A Single Mother by Choice (SMC or SMBC) is: Someone who decides to become a mother, knowing that they will be the sole parent of their child.
Clicking on the drop down arrow will reveal spoilers. I haven’t seen all of these so I’m using their Wiki pages for a description. If anyone thinks I should change a description, feel free to comment or msg me. I am able to edit this at any time.
Sensitive topics are blurred out. I worded it so you don’t need to click on them for the sentence to make sense.
More on the definition of SMC
There is debate in the SMC community about whether or not accidental pregnancies “count.” I think they count because there are many options for one to chose not to parent when they accidentally become pregnant (mainly abortion and adoption). Even though the baby was not planned, the mother still made the choice to keep the baby and parent him/her on her own. Therefore, I am including media with accidental pregnancies in this list.
Feel free to comment with any that I missed!! I know this current list is just the beginning!
Movies
Baby Mama (2008)
Single businesswoman, [name_f]Kate[/name_f], decides to become a SMC. She cannot carry due to a T-shaped uterus, so she decides to hire a surrogate, [name_u]Angie[/name_u], and use a sperm bank. The first IVF does not take, but Angie pretends it did for the money. Angie then finds herself pregnant from her husband, who she is currently separated from. After the truth is revealed, Angie’s water breaks and Kate takes her to the hospital. Kate passes out and discovers she is pregnant from her new boyfriend.
Holly and Ivy (2020)
I believe this is a SMC via adoption. It’s so new that there isn’t a lot of info, so I’ll have to watch it. But if anyone wants to give me a synopsis similar to the others here, you’re welcome to!
How To Be Single (2016)
[name_f]Meg[/name_f], an OBGYN who’s never been very interested in a relationship or children, decides to become a SMC via sperm bank. Shortly after becoming pregnant she meets a guy, Ken, and they hit it off. Meg hides the pregnancy from him as long as she can. When she is showing, Ken is surprised and thinks the baby is his. When she tells him the truth he says he wants to be with her and her baby. She turns him down. Later Meg delivers a baby girl with her sister (the main character) at her side. Her sister calls Ken and he comes to the hospital. Meg decides to give him a chance and they enter a relationship while raising [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] together.
Juno (2007)
Teen friends [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_m]Paulie[/name_m] conceive a baby during a one-night stand. Juno decides to pursue adoption. She finds a prospective married couple, [name_m]Mark[/name_m] and [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f], and the three of them bond. Close to her due date, Mark confides in Juno that he has romantic feelings for her and doesn’t want to be married to Vanessa anymore. Juno is horrified. Vanessa learns everything and kicks Mark out of the house. Despite their marriage ending and Juno’s love confession to Paulie (who has loved her all along), she decides that Vanessa should adopt her baby boy as a single mom, and Vanessa agrees! The baby’s name is not mentioned.
Matilda (1996)
Child genius [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] is neglected by her parents. When she is finally able to attend school, she bonds with her teacher, Miss [name_f]Honey[/name_f]. When [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]'s parents try to move her to Guam, she gives them papers to sign her custody over the Miss [name_f]Honey[/name_f]. They agree and Miss [name_f]Honey[/name_f] adopts [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] as a single mom.
The Back-up Plan (2010)
Single pet shop owner, [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], decides to become a SMC via sperm bank. The same day as her insemination, she meets [name_m]Stan[/name_m] and they hit it off. They are on-and-off throughout her pregnancy and [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] discovers she is having twins. After her water breaks, she and [name_m]Stan[/name_m] work things out and he agrees to be a father to the twins as they enter a relationship. One is named [name_f]Penny[/name_f] and the other girl’s name is not mentioned.
The Switch (2010)
[name_f]Kassie[/name_f] decides to become a SMC via a known sperm donor. She has a son, [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m].
Honestly, this has a very round-about plot. I’ll just link the Wiki page here.
TV Shows
Law and Order SVU (Olivia Benson, seasons 15–)
After a tumultuous childhood filled between abuse and foster homes, a boy named [name_u]Noah[/name_u] is taken in by Detective [name_m]Benson[/name_m]. She eventually adopts him.
Golden Girls (Rebecca Devereaux, seasons 5–6)
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f], [name_f]Blanche[/name_f]'s daughter, is single and uninterested in getting married after a failed engagement with an emotionally abusive partner. She decides to become a SMC via sperm bank and has a daughter, [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
House (Lisa Cuddy, seasons 2–7)
[name_u]Lisa[/name_u], [name_u]Dean[/name_u] of Medicine and Chief Hospital Administrator, decides to pursue becoming a SMC in season 2. Initially, she tries IVF via sperm bank, but these attempts fail with 2 miscarriages. Later, in season 5, she rescues an abandoned infant, and becomes her foster parent, which leads to adoption. Lisa names her [name_f]Rachel[/name_f].
Once Upon a Time (Regina Mills)
Single Mayor of Storeybrooke, [name_f]Regina[/name_f], adopts an infant boy, [name_m]Henry[/name_m].
Supernatural (Lisa Braeden, seasons 3, 5–6)
Single yoga instructor, [name_f]Lisa[/name_f], becomes pregnant unexpectedly. She has a son, [name_m]Ben[/name_m], but she wasn’t sure who the father was. No matter who the father was, she decided to raise Ben on her own. Lisa obtained a paternity test later on, but the father never became involved (at least not while they were on the show).
The Duchess (Katherine Ryan)
The main character, [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], decides to become a SMC via known donor, an ex-partner, [name_m]Shep[/name_m]. She has a daughter named [name_f]Olive[/name_f].
I’ve never seen this, but the reviews are pretty bad. Lmk if this description is accurate.
The Office (Jan Levinson, seasons 4–7)
[name_u]Jan[/name_u] divorces her husband, in part because he did not want children. Shortly after breaking up with her boyfriend, [name_m]Michael[/name_m], Jan decides to become a SMC via sperm bank. She has a daughter, [name_f]Astrid[/name_f].
Documentaries/Docuseries
9 Months with Courteney Cox (Facebook Watch)
Season 1 - 50 year old [name_f]Paula[/name_f] becomes a SMC via sperm bank and FET. She has twin girls, [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_u]Emerson[/name_u].
Season 2 - 42 year old [name_f]Missy[/name_f] becomes a SMC via sperm bank shortly after her brief marriage ends. She has boy/girl twins, [name_m]Ford[/name_m] and [name_u]Charlie[/name_u].
First Comes Love (HBO)
Filmmaker [name_f]Nina[/name_f] Davenport becomes a SMC via known donor, a friend, [name_m]Eric[/name_m]. She has a son named [name_u]Jasper[/name_u].
And yes, [name_f]Juno[/name_f] is a great one! I’m proud to say I recalled that one! (other people suggested some of the others listed)
[name_f]My[/name_f] immediate thoughts are Friends and Parks and Rec. Maybe I’ll include another section for those situations? Because it is still exposure to the lifestyle. We all begin in the “thinking” stage afterall!