REAL LIFE: “My dream of becoming a mum came true through using a sperm donor”
A solo mum by choice, Brooke's son is now almost two.
By Brooke Stanford
I wanted to be a mum for a long time. That feeling intensified after my nephew was born and being invited to kids’ parties as someone without children I started to find more and more difficult.
I also started to have a more emotional association with Mother’s Day because I felt I had left things too late to have a family of my own.
I had been in long-term relationships before, and when my last one ended, I was 37. This spurred me on to contact IVFAustralia to find out more about using a sperm donor as a single mother.
I was able to arrange an appointment with my fertility specialist, Dr Iris Wang, quite quickly. She explained what was involved and I undertook some fertility tests to be able to proceed in the best way possible. I then was able to join the waiting list for sperm donors. When I reached the top of the list, Dr Wang recommended I start with IUI as it is the least invasive option.
I had four attempts at IUI before Dr Wang recommended changing to IVF. IVF is very precise and there are a number of steps to go through before you retrieve any eggs for transfer. It was through this process that I learnt it’s not how many eggs you retrieve, but the quality that matters.
I was extremely lucky to fall pregnant after my first IVF cycle. I was 39 when my son was born.
Brooke became a single mum with the help of a sperm donor.
Becoming a single mother and using a sperm donor was not the path to motherhood I had in mind, but I am so incredibly glad I did it.
It’s all been absolutely worth it as it was my dream to become a Mum. My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and while there are certainly challenges with being a single parent, the rewards are far greater.
I can’t believe he will be two-years-old in a few weeks!
Brooke’s dream was to become a mum. Her son is now almost two.
While IVF can be challenging to go through, I was given a lot of reassurance by Dr Wang who also kept things realistic. There’s a world of support available before, during and after an assisted reproductive pregnancy, and for anyone contemplating this, and if it’s your dream to be a mother, I would really encourage you to follow it. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
