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Couples with babies born or expected 2026

This is a DCN chat for couples, heterosexual or same-sex, who are new parents to babies born in 2026. DCN Chat is a peer support ...

7 May 20:30-21:30

This event is for DCN members only. Please login or join now.

This is a DCN chat for couples, heterosexual or same-sex, who are new parents to babies born in 2026.

DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. The space will be open for you to connect with others and will be facilitated by Ian, who together with his wife, has one child concieved through egg donation who is 3 years old.

Join us for a friendly opportunity to meet others at the same stage as you, for a place to grow friendships for you and your family.

If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org

This is an online Zoom meetup, therefore, you will be sent a link to join the Zoom chat to the email you supply upon registration.

Sign up for free for a Zoom account here https://zoom.us/signin . Please download the software onto your phone, tablet or computer in advance of the meeting so that you are not delayed in joining.

All participants are asked to turn their video on upon joining. We also ask that if you do have noisy distractions in the background (pets/other people in the room) please mute yourself when not talking. However as this group is for new parents, we understand you are likely to have your baby/ies with you and they are of course welcome!

This event is for DCN members only. Please login or join now.

More upcoming events

Member event

Online

Mar

18

Ethnicity in donor conception

This DCN chat is an opportunity to come together to talk about the issue of ethnicity in donor conception. This may be relevant if you are undertaking treatment with a donor of a different ethnicity, where ethnicity shows up in your donor decision-making process or where your child’s appearance differs significantly to you (or you and your partner). This DCN Chat is open to all, but please note that the intention of this discussion is to hold a space for people who are experiencing challenges and successes within this realm and to offer the opportunity to share these in a peer-support forum. There is no right or wrong and we would ask that anyone who joins does so with the intention of being extremely respectful with this somewhat sensitive topic. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Mariam and/or Ruihua. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals, there to contribute from their personal perspective and to ensure the group runs to its best possible potential. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further more professional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the DC Network office on dcngroups@dcnetwork.org
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Members and non-members

In person

Mar

21

Getting Started

Event for prospective parents thinking about using egg, sperm or embryo donation. If you’re thinking about using donor conception, you probably have lots of questions. This event is the perfect place to start getting answers. Join us and hear from: * __An embryologist__ from a UK clinic giving a really informative overview of the medical side of things. We always get fantastic feedback about this session, which provides an essential foundation with lots of time for questions. * __Donor conceived people__ talking about their experiences. How do the children feel? We know this is something lots of prospective parents wonder about. This event provides a rare opportunity to hear from them in person and ask questions. Not to be missed! * __Parents__ talking through their decision-making and describing family life once children arrive. Nothing beats hearing from people with real life experience. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿? This event is suitable for everyone at the start of their donor conception journey, for same-sex and heterosexual couples and for those planning to become single parents. It’s a friendly, inclusive chance to meet others at a similar stage in a relaxed environment at this in-person event. 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹: The full day costs just £80 per person or £140 per couple when booked before 19 February (£95 and £170 after that date) and the 11am start time makes it easy to get to Waterloo and home in a day. This event is a Donor Conception Network event so you can rest assured that all information will be impartial and based on our experience as a charity working with donor conception families for the past 30+ years. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲? You can find the full programme with timings below. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 The ticket price includes tea, coffee and cake but not lunch; this helps us keep costs down and means you can choose and order whatever you’d like separately. You can find the pub’s menu here: https://www.thehercules.co.uk/food/menus. You are also free to have lunch elsewhere (or bring your own) of course but we hope you’ll stay with us during the break as it will be a great opportunity to chat with other attendees and our DCN team.
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Member event

In person

Mar

21

DCN Yorkshire Chat & Play Cafe 2026

You are invited to this year’s DCN Yorkshire Chat & Play Cafe – an informal opportunity to meet up with other DCN members from across Yorkshire. Half of the room is set up for grown-ups to sit and chat, and the other half is for children to play. *Date*: Saturday 21 March 2026 *Time*: 14:00 – 16:00 *Location*: Main Hall, The Grove Centre, New Street, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4BH Tea, coffee, and squash will be provided. Please bring along cakes / snacks, and any toys / games / colouring books etc that will help to keep the children occupied. Any help with set up / clear up would be gratefully received! Please let me know if you can help. The DCN have once again kindly agreed to cover venue costs 👍.
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Member event

In person

Mar

22

West Midlands meetup for all

The next DCN West Midlands meeting will be on Sunday 22nd March at 1pm at Waseley Hills Country Park. Meet by the cafe. Details of the park can be found here: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/environment/countryside-and-leisure/country-parks-picnic-places-and-nature-reserves/waseley-hills-country-park
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Member event

In person

Mar

22

South coast / Solent Solos- Solo parents group

This group is for solo parents in the South coast area of the UK (including Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex). To sign up and to find out more information please contact Victoria, group coordinator, by emailing dcn.southcoast@gmail.com [Do not make the booking here]
Book now

Member event

In person

Mar

22

West of Ireland - General

West of Ireland – “Playground/Petfarm” Family meetup Everyone is invited to this casual family meetup, suitable for all ages. It’s a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect, share experiences and have some fun! Children will also have the chance to play and build friendships with other kids who were thorough donor conception. Date: 22nd March 2026 Location: Turoe Petfarm, Loughrea, Co Galway, H62 A432 Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm approx Previous meetup attendees have commented, “how special it is to meet others they have so much in common with” and “what a great time their children had at the event!”
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Member event

Online

Mar

25

Heterosexual couples -Chat for those undergoing treatment with egg donation

A space for members who are in the process of undertaking treatment with egg donation, to come together to talk about shared issues. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Anna. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
Book now

Member event

Online

Mar

26

Heterosexual couples -Chat for those considering egg donation - Prospective parent

A space for members considering egg donation, to come together to talk about shared issues. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Alex. *There is a separate group running for those undertaking treatment already – this group is predominently for thinking through this route to parenthood. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
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Member event

In person

Mar

28

Thames Valley - Solo Mums' meetup

Join the next meetup for solo mums and mums-to-be in Thames Valley for a get-together at Black Park on March 28th.
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Member event

In person

Mar

29

East London - local group meetup

**A reminder that the clocks go forward on this day** You are invited to the Spring meetup for the general group in East London . Members at any stage welcome – thinkers, tryers and parents with kids. We will be meeting at Jo’s house Bring your own picnic lunch and something to share with everyone else, savoury as well as sweet welcome (buffet style). Teas, coffees & biscuits provided! Look forward to seeing you in person, Jo
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Member event

Online

Mar

30

Anonymous donation - for those who don't have ID release or known donors

This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing anonymous donation and how that is experienced for us as donation recipients. The chat will be facilitated by Valentina, DCN member, and mum through egg donation to two children through anonymous donation. Please be aware that the Anonymous donation chat’s purpose is to understand the meaning that is given to the anonymous donation and how it is managed by those who are already parents. Prospective parents can join the call, however the main goal is to offer an opportunity to talk through the meaning that recipient parents give to the anonymous donation, rather than explore whether this is the best route for prospective parents, which would be best done in the thinker/tryer spaces. This DCN Chat is to offer a space to talk about experiences. This is not an educational event and rather, is offered as a peer-support opportunity.
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Member event

Online

Mar

31

Heterosexual couples - Sperm donation - prospective and new parents

Come and join us for a private space to discuss sperm donation in heterosexual couples with others going down a similar path. DCN Chat is a peer support online get-together. This DCN Chat will be hosted by Danny, dad to two children, concieved through sperm donation. All our DCN Chat facilitators are members themselves, volunteers, and hosting the chat as individuals. This is not a professionally led or educational event. Join us for a supportive space to talk to others in similar situations. If you find that you need further support, please dont hesitate to contact the DC Network office on enquiries@dcnetwork.org
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Member event

Online

Apr

8

Chat for men considering or dads through sperm donation

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Member event

Online

Apr

8

Half sibling discussion

This DCN Chat is aimed at discussing the pros and cons of taking steps to identify genetic siblings. We will offer a space to deliberate about the merits and pitfalls of this and what possible implications doing so/or not do so might have on you and your child. The chat will be facilitated by Adrienne, who is a solo mum with a child born in 2020. This forum is for discussing the topic, rather than a ‘how to’. ** Becuase of the nature of the conversation we ask that participants are particularly careful not to share identifying details of their donor.
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Member event

In person

Apr

12

West London meetup

Come along to join the next meetup for members in West London on Sunday 22nd February at The Eagle, 215 askew road, W12 9AZ. Members in all family circumstances are warmly welcome as well thinkers & triers! Local group coordinator, Chloe, solo mom of 2 year old Lily, will be there to welcome you and the families will have a chance to meet.
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