. The embryo is transferred to the single mother, who then carries and delivers the child. This child is not genetically related to the mother. The story does not contain the words donor, sperm, or egg. There is no reference to a father.
- Single Mom - Donor Sperm/Donor Egg
A child conceived for a single mother by choice via IVF, using donor sperm and donor eggs. The embryo is transferred into the single mother, who then carries and delivers the child. This child is not genetically related to the single mother. The story does not contain the words donor, sperm, or egg. There is no reference to a father.
- Single Dad – Traditional Surrogate
A child conceived for a single father by choice via intrauterine insemination, using the single dad’s sperm and the egg from a surrogate. The story does not contain the words sperm or egg. The term surrogate is used. There is no reference to a mother.
- Single Dad - Donor egg / Gestational Carrier
A child conceived for a single father by choice using in vitro fertilization. This child is created using a donor egg and the single father’s sperm. The embryo is then placed into the uterus of a gestational carrier. This woman carries and delivers the child. The story does not contain the words sperm or egg. The terms donor and gestational carrier are used. There is no reference to a mother.
