7 Alternate Routes To Starting A Family That Need To Be Normalised
Family planning in India usually is when a couple decides to have a child through a traditional method, i.e. getting together, getting pregnant and having a child. But with the rise in cases of infertility, couples have been wondering how to get started. Furthermore, single men and women along with people from the LGBTQIA+ community who wish to reproduce, are also stuck wondering what to do. We know some of the more obvious ones, such as IVF or surrogacy.
Well, the lesson we need to learn at this point is that giving birth to your child traditionally isn’t the only way you can bring a new member to a family. There are alternate routes available as well and it’s about time we normalise them, to give everyone an equal chance to start their families.
7 Alternate Routes To Start A Family
1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
This is one of the most popular and widely accepted methods by couples who face complications in conceiving a child. In vitro fertilization is when the fertilization of sperm and ova is done in an artificial medium outside the body. This enables you to experience the pregnancy and start your family.
2. Artificial insemination (AI) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
This is a simpler process than IVF. It involves the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female cervix or uterine cavity. This is usually performed to treat infertility. Here the fertilization takes place inside the body. This allows you to start your family, with minimal problems.
3. With Sperm Donors/Egg Donors
A family doesn’t necessarily mean a female and male couple with their children. A person can be a single parent and still have a complete family similarly, a couple from the LGBTQIA+ community also represents the ideal family. Sperm or egg donation is one-way such people can become parents, too.
4. Surrogacy
This is one of the most common yet, taboo choices. We hear many cases of celebrities having their children through surrogacy. This process simply involves a couple and another woman who bears the child for the couple. It can enable infertile and LGBTQIA+ couples to start their families with a golden blessing.
5. Adoption
This is alas, the least used method in the country. A child is parented by people who aren’t the biological parents of the child. Adopting a child will provide you with the same joys as a child you give birth to. This isn’t a new method of expanding your family but has historical roots and yet Indians choose to avoid it for the sake of starting a bloodline. You have the chance to save a life, it’s essential to change this viewpoint.
6. Fostering (Starting A Foster Home)
In this system, you can also get certified by the state as a certified caregiver and then, the state will place a child in need at your home. Foster homes provide a roof and required care to at-risk children and help them grow with a warm and loving family. A foster family can be the purest bond for you if you let it. So, consider starting a foster home.
7. Remember, It’s Okay To Not Want Kids
If your choice in life is to not have kids, that is also a brilliant path to take. Having kids should be your decision. In fact, at the end of the day, a family for you can be your pets as well. They also need care and love as a child. Love knows no bounds and family should be what you want it to be and not what society dictates.
The term family can have different meanings to different people. Family these days is not limited to just parents and their children. We even include friends or pets as family. Family is where you are connected with love and commitment. A family can be a single mother and her kids, it could be a childless couple with an adorable dog, a gay couple with their daughter or a couple living with a massive joint family.
Family should always be by heart and not social conventions. So, it’s time to normalise these alternate methods and let everyone be happy, just the way they want to.
Also Read: #LetsTalkFertility: Why Do Women In India Continue To Be Shamed For Dealing With Infertility?
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