Karina used a clinic-recruited donor and successfully conceived her son via IVF. In this episode, we discuss Karina’s surprise endometriosis diagnosis, her stressful pregnancy with a subchronic hematoma, and challenges with her obstetrician and premature baby.

In this very special episode, I met with Amy, Kathryn from episode 8’s 21-year-old daughter.

In this episode, we learn all about her experience growing up donor-conceived with a solo mum by choice, her experience meeting her donor siblings, and the challenges of her mum using an anonymous donor. She answers all of the questions you wanted answered. I know all SMBCs, SMBCs to be, or those considering becoming an SMBC, will get a lot out of this episode.

Katelyn used a clinic-recruited overseas donor and successfully conceived her daughter via IVF. In this episode, we discuss Katelyn’s experience travelling interstate for treatment during lockdowns, how supportive her family is and what a difference that makes for her and her daughter, her experience transitioning into being a working solo mum and how important the solo mum community has been for her journey.

Ashley used an ID release donor from America and successfully conceived her son via IUI. In this episode we discuss how she navigated fertility treatment when she lives 700km from the nearest Woolworths, managing pregnancy and birth living in a remote town, tragically losing her dad shortly after her son was born and managing the juggle as a working mum.

Kim used a clinic recruited local donor and successfully conceived her son via IVF after losing her son Jack a few years earlier. TRIGGER WARNING In this two part episode we discuss Kim’s experience with stillbirth, the very long journey she went through to get pregnant again and how she’s adapting to mum life. The first part of this interview was recorded three weeks before Kim gave birth, and the second part was nine months after she had Charlie.

Lucienne used an ID release donor from America and successfully conceived her son via IVF. In this episode, we discuss how she underwent treatment in Canberra from NSW, experienced and overcame secondary infertility and how she juggles life as a shift-working solo mum.

In this special episode, I met with Brooke from the ADDAM and EEVE donor banks (part of City Fertility and Rainbow Fertility)

This episode is perfect for anyone considering using an egg, embryo or sperm donor to create their family. Brooke generously shared with me the process and screening potential donors go through, what women should consider when choosing a sperm donor and how things differ from state to state. Even if you already have your family, you can learn a lot from this episode; I certainly did!

Kathryn used an anonymous donor and successfully conceived her first daughter via IUI 21 years ago. In this episode we discuss challenges she faced throughout her daughter’s childhoods and teenage years, how she mastered the juggle, connections with donor siblings and the implications of not being able to get identifying information of the donor.

Kristin used a clinic recruited donor and successfully conceived her daughter via IVF. In this episode we discuss overcoming a silent miscarriage, postnatal preeclampsia, how she negotiated life as a new mum and a carer thanks to a shock terminal cancer diagnosis for her father and making connections with the donor and donor siblings.

Kate used a clinic recruited donor and successfully conceived her son via IVF. In this episode we discuss how being a solo mum by choice was always her plan A to have a family, overcoming conception challenges with a difficult cervix, deliberate lifestyle and career changes she made prior to starting treatment, managing ADHD as a new mum and the super supportive special family situation her son has been born into.

Trudy used a clinic recruited donor and successfully conceived her daughters via IVF. In this episode we discuss overcoming her and her families religious beliefs to become a mother on her own, the importance of a support network, navigating delivering her babies early when she was away from home and the challenges of being a mum of twins on your own.

In this special episode I met with Samantha Gunn, a fabulous doula from Sydney.

This episode is perfect for anyone currently pregnant or hoping to be in the future. Even if you aren't currently considering using a doula, Sam shares some excellent advice on not only the birthing process, but the importance of postpartum care and support. She also shares some fabulous solo mum specific advice.

Katie used a clinic recruited donor in the NT and successfully conceived her daughter via IVF. In this episode we discuss her thought process to become a SMBC after she was adamant women shouldn’t have children on their own, her conception journey, having a child with no family in the same state, meeting donor siblings and the tips she has learned travelling with a child given they have already been back to the UK four times. There are a few audio challenges with this episode and it’s authentic real solo mum life with Florence joining in from time to time.

Ash used a clinic recruited donor and successfully conceived her son via IUI. In this episode we discuss her conception journey, the importance of a support network, dealing with a health scare with a young child, her considerations for whether or not to expand her family, and planning for the future if the worst was to happen to her.

Helen travelled interstate to use a clinic recruited ID release donor. She successfully conceived her daughter using IVF. Billie was less than 6 months old when we recorded this episode which gives us great insight into the early days of being a solo mum by choice and how Helen is navigating mum life without family who live in the same state or country. in this episode we also discuss some of the challenges of conceiving in Western Australia currently that has a shortage of local donors and how Helen is building her village around her in the absence of family.

Lauren used a recruited donor and home insemination (AI) to conceive her daughter. In this episode we discuss her consideration process for choosing her donor, life as a solo mum by choice and her decision to keep her journey relatively private until she was successfully pregnant. We also chat about whether she may add another child to her family in future and how she is discovering the solo mum by choice community around her in Perth.

Another fabulous season of the No need for Prince Charming podcast with another incredible 40 mums who’ve so generously shared their story – thank you!

In this wrap up we hear from some of our previous guests from season 1 and 2 and get updates on life for them since the podcast. If you’re interested in sharing your story in season 3 out in 2024 please reach out.

Before becoming a mum, Lisa had a very clear idea of the goals she needed to achieve before she was ready to go down this path. After achieving the travel, the house and the dog she was successful at becoming a mum and now lives in Adelaide with her adorable daughter Grace. In this episode we discuss the complications of requiring genetic testing, the emotional journey of treatment not going the way you think it will, Grace’s dramatic premature entrance into the world and how the first 10 months have gone.

Mel always thought if she wasn’t a mum by the time she was 35 she would pursue becoming a mother on her own. In her late 20s she decided to bring the timeline forward, and after getting treatment in a different state she now has her gorgeous son Theo. In this episode we discuss navigating the early days with a newborn post a c-section, possible siblings and her thoughts on connecting with the donor or donor siblings given she used an international donor.

The only thing Leah ever wanted was to be a mum and at 30, when relationships hadn’t worked out as planned, she pursued becoming a solo mum by choice. Leah lives in Victoria with her adorable son Dallas. In this episode we discuss dealing with a stressful pregnancy, her thoughts on siblings and donor siblings and how she talks about being donor conceived with her son.