As a solo mum I am the sole income and therefore I have to work to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads. This episode discusses the considerations we face and the help that is available to us.

The following links are discussed in this episode:

Child Benefit: How it works - GOV.UK

New to Universal Credit - Understanding Universal Credit

Universal Credit if you have children - GOV.UK

Tax-Free Childcare - Best Start in Life

Childcare Eligibility Checker - Best Start in Life

Flexible working: Overview - GOV.UK

Flexible working | Acas

Home - Pregnant Then Screwed

In this episode I talk about my experiences of pregnancy after loss and the little things that got me through. I have included below links to some of the resources I have referred to:

The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation

Saying Goodbye: Amazon.co.uk: Zoe Clark-Coates: 9781434712264: Books

It Will Happen: A heart-breaking journey to motherhood through recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy loss: Amazon.co.uk: Laura Buckingham: 9781398419650: Books

Empowering Pregnancy Affirmation Cards - Mindfulness & Calm for Expecting Mums – 40 Inspirational Quotes for Pregnancy, Birth and Self‑Care - Gift for Mum to Be (Pink Edition) : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

I always saw myself as having 2 children but when life didn't go to plan I found myself questioning whether to have another baby and a younger sibling for Savannah.

As a solo mum I had additional factors to consider and I talk through my thought process and ultimately my decision. I also hear from other solo mums about their considerations and their ultimate decision on whether to have another child.

This episode gives an introduction to the topic of donor siblings, and how I plan to approach this with Savannah. I hope you find this informative and helpful

Please find below some further information on donor siblings and donor conception:

Halden, G., and H. King, 'Regulation needs to acknowledge that donor siblings connect before 18', PET: BioNews, 25 March 2024. Regulation needs to acknowledge that donor siblings connect before 18 (progress.org.uk): https://www.progress.org.uk/regulation-needs-to-acknowledge-that-donor-siblings-connect-before-18/

King, H., Johnson, M., Halden, G., Lentner, N., Smyth, U., Walker, J., 'Our Say: Pre 18 Contact with Donor Siblings', Donor Sibling Connections UK (2023). Here​: https://www.drgracehalden.com/_files/ugd/8699d5_8e534bc4896f4855be227a00e5fce7c3.pdf

Cyborg Conception: Cultural and Critical Responses to Solo Motherhood by Choice (Palgrave: 2024) available here at Springer https://idp.springer.com/authorize?response_type=cookie&client_id=springerlink&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Fbook%2F10.1007%2F978-3-031-59386-4

In this episode I discuss the various tips and tricks I use to save money, below are links to the schemes and products I refer to, I hope that these can help you save money too

Boots Parenting Club

Topcashback: https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/sdrewry86

Airtime Rewards: Download Airtime for free and earn a £2 bonus with my code when you join & spend £5 within 7 days: NGPV4VHK https://airtimerewards.app.link/lv12LlTby1b

Sprive: https://linkprod.sprive.com/refer?code=QX75LTHU

Vinted: Vinted | Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories

NCT: NCT Nearly New Sales | | NCT

Vulnerable customers - Energy UK

In this episode I discuss a recent article about a sperm donor who carried a cancer causing gene.

The article can be found here: Sperm from donor with cancer-causing gene was used to conceive almost 200 children - BBC News

While detailing the circumstances around this story I discuss the concerns we may have as donor conception parents

In this episode I discuss the different childcare options for working mum and we hear from other solo mums on the childcare choices they have made.

I also touch on the funding support available from the government in England and Wales, for more information please check out:

Free Childcare for Working Parents: Overview - GOV.UK

Tax-Free Childcare: What Tax-Free Childcare is - GOV.UK

This episode discusses the different ways to make a family, from the traditional, to co-parenting to different types of donors.

While this discussion mainly focuses on Solo parent families some of the information will be interesting to others considering using a donor to make their family.

For additional information on egg and sperm donation please visit the Donor Conception Network - Home - Supporting donor conception families since 1993

Or the UK's Fertility Regulator the HFEA - HFEA: UK fertility regulator