Accidental or unplanned pregnancies just don’t happen in same-sex relationships. And if they do, someone has a lot of explaining to do!

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As a result, same-sex parenting involves a lot of planning and organisation. Choosing co-parents or a donor/surrogate, plotting ovulations and consequent midnight sperm deliveries…

But when is the right time to have a baby? Careers, financial concerns, age and fertility all factor into the planning of a family and it can be a delicate balancing act to get it all right at the right time.

OUTinPerth asked a selection of men, women, parents and singles when they feel is the best time to procreate?
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I hit the snooze button on my baby making endeavours too many times, now it’s just too late. Every month I swear I can see my eggs with grey hair and zimmer-frames!!!
One could say that it’s best to do it when you are settled and financially stable. I have failed to find what it means to be settled or stable lol.

Needlenurse, 39

When you’re starting to lose your figure and need something to point the finger of blame at.
Young and gorgeous, 21

So really you’re asking… when would I voluntarily introduce copious amounts of vomit and poo into my life whilst having a perpetual lack of sleep…?
Easy: gimme a pair of rubber gloves some goggles and a Valium and I’m all set…
BRING IT ON!

Ready and Waiting, 24

When I can buy an Afro or Asian baby of my choice at a price I can afford.

Angelina & Madge wannabe, 30

Well, I’ve just been with a friend (whom is late 30’s like me) to the first ultra-sound for her baby, and apparently at this age the chances are 1/40 chance of problems occurring! Our eggs do take a rapid dive south beyond 35 years of age! I personally think when you feel you can put a child before everything else in your life that is important, but if all else fails surround yourself with pets and a fish aquarium.

Lola, 39

Never!!! If there was (a perfect time) nobody would be having babies…

Just Do It, 38

I simply don’t want to have a baby. The closest I’ve gotten to having a child is dragging my sister’s cabbage patch kid around when I was 6! For me, the right time is no time! I am a devoted uncle and god father and that is enough believe me! ‘No I will not take you to Adventure world this summer, I clearly haven’t gotten rid of my winter fat!’ – Kids just don’t understand.
Perhaps the right time for someone who does actually want a child is AFTER you get a dog… If you can’t have a dog and make it work between your relationship, job and social life forget a baby…

Unfatherable, 22

I think the right time is never… kids are a pain in the ass, they are noisy, they suck all of your money… don’t do it ?

Rich, 32

I would love to have a child, but not until I’m 30 and the scene has disowned me; AKA my ‘Gay Death’. I think a stable relationship, perfect donor mother, and fair (read: allowing) laws will be the first challenge. Attractive men of Sydney, attractive women of the world, and Kevin Rudd; please note well.

Perfect Catch, 22

If you’re not the kind of lesbian who doesn’t believe in the occasional excursion on the other side of the fence or a DIY turkey baster arrangement then having saved up wads of cash is a good starting point. It is also helpful if this coincides with a period of personal financial security, partnership blissfulness, paid maternity leave, useful government policies that are pro-family in a diverse kinda way, secure housing and excellent physical, emotional and spiritual health.
If you can co-ordinate this with still being young enough to be fertile, why not bring a child into the world to deprive you of sleep and make you as cranky and malfunctional as the rest of us?
It is best to procreate when you find someone else who you think would also make a valuable contribution to the development of the gene pool. As for the rest? Just deal with it. Kids rearrange the world for you anyway…

Picky, 32

The best time for baby making is sometime around sunset and before the morning-after pill kicks in. Seriously, at 28, babies are the last thing on my mind but sex… well that’s another matter.

Seriously Sterille, 28

Isn’t that generally right about the time that you’ve paid a deposit on that really nice apartment you can finally afford, or you’ve just paid for that first class round-the-world holiday next year, or you just finished paying off that two seat sportscar?… that seems to be when people actually DO have babies…

Cynic, 36

It’s not about timing, it’s about intelligence. Too many stupid people are breeding.

Butch, 29

When is the right time to procreate? Twice every evening after dinner, and most weekends. Practice makes perfect right? That’s providing my boyfriend and I can get pregnant…?!

Still Trying, 22

The later you can wait the better – with the internet and the ever growing world of technology, kids will be practically bringing up themselves!

Techno-kid, 20

Finance Facts and Figures:

-The University of Queensland puts the cost of raising one child from birth to age 18 at between $120,000 and $600,000

-The average cost of raising two children in Australia is between $400,000 and $500,000.

-As of September 20, 2009 the Australian Government Baby Bonus stands at $5,185 per eligible child and is paid in 13 fortnightly instalments.

-From 2011 Australian parents will have access to paid parental leave. One parent is paid a minimum wage for 18 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child or payments can be split between parents (for example one parent takes the first 10 weeks and the second parent takes the following 8 weeks).

Fertility Facts and Figures:

– Fecundity refers to a woman’s chance of getting pregnant each cycle and it varies with age. Between the ages of 20 to 25 women have about a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant per cycle. At 25-30 chances are about 20 percent. At 30-35 they are about 15 percent. After 35 they may be about 10 percent per cycle, and the chances then continue to fall.

-Smoking can shorten a woman’s ‘fertile life span’ by as much as four years.

-Obesity can affect fertility in women as an excess of body fat causes the body to produce high levels of estrogen.

-Men should avoid bike riding, caffeine, hot tubs and keeping mobile phones in pockets to increase fertility.

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