S8E10 Julie Ferguson on IVF, Solo Motherhood, and Finding Love After Baby

Julie thought she was freezing her eggs for a future partner.Instead, she ended up fertilizing all of them on her path to become a mom on her own—then finding love and partnership afterward.That’s the short version of Julie Ferguson’s story, but there’s so much more to it.Julie is a PR firm owner and solo mom by choice who’s been through more than her share of plot twists on the road to motherhood: divorce, miscarriage, five egg retrievals, two IVF cycles, and one hard-won embryo that became her son. She opens up about what it really took—emotionally, physically, and financially—to make her dream of motherhood happen.And her story doesn’t end there.Now a proud mom to a two-year-old, Julie shares what it’s been like to date as a solo mom, including an unplanned pregnancy at 45 and the evolving relationship that followed. We talk about rediscovering yourself in motherhood, building connections with other donor sibling families, and Julie’s advocacy work with the Stork Foundation, which helps families access IVF through grants.Whether you’re still navigating fertility as a single woman or already parenting solo, Julie’s mix of honesty, humor, and hope is one you don’t want to miss.In this episode, we cover:Navigating miscarriage, divorce, and solo motherhood during the pandemicDoing multiple egg retrievals and two rounds of IVF in her early 40sThe emotional toll of losing an embryo and trying againMaking the leap from egg freezing to IVF with donor spermAdvocating for IVF access through the Stork FoundationDating as a solo mom and navigating an unexpected pregnancy at 45Building a donor sibling community and raising a happy toddler soloWhy prioritizing self-care matters in solo motherhoodAnd moreResources mentioned:The Stork FoundationLittle Words Project - Hope BraceletSociety for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)It Starts With the Egg BookPulling Down the Moon Holistic Fertility CenterConnect with Julie: Instagram: @chijulesJulie’s PR Firm👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.🏘️Join our community, The SGC VillageReach out to Katie over at [email protected]