Marisa and her donor-conceived child Jose Maria

Cryos

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<h2><span class="display-3">The journey towards single motherhood</span></h2>
<p>&ldquo;My son, Jose Maria, is the biggest joy of my life, and I am very happy that I used <a title="Read more about donor sperm here" href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/about-sperm/about-donor-sperm/">donor sperm</a> from Cryos to fulfil my dream.</p>
<p>I have always wanted to become a mother, but it was never really on the table with any of my previous partners. In 2005, I finally realized that I was happy living on my own - without a partner. The only thing missing, was someone to share my life with, to teach, to care for, and to show how I see the world. I was missing a child. At that time, I started to research the possibilities of receiving <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/ivf-treatment-for-single-women/">IVF treatment as a single woman</a> in Portugal. Back then, it was not possible to undergo fertility treatment in Portugal as a single woman. Fortunately, the law was changed in 2006, and after that, I really started to consider the possibility of becoming a <a title="Read more about Single Mothers by Choice here" href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/about-sperm/why-use-a-sperm-donor/single-mother-by-choice/">Single Mother by Choice</a>.</p>
<p>When I talked to other people about the idea of becoming a single mum, a lot of them advised me to meet a man and have a child with him, without his knowledge. But that was not the way I wanted to do it. I wanted to be able to control the process myself, so I chose to receive help from a sperm bank, because I wanted my son to be born out of love, not deception.</p>
<p>When I looked at the potential <a title="See our selection of sperm donors here" href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/find-donor/search-sperm-donors/">sperm donors</a> available, a very important factor for me was an <a title="Read more about the proces here" href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/about-sperm/screening-of-sperm-donors/">extensive donor screening process</a>. At Cryos, it was possible to see medical tests, blood type, and a thorough examination of the donor&rsquo;s family genetics. I wanted my child to be healthy, and by <a title="Read more about choosing a sperm donor here" href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/choosing-a-sperm-donor/">choosing a sperm donor</a> from Cryos, I succeeded in that.&rdquo;</p>

Marisa is pregnant with a donor-conceived child

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<h2><span class="display-3">Starting fertility treatment with donor sperm</span></h2>
<p>&ldquo;I used a lot of time and energy researching whether it was possible for me to receive financial support from the public system in Portugal. Unfortunately, it was not, so instead, I started a crowdfunding campaign. Luckily, there were a lot of kind-hearted people that wanted to help me on my journey towards parenthood and once I had enough money for fertility treatment, I started. Looking back, I wish that I from the start had gone to my clinic, because once I stepped through their doors, I felt at home. Today, I am the happy mother of my son Jose Maria.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><span class="display-3">The importance of support from family and friends</span></h2>
<p>&ldquo;One of the most important factors when being a Single Mother by Choice, is the support from family and friends. In 2020, when I finally decided to become a single mother, I moved to another city to be closer to my parents and grandparents so they could help me and get to know Jose Maria. I also changed my job to make sure that I had time to be there for my child.</p>
<p>In general, my family and friends reacted very positively to my desire to become a Single Mother by Choice. I received a lot of support, especially from my mother, which made this whole journey possible. During the week, my mother and grandmother support me a lot, which has made our relationship even stronger. I also have a good relationship with my sister and nephews. When I see the love between Jose Maria and his cousins, I want to give Jose Maria a brother or a sister. It is not going to be easy, but as a mother, nothing is impossible.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><span class="display-3">Advice for women considering single motherhood</span></h2>
<p>&ldquo;There will probably never be the perfect moment to become a Single Mother by Choice. In my case, the pandemic hit right when I made my decision to become a Single Mother by Choice. It may be tempting to keep postponing because you want to wait for the perfect man. But sometimes he does not show, and I advise you to <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/choosing-single-motherhood/">choose single motherhood</a> before it is too late.</p>
<p>There are a lot of concerns surrounding the life as a single mother. By sharing my personal story and thoughts, I hope to help other women who consider single motherhood feel less alone.</p>
<p>If you want to follow my journey, click on the link to my Instagram account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marisadapalma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marisadapalma</a>. You can also read other stories, like <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/simone-stalberg/">Simone Stalberg</a>, that used a sperm donor to become mother to a child.</p>
<h2><span class="display-3">Relevant material for Single Mothers by Choice</span></h2>
<p>If you are considering <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/becoming-a-single-mother-by-choice-the-complete-guide/">becoming a Single Mother by Choice</a> and want to learn more about the process or find inspiration to begin your journey towards parenthood, then follow some of the links below to learn more:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/how-to-get-yourself-pregnant-without-man/">How to get yourself pregnant without a man</a></li>
<li><a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/single-mom-by-choice-the-best-decision-i-ever-made/">Single mom by choice - the best decision I ever made</a></li>
<li><a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/6-books-for-single-mothers-by-choice-and-their-children/">Books for solo mothers</a></li>
</ul>