Becoming a biological parent can occur through planned or unplanned pregnancy, which involves ovulation, fertilization, implantation and development over 9 months of gestation split into trimesters. Biological parents are related by blood to their children through pregnancy or birthing technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), which are options when infertility issues prevent natural conception.

1. Becoming Parents and Carers- Biological parents
Parenting and caring are challenging experiences. Becoming a parent or carer can lead to numerous life changes in
relation to physical, social, emotional and economic wellbeing. Colloquially, a parent is someone who fathers or gives
birth to a child although those who nurture and raise a child are also defined as parents. Parents can be biological or
social.
Biological parents are those who are related to their children by blood through pregnancy (planned, unplanned or
through birthing technologies).
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the period between conception and birth where a woman carries a foetus. The cycle of pregnancy
begins with ovulation. Ovulation refers to the release of an egg from the ovaries. It occurs approximately half way
through the menstrual cycle. The released egg travels down the fallopian tube where fertilisation can occur if sperm
meets the egg and finds its way to the core of the ovum, which then becomes the embryo. For the process to be
successful, implantation needs to occur, whereby the embryo implants in the endometrium (the uterine lining). Once
the embryo is implanted into the endometrium, a membrane forms around the embryo called the chorion, which
connects the womb and the embryo and develops the placental tissues.
Once a woman has ovulated, conceived and the embryo has been implanted, the foetus develops over approximately 40
weeks (9 months) which is split into trimesters. The first trimester relates to the period between conception and 12
weeks. Nutrition and pre-natal care is crucial within this period. The second trimester relates to the period between 13
and 27 weeks. The third trimester relates to the period between 29 weeks and the birth of the baby.
Pregnancy can be planned or unplanned. Planned pregnancies refer to pregnancies that have been premeditated. A
woman may intend to become pregnant and may prepare for it to happen. Parents can ‘plan’ a pregnancy by ensuring
they are physically, emotionally and economically ready to have a child. Planning may be a long-term process where
parents ensure they are physically healthy and fit, emotionally ready for the multitude of ups and downs of parenting
and economically prepared for the costs associated with the baby. For example, a family may prepare for their changed
financial situation when the baby is born as the mother may no longer work and the father may reduce hours to spend
time with his child.
Alternatively, pregnancy can be unplanned where it may happen unintentionally.
An unplanned pregnancy can be emotionally difficult and intense. The woman and/or man need to weigh up their
options and make a decision regarding the pregnancy, they may choose to keep the baby, terminate the pregnancy or
have the baby and give it up for adoption.
IVF and GIFT
Fertility treatment is an option when there are issues associated with pregnancy such as infertility. Infertility refers to
the inability of women to conceive or men to impregnate. Infertility can be caused by a range of issues such as ovulation
disorders, endometriosis, reproductive issues as well as the age of the parents. Parent/s may choose to use fertility
treatment to assist conception and enhance their chances at conceiving.
Common fertility treatments in Australia include In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT).
IVF occurs by preparing a woman’s body for fertilisation by administering treatment associated with hormone
stimulation. Once a woman is physically suitable (i.e. their hormone levels are appropriate) a woman’s ovaries are
stimulated to increase the production of eggs. The eggs are then collected from the ovaries and placed with the sperm
in a laboratory to administer fertilisation. Embryo development is promoted by placing the fertilised eggs
into incubators. If fertilisation is successful, embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus in the hope she will
become pregnant. There are costs associated with IVF.
GIFT is another fertility treatment, commonly used when infertility is unexplained. GIFT is performed similarly to IVF in
that the woman’s ovaries are stimulated and eggs are collected from the ovaries. Where IVF places the eggs and sperm
together in a laboratory to promote fertilisation, GIFT places the egg and sperm into the fallopian tube where
fertilisation can occur naturally.