I purposely did not title this post "Genetic Grief" because it is crucial to understand that everyone who builds their family using donor conception—meaning they do not pass on their genetics—will experience some form of genetic loss. However, this loss does not always translate to grief.

I once met a woman who said, "If I bake a cake with a Betty Crocker mix or from scratch, it will taste the same." In contrast, I worked with another woman who struggled every step of the way. It took her a long time to accept using donor eggs, and then an equally long time to choose a donor. Throughout her pregnancy, she felt disconnected from her growing baby. After giving birth to twins, she even........

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