I had a baby by myself after spending my inheritance money from my dad on a sperm donor

A woman welcomed her first child after spending inheritance money from her dad on a sperm donor.

Jayme Browning, 35, spent nearly £7k on her fertility journey after her dad Russell Browning, 66, died in January 2020.

He left her a sizeable inheritance which she used to buy a house and start a family- despite not having a partner.

Around a year after her dad's death, Jayme had fertility tests and settled on naturally conceiving using a sperm donor.

The money covered three vials of sperm, medication, and appointments from the Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology Wales (CRGW) fertility clinic, Plymouth.

After undergoing IUI – artificial insemination – Jayme was delighted to fall pregnant on the third try, in December 2021.

Jayme had a tough pregnancy after developing gestational diabetes had to take insulin.

But it was “worth it” when her little girl, one-year-old Edie, arrived by c-section at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, on 19 July 2022, 12pm, weighing 6lbs 13oz.

Jayme, a housing officer, from Tavistock, Devon said: “Losing my dad was the moment I really took becoming a mum seriously.

“Life is short and I’m so sad he never got meet his granddaughter.

“I’m very lucky I had the inheritance money, and I wanted to put it towards something sensible for my future.

“I joked with friends that if I hit 35 and was still single, I’d get a turkey baster and do it myself.

“But I hit 34 and thought the time was right.

“I knew I wanted a child, and I was able to afford the treatment – so I went for it.”

Jayme’s dad Russell, who went into hospital in December 2019 with breathing difficulties, and died from suspected pulmonary lung disease a month later.

Jayme and her brother Ryan Browning, 38, were both left an inheritance by their dad.

With her share, Jayme, who is now in a relationship, put a deposit down on a house Tavistock, Devon, in 2021.

She also spent a chunk of it starting her fertility journey and her GP referred her to CRGW clinic.

Despite her mum, Jeanette Lown, 65, in customers services, being ''shocked at first'' friends and family were supportive.

She said: "We've never really known of anyone going down this solo route.

"I felt a bit nervous to tell people - no one really knew I wanted a baby.

"But I never had any negativity - my friends and family were all on board."

After undergoing fertility tests in August 2020, Jayme decided the best route for her was IUI - which involved inserting sperm directly into the womb.

She chose a donor and received three vials of sperm - setting her back just under £7k.

The first two rounds of IUI in December 2021 and February 2021, both sadly failed.

Jayme took nine month break from trying, and then underwent her last round of IUI in November 2021.

She said: "I put a lot of pressure on myself the first two times, and I don't think the stress helped.

"I think by the third time I was more relax and in a good place.

"But when I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative.