Hi, I’m Becky
I’m a grateful mum to three daughters, a fertility patient advocate, writer, speaker, podcaster, and creator of fertility support specifically for donor conception and the workplace.
I wear three hats: firstly as DefiningMum sharing my personal donor conception story and those of others; as Founder of Paths to Parenthub supporting people through their donor conception journey; and as Co-founder & CEO of Fertility Matters at Work championing fertility-friendly workplaces.
I wear my heart on my sleeve, share the joy and complexities of this path to parenthood, and am here to create compassionate, supportive spaces for anyone navigating donor conception.
My all-time favourite quote is
“Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces”
(Ann Voskamp)
which sits at the heart of everything I do and what you’ll find here.
As Seen In
Founded by DefiningMum
Support and Connection for Donor Conception
Whether you are at the very beginning of your journey, or now parenting after donor conception, come and join our private space to find support, information, friendship, and a sense of community within the Paths to Parenthub.
About Me
I’m a grateful mum to three daughters, all thanks to egg donation. ‘Mum’ is a word I feared I’d never get to use after a diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency led to a long fertility journey, including failed IVF cycles and miscarriage before we made the momentous decision to build our family through egg donation.
I finally became a mum in 2016, but I remember feeling incredibly alone and confused during the years before, with no one who truly understood my fears about the unknowns ahead.
I use the name ‘DefiningMum’ because this journey allowed me to redefine what it really means to be a mum. Mothering is an act, an intention, what we do every single day and isn’t solely defined by genetics.
This blog was the start of where I began sharing my story
Created in 2018, ‘DefiningMum’ is now a collection of stories, reflections and moments in time from my own journey , but also the lived experiences of others who have generously shared. You’ll also find useful insights, signposting to further support and articles, and more information about me as a speaker and advocate. This platform exists to validate the complicated feelings this path can bring, encourage sharing, and create connections so no one has to experience this alone.
What started as a blog has grown into a community
Through DefiningMum and my Instagram account, I’ve connected with thousands of people navigating similar journeys. I started sharing my story, which has now evolved into advocacy work, research, parliamentary engagement, and tangible support that reaches families and workplaces.
The impact of this community led me to launch Paths to Parenthub in 2020, a comprehensive support platform for those building families through donor conception. I created everything I would have wanted and needed throughout my whole donor conception journey, from decision making to now parenting.
I also co-founded Fertility Matters at Work, drawing on my background as an HR Professional and lived experience navigating fertility issues in the workplace. Fertility Matters at Work helps organizations become “Fertility Friendly Employers” through awareness raising, inclusive policy development, and training – ensuring others don’t face the workplace challenges I experienced during treatment.
You can follow my updates @DefiningMum on Instagram and connect with my work at Paths to Parenthub and Fertility Matters at Work.
Free Resources
A variety of resources to help on your donor conception journey
DefiningMum Blog
A collection of donor conception stories and reflections from DefiningMum and others’ lived experiences.
Free Resources
Free resources from Paths to Parenthub including webinars and downloads to support you on your donor conception journey.
Paths to Parenthub Podcast
A podcast from Becky Kearns, founder of DefiningMum and Paths to Parenthub, and co-host Hayley King of All Things Donor Conception.
Join the Paths to Parenthub newsletter
DefiningMum is part of Paths to Parenthub, so you’ll receive emails from Paths to Parenthub sharing updates, resources and events related to donor conception and our membership.
You can unsubscribe at any time.