If you’ve ever wondered which books are the best tools to help your donor-conceived child understand their story, this episode is a goldmine. Alisha is joined by Meike and Fiona from DCP Hub, two solo mums by choice who have built a powerful resource for families navigating donor conception.

Together they share their favourite books across every age group — from baby board books to primary and teen reads — and explain why stories are one of the most effective ways to start, deepen and normalise donor conception conversations at home. You’ll also hear personal reflections, tips for adapting books to your family, and even some adorable special guest reviews.

Whether you’re just starting your solo mum journey or supporting older kids who are forming their own identity, this episode is full of practical, thoughtful recommendations.

• DCP Hub for their bookshop, events and to join the mailing list

• Download the Solo Mum Society book list for more book reviews (a lot of which are available at DCP Hub)

• Get your own copy of My Perfect Family

• Books help start tricky conversations — especially when parents struggle with wording or timing. Books evolve with your child as they grow.

• Representation matters — seeing families like theirs reduces “otherness”, boosts identity, and normalises donor conception in classrooms and communities.

• You can adapt any book — change wording, add details, or personalise to suit your story (kids can’t read early on!).

• There are now great options for older kids & teens — mystery adventures, identity-focused books, and stories written by donor-conceived authors.

• DCP Hub exists to support donor-conceived people — through events, education, and resources that help parents make informed and compassionate decisions.

I couldn't continue to make this podcast without the help of our fabulous sponsor, City Fertility. If you're looking into fertility treatment on your own, make sure you take advantage of the exclusive 20% discount for No Need for Prince Charming listeners. Learn more here.

When Sammy’s marriage ended while her daughter was still a toddler, she grieved the future she thought she’d have. But she also knew, deep down, that she still wanted to grow her family — even if that meant doing it alone. In this heartfelt episode, Sammy shares how she moved from heartbreak to empowered action, navigating donor selection, finances, co-parenting, and ultimately conceiving her second daughter, Betty, on her very first IUI.

Her joy is infectious. Her vulnerability, grounding. And her story is a powerful reminder that happy endings can look different — and still be everything you dreamed of.

• Grief and hope can coexist — Sammy reflects on separating from her husband and the deep desire to create the sibling relationship she always imagined.

• Choosing donor conception after separation — how she navigated finances, support, and the emotional decision to grow her family solo.

• A successful first-try IUI — why she trusted her intuition (and her sisters!) despite advice to head straight to IVF.

• Healthy co-parenting dynamics — how she built a positive relationship with her ex and his family for Athena’s sake.

• Honest reflections on newborn life as a solo mum — managing guilt, juggling school routines, and finding her rhythm with two children and no partner.

I couldn't continue to make this podcast without the help of our fabulous sponsor, City Fertility. If you're looking into fertility treatment on your own, make sure you take advantage of the exclusive 20% discount for No Need for Prince Charming listeners. Learn more here.

Download 10 Diet & Lifestyle Tips to Boost Your Fertility — created with a fertility dietitian — and get practical, easy ways to support your body for conception. Download your free guide here.

From “I did it on my own” to “I’m doing it again” — this episode brings back two of our previous guests to share where their journeys have unfolded since you last heard from them.

In this episode, Alisha checks back in with Hayley (Season 1) and Maegan (Season 2) — two women who have already taken the leap into solo motherhood… and now return with major updates.

Hayley shares how becoming a solo mum radically shifted her self-belief — and how that shift led her to welcome a second baby on her own. She also opens up about connecting with her children’s donor siblings and what that unfolding has been like for her family.

Maegan returns with her own big news — she’s now pregnant. She talks about what it felt like to start this again, how different this round has been emotionally, and how she’s approaching this pregnancy from a place of deeper confidence and grounded trust in herself.

Their stories are a reminder that this path doesn’t end with “you had the baby.” For so many solo mums — that’s where the next chapter begins.

• Growth Creates More Choice: When you see what you’re capable of for the first time, you stop questioning if you can. You start deciding if you want to.

• More Than One Version of Solo Motherhood: For some women, one baby is their vision. For others, it opens the door to building the bigger family they always imagined.

• Donor Sibling Connections Can Evolve: When (and if) you choose to connect, it can expand your child’s world and introduce relationships you never expected.

• Pregnancy Round Two Feels Different: When you’re already a solo mum, pregnancy isn’t just a possibility anymore. It’s an expansion.

I couldn't continue to make this podcast without the help of our fabulous sponsor, City Fertility. If you're looking into fertility treatment on your own, make sure you take advantage of the exclusive 20% discount for No Need for Prince Charming listeners. Learn more here.

Trying to conceive or pregnant and want your village? The Bump Membership is your private WhatsApp community + fortnightly Zoom Connection Calls with solo mums-to-be across Australia & New Zealand. Join the Bump here.