Sarah went to a seminar at a Melbourne IVF clinic to learn about freezing her eggs, but after talking to a specialist, realised having a child with a donor was going to be the best way for her to achieve her dreams of becoming a mother. After multiple rounds of treatment and 3 donors, she now now lives in Melbourne with her beautiful 15 month old son Noah. In this episode we talk about the mental health journey that goes with conceiving without a partner, the donor selection process and the concept of dating as a solo mum.

At 35 Carly realised that her dream of becoming a mother might not eventuate if she didn’t take matters into her own hands and she now lives in Melbourne with her adorable son Lennon. In this episode we discuss her fertility journey, choices she made to set herself up for success and her thought process for factors she needs to consider before possibly going for a sibling.

Try as she might, Billie had no luck finding Prince Charming, so at 36 she took matters into her own hands and made her dreams of becoming a mother a reality. She and her gorgeous 17 month old daughter Luna live in NSW. In this episode we discuss adjusting back to work as a solo mum, making hard decisions to set yourself up for success and how to have fun selecting the donor

After learning she had fibroids which could impact her fertility, Georgia realised if she wanted kids she might have to take matters into her own hands. It took her a month to make the decision and now Georgia has her gorgeous daughter Violet. In this episode we discuss life with a premature baby, how she’s built an amazing community of other SMBCs and the importance of a specialist you trust during this process.

After focusing on her career and not meeting that special someone, Jac started pursuing foster parenting in order to create her family and help other children. That wasn’t an easy route, so when a friend suggested she have her own child alone, she pivoted and now has her gorgeous son Fletcher. in this episode we discuss foster parenting in Australia, travelling with a young baby and returning to work.

Becoming a solo mum by choice was always in the back of Haylee’s mind and after having a front row seat to her friend going through the journey, she decided to pursue this avenue to motherhood herself. After a pretty dramatic start to mum life, she now lives in Bendigo with her daughter Neve. In this episode we talk about pregnancy after loss, placenta previa and surviving through a premature baby that has to be moved to a hospital outside of your home town.

Alycia decided early on she wasn’t going to have children, then a dream just after she turned 35 changed everything. She didn’t have a partner, and didn’t want one, so instead used a spem donor and now has her gorgeous daughter Emmeline. In this episode we talk about egg donation (which Alycia did when she was younger), her thought process choosing her donor and navigating a complicated pregnancy. In a true reflection of solo mum life, little Emmeline joined us for this interview and is at the fun stage of discovering her voice, eg sounding like a velociraptor for a lot of the interview 🙂

Bess spend most of her life looking after other people’s children and really wanted her own, but due to her shyness she didn’t think she’d be able to meet someone to make that dream happen. She now lives in Tasmania with her two gorgeous girls Sadie and Nina. In this episode we talk about the importance of a supportive village, talking about being donor conceived with teachers and meeting donor siblings.

Celeste had travelled, got the prerequisite white fluffy dog, but didn’t have any luck finding a partner to make her family dreams come true. She took matters into her own hands and now lives in Melbourne with her two boys Henry and Charlie. In this episode we talk about adjusting to life as a working Mum, life as a solo mum to two boys and some great advice and questions she wish she’d known when selecting a fertility specialist and OB.

Nikeesha has a debilitating medical condition which meant if she wanted to have children, she didn’t have time to wait for the right partner. After a pretty challenging pregnancy and birth she now has her gorgeous daughter Willa. In this episode we talk about her amazing resilience and attitude throughout many setbacks, the importance of a supportive village, advocating for yourself and some great advice for preparing for life postpartum.

Maureen became a solo mum when it was actually illegal to access donor sperm as a single woman in Victoria. Luckily for us a lot has changed since then and Maureen now lives in Melbourne with her two teenagers Lana and Flynn. In this episode we discuss talking about the donor with your kids, meeting your donor, some great lessons from having older kids and the importance of building your village.

When Sarah returned from the UK she became very aware of her family and friends who had become mothers and the wonderful bond they had. She wanted that life for herself, so she gave herself a time limit, otherwise she was going to have a baby on her own. She didn’t find Prince Charming by that goal, but she now lives in Melbourne with her gorgeous 3 year old Ollie and has recently moved in with a partner. In this episode we talk about dating and finding love as a solo mum, dealing with gender disappointment and Sarah shares some great tips for getting in the right mental headspace for fertility treatment, pregnancy and labour.

Tissue warning – HIGH

I was very honoured to be able to record Karly’s story. She always knew she wanted to become a mum and when the right partner didn’t eventuate she took matters into her own hands and now has her gorgeous daughter Remy Grace. In this episode we talk about the importance of having a fantastic support network, the benefits of getting involved in the local SMBC community and some of the really tough and important life admin things you have to deal with as a solo mum. If you aren’t aware of Karly’s story I strongly recommend you do not listen to this episode on public transport – it’s likely you will need tissues.

For Camilla, 40 was looming and Prince Charming was seriously lost. So she took matters into her own hands and after a dramatic entrance finally became a mum. She lives in Melbourne with her gorgeous 3 year old son Edward.  In this episode we talk about navigating the first few months as a mum with challenges, seeking out services in your area for support during these times and her experience making contact with her donor via VARTA.

Jen took a long time to make peace with having a baby on her own when meeting the love of her life wasn’t working out as planned. When her mum got sick, she knew it was what she needed to do to make her dreams of being a mother come true. Jen now lives in SA with her gorgeous 4 month old daughter Beatrice. In this episode we talk about the process and grieving you go through when making the decision to let go of the fairytale, coping with the loss of a parent during the journey and advice on getting “advice”.

Danni always wanted to be a Mum, but dating wasn’t leading her to Prince Charming so she decided to do it on her own. Danni now has a successful business in NSW and a gorgeous 2 year old daughter Sophia. In this episode we talk about the importance of research with regards to the clinic you chose, balancing a business and your family, the importance of a good support network and the consideration process she is going through for baby number 2.

Before a friend mentioned pursing having a child alone to Kath, she had never considered it. She was 43 at the time, and decided to just go with it, so when it didn’t work she could put the concept of being a mother behind her. Imagine her surprise when it worked! Kath now lives in Victoria with her gorgeous 3 year old daughter Lily. It hasn’t been an easy journey for Kath and in this episode she talks very openly about her prenatal anxiety and depression, experience with preclampsia resulting in preterm delivery, mental health challenges and navigating motherhood with a premature baby.