S5:E2 - Carly & Rylan

About this episode

Carly shares her journey of choosing solo motherhood after a life-changing car accident, navigating fertility challenges and donor selection.

From Car Accident to IVF: Carly’s Solo Mum by Choice Journey Carly always knew motherhood was non-negotiable. Marriage? Optional. A partner? Nice, but not essential. But children? Absolutely. After a serious car accident in 2020 forced her to stop and re-evaluate everything, Carly realised she couldn’t keep waiting for “someday.” What followed was a journey through public hospital waitlists, donor shortages, IUI disappointment, IVF pressure, and the emotional intensity of choosing a donor in a system where options are limited and timing is everything. In this episode, Carly shares: The breakup that made her confront her fertility timeline The moment her dad said, “There are many ways to have a child.” Being hit by a car on the way to a first date Why donor selection was far harder than she expected The stress of donor availability disappearing in seconds Losing “her donor” and getting him back The emotional impact of failed IUIs Why IVF ultimately changed the trajectory This episode is honest, grounded, and full of perspective for any woman considering solo motherhood. Key Takeaways Motherhood can be non-negotiable, even when partnership isn’t. Public fertility systems can…

People in this episode

Host: Alisha Burns

Guest: Carly

Topics covered

• solo motherhood
• fertility journey
• IVF
• donor selection
• emotional impact

Keywords

• solo mum
• IVF journey
• donor shortages
• fertility timeline
• IUI success rates

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: public hospital

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• S5:E15 - What you need to know about being induced as a solo mum · June 8, 2026 · 1h 21m
• S5:E14 - Maree & Ellena - From the very first appointment to the other side · June 1, 2026 · 1h 11m
• S5:E12 - Lucia & Gabe (part 2) · May 18, 2026 · 1h 2m
• S5:E13 -Gemma,Thomas & Henry - PCOS, Perinatal Loss & Pregnancy After Loss · May 18, 2026 · 1h 8m
• S5:E11 - Lucia (part 1) · May 11, 2026 · 1h 5m
• S5:E10 - The Considering Stage: Why Making the Decision is the Hardest Part · May 4, 2026 · 38 min