Several of the characters in Outlander engage with issues of parenthood. At the beginning of the novel, Claire questions her interest and ability to be a parent. At first, her ability to parent is thwarted by her and Frank’s failure to conceive. It is again thwarted when Frank refuses to consider the possibility of adopting a child. However, at the end of the novel, Claire’s pregnancy serves as a symbol for a new beginning in her life with Jamie in 1743.

Minor character Geillis touches upon parenthood when she informs Claire that many village women and girls come to her for herbs to abort fetuses. Geillis herself becomes pregnant after having an affair with Dougal, a pregnancy with a powerful Scottish man that Geillis considers to be an act of patriotism. Colum’s responsibility to further his family lineage leads him to instruct his brother Dougal to impregnate his wife Letitia, which resulted in Dougal fathering Colum’s adoptive son Hamish.

Jamie’s pregnant sister Jenny complicates the issue of parenthood by connecting it to sexuality, describing having a child in her belly as synonymous with sexual penetration. She describes pregnancy as, “…a feeling like you’ve your man inside ye, when he comes to ye deep and pours himself into you” (884).