Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing
ResearchExperiences of Preconception, Pregnancy, and New Motherhood for Lesbian Nonbiological Mothers
Section snippets
Literature Review
The process of becoming parents in lesbian-led families is complex and multifaceted. Although research findings suggest that the desire and motivation to have children in lesbian relationships are quite similar to those in heterosexual relationships (Bos, van Balen, & van Den Boom, 2003, 2004; Hayman et al., 2013; Riskind & Patterson, 2010), lesbians spend more time thinking about their motives to become parents and the obstacles they must overcome to achieve biological parenthood than
Design
This study was a descriptive phenomenological inquiry approved by the Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects at the employment site of the principal investigator. Descriptive phenomenology is used to discover knowledge about phenomena that are not well understood from the perspective of research participants. The research participants are considered experts on the phenomenon under investigation (Wojnar & Swanson, 2007). Bracketing helps the investigators set aside their
Results
The final sample included 24 women who self-identified as lesbian nonbiological mothers in a committed relationship. Their mean age was 37.2 years with a range from 28 to 48. The mean length of couple relationships was 8.7 years with a range from 2.5 to 16. The majority of participants had college degrees (n = 18, 75%) while a few had high school educations (n = 6, 25%). Most of the women were employed (n = 20, 83%), with an average annual income of $50,000 and a range from $20,000 to more than
Discussion
In this study, the experience of transitioning to parenthood highlighted and reinforced the nonbiological lesbian mothers’ differences with mainstream society: they had a desire to parent but they were unable to contribute biologically and were not protected legally until the adoption process was complete. They wanted to support their partners throughout the conception and perinatal period but often felt unwelcomed and misunderstood in the healthcare settings and their families of origin. They
Limitations
The findings are limited by the small sample size, limited ethnic and educational diversity, geographic boundaries, and consistent with descriptive phenomenological approach, nonrandom representation. To mitigate these possible limitations, reflection was ongoing, with authors meeting regularly to discuss the emerging findings and to examine their own assumptions and biases that could potentially influence the interpretation of data. Finally, the findings were presented to the participants and
Conclusion
Our findings show that lesbian nonbiological mothers can experience feeling different, invisible, and isolated during the transition to parenthood. Nurses and other health care professionals need to be aware of these feelings and acknowledge the potential differences between partners’ experiences of preconception, pregnancy, and new parenthood. Caregiving needs include verbal acknowledgment of the nonbiological mother as the other parent and their individual needs and concerns, invitation to
Danuta M. Wojnar, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FAAN, is an associate professor and department chair, Department of Maternal Child and Family Nursing, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA.
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Lesbians pursuing parenthood: pathways, challenges, and best practices
2021, Psychological and Medical Perspectives on Fertility Care and Sexual HealthDesire for Parenthood and Associated Trends in Czech Lesbian Women
2020, Sexual MedicineCitation Excerpt :For some women, including lesbians, having a biological child fulfills the need for genetic connection to their children.35 For others, it is more important to personally experience being pregnant, giving birth, and breastfeeding their child rather than having direct biological and genetic link with their child.35–37 Acceptance of parental role signals an important manifestation of generativity connected with adulthood.
Danuta M. Wojnar, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FAAN, is an associate professor and department chair, Department of Maternal Child and Family Nursing, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA.
Amy Katzenmeyer, MSN, FNP, ARNP, is a family nurse practitioner, Orthopedics Department, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA.
The authors report no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships.