Given increasing infertility concerns among most individuals around, IVF has emerged as the top choice of every child-seeking parent. On the other side, most prospective parents, especially single parents and same-sex couples, prefer to conceive via assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) or even surrogacy, thanks to recent medical advancements.
Parents are often urged to explain to their children in an age-appropriate manner how they were conceived or brought into the family. It is advised that, in the event of adoption, the kid be told about his or her adoption. Still, given the existing social structure, not many parents feel comfortable telling their kids about their birth via IVF.
Goral Gandhi, one of the best IVF experts around, further shares her perspective in the same direction. She adds that as children get older, their natural curiosity leads them to ask a variety of questions, including how and where they were born from.
And there are several reasons why people should be aware of it. In terms of medical history, Goral Gandhi IVF said that it is beneficial to make the child aware of their biological composition and genetic makeup. "It is preferable for the child to know where they came from once they have grown up and become an independent adult so that it is simpler to trace their medical history," she recommended.
Before someone mistakenly informs a child about their birth, they should first hear from their parents. A misguided reveal by family or classmates may come as a shock to the youngster. Knowing that their parents lied about their conception may only cause suspicion in the parent-child connection and a bad attitude about the matter.
How to discuss IVF/surrogacy with your child?
Goral Gandhi Mumbai further states that talking to a youngster about their origins is a continuous process. Parents should start talking about it while their children are little. "Both you and your child will feel more comfortable with the subject if you keep telling the narrative," Goral Gandhi added. It will also encourage them to accept IVF and surrogacy as totally normal procedures.
"Parents may talk about the many forms of family structures nowadays in addition to describing how infants are born," she said. Goral Gandhi further proposed that the youngster be introduced to literature about IVF or surrogacy using basic graphics or anecdotes.
They do not need to understand the procedures in depth at that age, however, they may learn all of the intricacies over time. When the child is small, these strategies will be most effective. They are already struggling with their sense of identity by the time they reach their preteens or teenage years, so imparting the news to them at this age is impossible.
A child's appearance, particularly their similarity to their parents, is a crucial feature of their identity formation. "As the infant develops, there may be concerns about his or her appearance. In the event of surrogacy, for example, there may be a little change in appearance. As a result, it's probable that the youngster will struggle with identity formation. So it's always a better idea to tell the youngster how they got to be a member of their current family," Goral Gandhi added.
Parents should reinforce their affection for their children in addition to informing them how they were born. After all, the youngster should understand that you are family. "When the truth is revealed, the emotional component must also be addressed. It must be done with care and sensitivity because, if the child is young, they may be sensitive and interpret the scenario negatively," Goral Gandhi explained.
Summing it up
Children are largely unconcerned about their origins as long as they are firmly bonded to their families. Still, what they want from parents is an unbiased, frank discussion about the subject. So, parents must go easy and nice while bringing a discussion forward in the same context.
