BY

Lesbians have been birthing and raising children for a long time. Yet it is only within the last few decades that two women within an existing lesbian relationship have chosen to become parents where one woman carries and is genetically related to the child; and the other experiences an incomparable mother-child relationship, being present from birth, but having no biological connection to the child. The connection of being one of two mothers, but as the non-biological parent of the child, renders the mother in a position where she potentially faces another type of invisibility within an already marginalized population. Previous research primarily focuses on lesbian parenting and the development of their children in comparison to heterosexual couples and their children. That research helped to shift public perceptions on lesbian parenting to normalize it, change laws regarding lesbian adoption, and lessen discrimination concerning same-sex marriage (Clarke, 2008). The present study aimed to enhance e understanding of the non-biological lesbian mother’s experience of motherhood, including unique challenges and benefits she may derive from this experience. Ten non