199 - Lisa's journey of becoming a single mum by choice

<p>Lisa was 31 when she went to see an IVF specialist to enquire about becoming a single mum by choice. She soon discovered that being a single mother by choice was the path she wanted to embark on. </p> <p>At 33 she had her son, Teddy, by using donor sperm.</p> <p>Lisa is now 35, and in this episode she shares:</p> <ul> <li>her experience of undertaking two IUIs,</li> <li>the process of undertaking IVF (in April 2018, and getting 5 embryos by the end of it),</li> <li>her experience of miscarriage,</li> <li>the process of picking a donor, and</li> <li>what it was like telling people that she was pregnant (and single) and how they reacted.</li> </ul> <p>Lisa also openly shares the struggle she had when the baby arrived and how hard it was doing everything solo, especially during the first four months. She talks about how she underestimated how hard it would be to do everything on her own, and especially how hard it was not having the mental and emotional support, despite having a wonderful support network. </p> <p>This is an open and honest account of what it's like to be a single mum with a new baby, by choice, or otherwise.</p> <p><strong>Links mentioned in the episode:</strong></p> <p>Listen to my journey of becoming a single mother by choice in Episodes <a href= "http://traffic.libsyn.com/singlemothersurvivalguide/Ep_158.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">158,</a> <a href= "http://traffic.libsyn.com/singlemothersurvivalguide/182_-_Becoming_a_single_mother_by_choice.output.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">182</a>, and <a href= "https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/singlemothersurvivalguide/197_-_Looking_after_your_future_self.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">197</a>.</p> <p>Listen to other podcast episodes with single mothers by choice - Episodes <a href= "http://traffic.libsyn.com/singlemothersurvivalguide/Emma_Fraser.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">76</a>, <a href= "http://traffic.libsyn.com/singlemothersurvivalguide/Maureen_Pound_FINAL.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">59</a>, <a href= "http://traf