ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

LGBT reproduction

Okay, so when a mommy and a daddy love each other, sometimes they can make a baby together. But sometimes, two mommies or two daddies love each other and want to make a baby too. But since they don't have different body parts like a mommy and daddy, they need a little help.

There are different ways that two mommies or two daddies can have a baby. One way is called sperm donation. This means that a man can give some of his special cells, called sperm, to a baby-making clinic. Then, these sperm can be used to fertilize an egg from one of the mommies or daddies.

Another way is called egg donation. In this case, a woman can donate her eggs to the baby-making clinic. Then, one of the mommies can have the egg fertilized with sperm from a donor man. This can happen inside her body if she has a uterus, or in a dish in the lab.

After the egg is fertilized, it grows into a tiny baby, just like with a mommy and daddy. Sometimes, the baby is carried in the belly of one of the mommies, and sometimes, they use a surrogate. A surrogate is a special person who agrees to carry the baby in their belly for the mommies or daddies.

So, you see, there are many different ways that two mommies or two daddies can have a baby. But the most important thing is that they love each other and love their baby just as much as any mommy and daddy would!