Being a solo mum by choice - the experience of fertility treatment

Fertility treatments using donor sperm open the door for those who want to go it alone. We talk with two mothers who are delighted with their decision despite the challenges

Kerrie Beattie with baby Max

It didn't bother Kerrie Beattie what the sperm donor looked like, or what job he had. For the schoolteacher from Omagh, Co Tyrone, who “had always wanted to be a mum”, what mattered was the potential donor’s emotional intelligence.

“It’s the one thing I focused on. And the emotional intelligence of the donor I chose seemed very kind and caring. Staff [at donor sperm bank] said he came across as confident and well-mannered.