Strangers Making Babies

[zafferana]

I can't believe there isn't a thread about this programme!

I watched it last night and found it depressing, extraordinary and just ... odd. The thought of interviewing someone to have a baby with and then having to co-parent with a complete stranger is just horrible IMO! Imagine handing your newborn over to someone you barely know for half the time? Argh! Unimaginable. Donor sperm I can understand, but this? No way.

The candidates too were not at all what I would expect. Venicia struck me as the kind of attractive, bubbly, warm person who would easily find a partner to have a family with if only she would actually make the effort to date, rather than spending all her time looking after other people's DC.

As for the men she was matched with - two guys much older than her and older than the upper age limit of 42 that she was comfortable with - one being 16 years older and already with two kids. It's a shame she and Vik didn't have any chemistry as he was by far the best match otherwise.

And Sarah - being matched with one guy who lives in Manchester when she lives in Reading and other who almost died from a serious heart condition. WTF? I can only think that C4 were short of male candidates for their bizarre programme.

Did anyone else think it was just ... I dunno ... weird and slightly unpleasant?

@Beebs101, it wasn’t about you so much - just commenting on the poster who said a nanny has lots of experience and therefore will always be a good parent. The two are very different, as you rightly say. It’s not an opinion relating to you, but a wider fact that nannying does not equal wonderful parenting directed at the pp.

I actually found the programme really interesting. I felt Ch4 were quite unbiased with presenting it.

I did wonder whether some of the heterosexual males were looking for romantic connection, and then maybe disappointed when it wasn’t on the cards.

I think there are many unconventional routes to parenthood.

I know this is an old thread now, but I just watched the programme and stumbled across it trying to find updates!

@Beebs101 you came across so well and I hope you found your happiness after filming!

I'm a child psychotherapist on my own coparent journey. I've met someone wonderful to be the father of my child and there are no doubts in my mind at all.

I find it so interesting that people have such strong opinions that are absolutely baseless. There's a developing body of evidence that suggests that children born into alternate family structures do as well as, if not better that children born into traditional families.

I have put considerably more thought into having a child this way than my friends who have had a child as the logical next step of their romantic relationship. My entire relationship with my (fingers crossed!) future baby's father is centred around our shared goal of parenting, with no other dynamics to complicate matters.

I'm totally confident that this is going to work out and I'm super excited.

You've all misunderstood the show. If you watch episode one, or even just the introduction, this show is NOT about entertainment at ALL. It's about helping this poor people who really want to be mums and dads and haven't had the chance and are running out of time. Coparenting websites already exist and these scientists are helping people find a coparent in person without the craziness of the internet. It'll all a positive thing. Anyone trying to paint a negative picture of this, well it's not the show, the negativity comes from your own lives. I'm very happy for anyone who seeks and finds a co-parent. Two people actively choosing to parent can work out better than two people shackled together for life who accidental fall pregnant and then one person discovers the other hates kids or doesn't want them or they're not that serious about each other. Parenting without romance doesn't need to be seen a negative thing whatsoever.