Badcoe MP Jayne Stinson opens up on her journey to motherhood following the birth of baby son Quinn earlier this year

The road to motherhood has not been easy for Badcoe MP Jayne Stinson after she chose to take on solo parenting.

Badcoe MP Jayne Stinson and her baby son Quinn enjoying the lovely autumn weather. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

It’s been a long and at times difficult road to motherhood for Badcoe MP Jayne Stinson. But, with her baby son Quinn sleeping peacefully in her arms, she says the destination has made it all worthwhile.

“The good bits are way better than I ever expected. The emotion is something beyond love, it’s just amazing,” she said.

“And the bad bits are not as bad as I thought they would be!”

Quinn was donor-conceived after Ms Stinson chose to take on parenting alone – a decision she arrived at following years of consideration.

“If you’d asked me 10 or 15 years ago, I would have said ‘that’s very brave of other people to do that but I would never do that, that’s just not my thing’,” she said.

“But in the end, that’s what I chose to do. I’m really happy with that decision and, since he’s arrived, it’s just cemented that that’s the right choice for me.”

Ms Stinson, 42, forged a successful career in broadcast media before she resigned to run for Labor in Badcoe, in the inner south-west, at the 2018 election.

She won the seat with a 4.6 per cent margin, then enjoyed a 10 per cent swing to her in 2022, and has earned a reputation as a hardworking local member.

Away from the public eye, she wasn’t always sure that she wanted children.

Ms Stinson announced she was pregnant earlier this year. Picture: Facebook

“I’ve been on a bit of a journey from that situation of thinking ‘I don’t know if I can achieve my career goals and do the things that I want and also have children’, through to deciding in my thirties that I would really like to have children,” she said.

“Unfortunately I’ve suffered pregnancy loss repeatedly, so that’s been really difficult.

“And then coming to the decision to do it by myself ... it’s all led me to this point and I’m really happy that it’s come to this point.”

She said the journey had been “emotionally gruelling”.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an easy thing to do but I think lots of people have really testing journeys,” she said.

Quinn Edmund Stinson was born at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on March 1 by emergency caesarean following a three-day labour.

Though she had held some apprehension about the reaction of the community, Ms Stinson said she has received overwhelming support.

She’s also found a community of solo mums by choice, who have reached out with advice and shared their own experiences.

Jayne Stinson with baby Quinn. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Quinn was born on March 1 at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Picture: Instagram

Ms Stinson was the first MP to take advantage of the 20 weeks of maternity leave that were last year added into the parliamentary standing orders, but she has continued to attend community events and respond to constituent issues. Her electorate office remains fully operational.

“(Being an MP) is not something that you clock on and clock off,” she said.

“But there are some positive aspects with that, in terms of parenting and being able to manage your own day. If I want to respond to constituent emails at 3am then that’s what I do and that’s what I am doing.”

She has found facilities for parents at parliament to be lacking, and has written to Speaker Leon Bignell suggesting measures such as change tables in all bathrooms and designated parent carparking spaces.

Quinn last week became the first baby to be on the floor of the parliament without needing special permission, and Ms Stinson intends to take advantage of new rules that allow MPs to breastfeed.

Asked about her advice for other people considering becoming a solo mum, she said “I think people should have freedom to have the choices that enable them to be happy”.

“If you think that being a solo mum might make you happy, then absolutely delve into it and have a look at it. Go and speak to other people who have done it,” she said.

“It’s not for the faint-hearted but, for me, it’s really rewarding and I know for many other women it’s really rewarding as well.”