In this episode of The Pulling Curls Podcast, Hilary chats with Dani Morin about the many paths to pregnancy, navigating tough relationships with healthcare providers, and whether you can really trust AI for pregnancy advice. Dani shares her unique experience of becoming a mom through different methods, including home insemination, and opens up about the challenges she faced after loss and while being a single parent. The discussion is honest, real, and packed with supportive insights for anyone on their own parenthood journey.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- if you're looking to get prepared with your partner, it's your best option!

Today's guest is Dani Morin child safety advocate and CPST on TikTok. Helping parents make informed parenting decisions and providing product research to help moms make the perfect baby registry.

Find her on: Tiktok (@danimorin13) or Instagram (@danimorin_)

Links for you:

Baby Proofing 101: Dani Morin's Mission for Baby Safety Awareness (her previous episode)

Timestamps:

00:00 "Life-Altering Realization of Parenthood"

05:58 Overcoming Grief and Rediscovery

15:20 "Embracing Parenthood Despite Loss"

20:26 Navigating Fertility Challenges Alone

23:06 "Sperm Donation Normality Perception"

29:51 IVF Expenses and Fertility Misconceptions

33:07 Vanishing Twin Syndrome Explained

40:15 Struggles Changing High-Risk Doctor

43:24 Alone for Life-Changing Ultrasound

50:10 Plane Safety and Medical Workaround

56:11 Birth Center Inequality

01:01:18 Three Key Takeaways from Episode

Keypoints:

• Dani Morin shares her experiences with three very different paths to pregnancy, from an unplanned pregnancy in her 20s to home insemination as a single mom, and eventually a natural conception after getting married.
• The episode highlights the emotional aftermath of Dani's first pregnancy, including the life-changing impact of her son's tragic loss and her journey through grief, sobriety, and rediscovering her sense of purpose as a mother.
• Dani describes how early parenting trends and online information influenced her choices—she candidly discusses how she embraced "all-natural" parenting, even using products later shown to be unsafe, and how she has since shifted to an evidence-based approach.
• Hilary and Dani emphasize that unplanned pregnancies are far more common than most people believe, and that being surprised by pregnancy doesn't make anyone less of a mom.
• Dani details her experience with home insemination using donor sperm as a cost-effective and empowering option for single women or couples with fertility challenges, demystifying and normalizing this choice.
• The conversation explores the stigma, criticism, and unsolicited advice Dani encountered online and in real life regarding her non-traditional paths to motherhood.
• Dani shares practical tips for others considering home insemination, including financial readiness, emotional support, and building a "village" before taking that step.
• The difficulties of navigating healthcare, especially when you're high risk or dissatisfied with your provider, are explored—Dani discusses real challenges in switching OBs, accessing support, and advocating for yourself during pregnancy.
• Dani and Hilary discuss the limitations—and some dangerous pitfalls—of using AI and online sources for pregnancy advice, and stress the value of trustworthy, evidence-based resources.
• Throughout the episode, the importance of compassion from healthcare providers, honest conversations, and finding the right support network for your unique pregnancy and parenting journey shines through.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Keywords:

getting pregnant, home insemination, sperm donor, unplanned pregnancy, single mom by choice, IVF, IUI, PCOS, tilted cervix, prenatal care, child loss, grief, parenting guilt, Baltic amber teething necklace, child safety, product safety, natural parenting, evidence-based parenting, social media advocacy, birth plan, switching OB providers, high risk pregnancy, gestational hypertension, low dose aspirin in pregnancy, twin pregnancy