From the Publisher
"Interweaving the details of her own path to motherhood and interviews with doctors, donors, and expectant parents, Bauman builds a captivating and often humorous portrait of DIY pregnancy.... Bauman’s rigorous curiosity keeps the pages turning. It’s a wide-ranging portrait of contemporary motherhood that entertains and informs in equal measure."—Publishers Weekly "Her story provides a window into a little-known world on Facebook and Craigslist, where men offer their sperm."—Library Journal “A deep dive into the world of freelance sperm donors, how it works and the advantages and drawbacks.”—Newsweek
Library Journal
02/09/2024
Newsweek investigative reporter Bauman's book is about her desire in her late 30s to have a child and as a single person. Traditional fertility clinics and sperm banks are expensive and unwelcoming—many have discriminatory practices—so she explores the world of unregulated online sperm donation. Her story provides a window into a little-known world on Facebook and Craigslist, where men offer their sperm. She describes how potential parents vet potential fathers and negotiate the donation and insemination protocols while considering the ethical, legal, psychological, and political implications of their choices. She says many aspects—STDs, parental rights, and more—may be problematic. Not only does she interview donors and people who employ them, she also recounts her own story and experiences, including detailed depictions of self-insemination and self-reflection. VERDICT This book reveals a little-known aspect of one route to becoming a parent. For health sciences consumer health collections.—Barbara M. Bibel
