Many families in Germany suffer the same fate: they love each other, are happy with their partners and yet something crucial is missing in their lives: the laughter of their own child. When even the usual medical practices do not work or adoption is rejected in Germany, these couples seize every opportunity, no matter how small, to have a child. The first baby conceived through artificial insemination saw the light of day around 30 years ago. Wunschkinder accompanies couples on their long, arduous journey to the longed-for baby – all stories full of hope, setbacks and happy endings.

Wunschkinder shows couples beaming with joy who have finally had a child after years of hoping and others for whom even the sixth and seventh attempt fails. Give up or carry on? Has the dream of having a baby finally been shattered?

Various methods can be used to conceive a child. Some couples have high hopes for artificial insemination – to date, more than 100,000 children have been born in Germany using this method. Others seek help abroad, as procedures such as egg donation are permitted there, which are strictly forbidden in Germany. Wunschkinder accompanies couples on their very different journeys, all with the same hope: to finally have a baby of their own!