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When my father passed away suddenly just before my 38th birthday, I had a lightbulb moment.
I realised the only thing that mattered for me in my future was that I needed to be a mum.
I had tried the traditional path to motherhood in the past, but six years after my marriage ended, I still hadn't found anything close to a relationship with a future.
I knew I had what it took to be a mother, but I needed to let go of the fairytale. So I decided to try for a child on my own using a sperm donor.
I had heard of other women having children this way, but I didn't know anyone in my extended social circles who had actually done it.
The fertility treatment side of the journey didn't concern me after going through years of infertility with my ex-husband. But I did worry I would be lonely.
Could I really do it on my own? Financially, mentally...
I wasn't sure my coupled friends, who had families of their own or were having children, would understand the unique challenges I would face.
I was also worried that I'd likely be forgotten about without a partner for casual catch-ups and coupled social events.
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