The simple answer is: Maybe, but not necessarily.
While your baby will inherit genetic material from the egg provider and the sperm donor, the appearance will depend on the combination of genes inherited from both, as well as other non-genetic factors.
Factors Influencing Your Baby's Appearance
Here is how your baby's appearance is influenced when using donor sperm:
- Genetic Material: The baby will have 50% of their genetic makeup from the egg provider and 50% from the sperm donor.
- Resemblance is possible: According to the reference, "the child may have physical characteristics that resemble you, your partner, or the donor."
- No Guarantee of Resemblance: There is no guarantee that the baby will look like you. It may be more similar to the egg provider or the sperm donor or exhibit a combination of traits.
Why a Baby Might Resemble You (Even with Donor Sperm)
Even though you aren't genetically related, a baby might still resemble you because:
- Shared Ancestry: You and the egg provider might share some common genetic traits due to shared ethnicity or ancestry.
- Environmental Factors: During pregnancy, the intrauterine environment and your health can influence gene expression.
- Perception: People around you might perceive a resemblance, even if it's subtle, due to mannerisms or expressions.
