Queer Conception: The Complete Fertility Guide for Queer and Trans Parents-to-Be

Strides have been made in recent years to recognize the spectrum of families that exist outside the assumed “normal” cis-hetero amalgamation. Based on Kali’s decades of experience as a licensed fertility midwife for LGBTQ+ families, this extensive book aims to walk a range of parents (couples; single parents by choice; poly families; coparents) through the process of pregnancy in the most affirming way possible. This book is important not just for the information it presents, but also for the way it avoids the binarism of almost all other pregnancy-related material. Queer conception is a series of purposeful decisions, and Kali offers lots of options and food for thought—for instance, with sections about deciding whether you’re ready to begin the parenthood journey and weighing the pros and cons of lactation following birth. There are also long discussions about pregnancy for people in gender-affirming therapy and about the hegemonic biases of medical institutions. Kali’s writing radiates with thoroughness, carefulness, and respect and is accompanied by easy-to-follow charts, legal resources, and dedicated information on care providers.