Expanding your family as a single mother by choice isn’t always easy — but many solo moms desire more than one child, and today’s conversation is a beautiful example of how it can unfold.

Lauren — a returning guest and seasoned SMBC — shares her journey from welcoming her first daughter to expanding her family with twins, all in just a few years. Along the way, she navigated fertility treatments, postpartum health challenges, and the daily demands of solo parenting... while never losing sight of her dream to grow her family despite her fertility challenges.

As you might know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether to have a second child as a solo mom — so it was such a gift to sit down with Lauren and talk through all the emotional, logistical, and real-life factors that come into play when making a decision like this.

Whether you're actively considering another child or just curious about what life looks like with multiple little ones as a solo mom, Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder that you can create the family you dream of.

Inside the episode, we talk about:

• How Lauren managed a twin pregnancy while caring for a young baby
• The emotional and practical shifts that come with expanding your family solo
• Building a village: how childcare, therapy, and trusted support made it possible
• Handling outside reactions to being a solo mom of multiple children
• Talking to young kids about being donor-conceived and having donor siblings
• Finding moments of joy and recharging amid the chaos
• What factors to consider when thinking about adding to your family as a solo mom
• And more!

Listen to Lauren & Jess on Season 1, Episode 16 of The SGC Podcast

Connect with Lauren on Instagram

👩‍👧‍👦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.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

I recently wrapped up one of the most unpredictable SMBC retreats I’ve ever hosted, and I’m still unpacking all the lessons it had to teach me. This solo episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when things go completely off-script, and how self-compassion, surrender, and unexpected moments of connection carried me through.

This isn’t your typical retreat recap. It’s a story about what happens when you let go of the plan and lean into trust, even when things go sideways. As someone who talks a lot about self-compassion and mindset, this experience gave me a real-time opportunity to practice what I preach.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend a retreat with SGC—or you’ve found yourself navigating curveballs on your SMBC journey—this one’s for you.

I’m sharing:

• The story of a retreat that went wildly off course (and what happened next)
• How curveballs became invitations for growth, trust, and connection
• The power of self-compassion when things don’t go as planned
• The surprising kindness of strangers
• What this experience taught me as a solo mom, solopreneur, and human being
• And the quiet magic that happens when we stop trying to control it all.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the solo mom support network you’ve been looking for through every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 coaching for single moms by choice at all stages, Community Groups for Thinkers/Tryers and Pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, retreats for women considering or pursuing solo motherhood and SMBC family trips.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

You always imagined becoming a mom someday, but what if someday doesn’t look the way you expected? Maybe you're considering solo motherhood, wondering if having a baby on your own is really possible. Maybe you know you want to be a mom, but the clock is ticking, you’re single and aren’t sure what to do next. Perhaps you’re already on the path: researching sperm donors, weighing IVF or adoption, or navigating pregnancy without a partner. Wherever you are in your journey, The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you.

Hosted by Katie Bryan, a single mother by choice turned SMBC coach and community facilitator, this podcast is a space for women exploring what it means to choose parenthood on their own terms. You’ll hear real stories from solo moms who’ve been where you are: women who have faced the fears, made the choices, and built beautiful, fulfilling lives as single mothers by choice.

You can expect conversations around:

> Fertility for single women in their 30s and 40s;

> Considering solo motherhood & becoming a single mother by choice (SMBC)

> IVF, adoption, sperm donors, and egg freezing for single women

> Having a baby on your own

> Choosing to parent alone

> Dating and relationships as SMBCs

> Building community as a solo mom by choice

> And much more.

If you're single in your 30s or 40s and wondering, Can I do this?, you’re not alone. The path to becoming a single mother by choice isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. This is your place to find confidence, connection, and community as you explore whether solo motherhood might be your single greatest choice.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode, and visit www.singlegreatestchoice.com to learn more about our membership, coaching, community groups, and retreats.