
Five years ago, Melissa Smith decided that she wanted to become a mother.
The now 40-year-old, who is based in Sydney, was single – but she knew she was ready.
“When I was getting around the 35 mark, I started to feel like I was just on this hamster wheel of life and going out on weekends and getting drunk and trying to online date and I was just going around in circles,” she told Mamamia.
“I was watching all of my friends start to meet serious partners, get engaged and have babies and I felt like I was still doing the same thing.”
After realising just how much she wanted a baby of her own, Melissa made a decision – she was going to embark on motherhood alone.
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“I just sort of thought: ‘Why not? What’s holding me back? I’m a strong woman and I’ve achieved a lot in my life. I can do it,'” she said.
Although the now 40-year-old briefly considered adoption, she ultimately choose to have a baby with the help of a sperm donor.
“A part of me really wanted to have a piece of me out there with all of my characteristics,” she said.
“[Using a sperm donor] definitely appealed more to me in my situation.”
After going for an initial consultation at an IVF clinic, Melissa’s journey to motherhood began.