Hi, I’m Jody - and I’m finally living a dream that’s been in my heart for as long as I can remember: becoming a mum.

It’s taken me a year to get to this point, and the road here hasn’t been easy. As a single gay woman living in rural Cornwall, I knew if I ever wanted to make my dream of motherhood come true, I’d have to do it entirely on my own. There’s no NHS support for someone in my position, so every appointment, medication, and treatment was paid for privately, costing around £20,000 in total.

I chose to do this on my own, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I’ve always known I wanted to be a mum, and I didn’t want to wait for the “right” circumstances or a partner to make that happen - especially as I will be turning 40 in 2026. I knew it might mean some struggle, uncertainty, and financial worry, but I also knew I had enough love, resilience, and determination to do it myself.

To make it happen, I travelled across the border to Plymouth for every scan, blood test, and procedure. Each step was a learning curve, navigating the complex world of IVF with no partner to share the decisions, no handbook to follow, and very little guidance. I had to teach myself what it all meant, from medication schedules to emotional recovery, injecting myself daily to understanding my chances, all while working full time and trying to stay hopeful.

My journey wasn’t straightforward. My first two embryo transfers ended in heartbreak; one early miscarriage and one chemical pregnancy which to this day, I still struggle with. Picking myself up after those losses was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But somehow, I found the strength to try again, and this time…it worked. After everything, I finally got my miracle.

This baby means everything to me. But with all my savings gone and maternity pay as my only income, I’m now starting from scratch. I want to give my baby the best possible start in life and by that I mean a safe, loving home and everything they’ll need in those precious first months.

I fully appreciate that maternity is a life event that one is generally expected to prepare for, but IVF does not allow for that kind of preparation. You cannot foresee how long it will take, how much it will cost, or how many attempts will be required. It is not a linear or predictable journey, and for many - myself included - it involves taking on considerable financial burden long before you can even hope for a positive outcome. Preparing “properly” simply isn’t realistic when the goalposts constantly move.

Any contribution, no matter how small, would make such a difference. It would help me afford essentials for the baby and ease some of the financial pressure as I adjust to life as a new mum on my own.

This isn’t easy for me to share, but I’ve learned that asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s part of what makes us human. If my story resonates with you, I’d be so grateful for your support, whether that’s through a donation or simply sharing my page so others can see it too.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my story and for helping me give my miracle baby the best possible start in life.

With love and gratitude,

Jody

PS. I have written a blog which goes into more details so please take a look if you'd like to find out more: https://www.cornishramblings.co.uk/post/a-new-chapter