Jana Pittman explains why she had two children as a single mum

Jana Pittman explains why she had two children as a single mum.

Mum of three, Cornelis 10, Emily 2, baby Jemima, Jana recently appeared on Sunrise and explains why she had two children as a single woman.

“I didn’t want to go into a relationship knowing that I could end up in a divorce again and have a custody problem with the kids.”

So Jana used an anonymous sperm donor and decided after the first child through this technique, she needed to give her another little play mate. So she had her third child also using an anon sperm donor.

Jana had her first child with then husband, Chris Rawlinson, who she actually married twice. They have since split again.

On her website Jana shares, “Whilst sport was my identity, my true passion lies elsewhere. I am now incredibly lucky to share my life with three little Gold medals, with my gorgeous children Cornelis, Emily and Jemima.

Nothing can describe the joy I feel with every little smile and kiss they gift me with. After Cornelis was born, there was a time I thought I wouldn’t be able to have more babies as I lost a few little angels to heaven and had a scare with abnormal cells in my cervix.

These challenges reignited my childhood fire to become a doctor with the future hope of working with women and pregnancy as an obstetrician/gynaecologist. Now in my 4th year of medical school I am rapidly chasing that dream.”

Many people have questioned her decision.

One comment read, “So her children will grow up without a father? How is that fair for the children?
Divorce is the worst thing that can happen to a family, but encouraging women to have children without a father is denying the children’s right to a mother and father.
These children have been made out of the selfish wants of a woman… Is that fair for the children?”

Another said, ” If you feel you will get divorced your not going into a relationship/marriage with the correct outlook.”

Another wrote, “I didn’t go into my marriage thinking i was going to get a divorce, we make it work….and our children have their parents happy and still together after 29 years!”

And “With an attitude like that seems like shes doomed any future relationship. I feel sad for her and her children.”

Plus this one, “Most people are looking at this from an adults point of view. What about the children. Aren’t they entitled to have a chance at having a dad?”

Do you think it was a selfish choice?

Share your comments below.

Image via Sunrise

10 Comments

- - mom481103 said
  - 09 Sep 2021
    10:26 pm
I think you’d have to be narcissistic to go into having children with no dad if you are also not going to be there for your kids. You have to be very self consumed as a professional athlete the hours that go into training. Also then to take a career as a doctor the study load and hours, odd shifts of work etc. I’m surprised she knows her children’s names. She must have very supportive parents raising the children. Poor them but they created and enable her to be self centred

- - mom94125, QLD said
  - 08 Oct 2017
    5:39 pm
i think that a child needs a mum and a dad and they are better off for it but everyone has different views.

- - june11, SA said
  - 17 May 2017
    10:58 pm
Those children will never be forced to go to the other parent against their wishes. Neither will they be confused by one parent “bad mouthing” the other. I know not all parents do this but I know some who do, and others have done it in the past. They won’t have to contend with the parent who only has short access having another partner taking part of the short time they may desire with their parent. Mum won’t be saying to her children I haven’t got any money, ask your Dad, even when he is paying full child support and is still paying part of the mortgage of the house, and she is also getting a Centrelink payment.

- - Ellen, QLD said
  - 17 May 2017
    3:46 am
When I read that she didn’t want to go into a relationship knowing that she could end up in a divorce again and have a custody problem with the kids, I wonder what happened to her that she feels this way. Somewhere on her road in life she must have gotten hurt. Wishing her well, hope that everything works out with her future hopes and dreams.

- - taynik46, QLD said
  - 16 May 2017
    9:03 pm
at least she has the sense to realise that marriage isn’t for her and it wouldn’t be fair to the children to go through what her first born has gone through!

I think she should be praised as a role model and inspiration for a lot of single mums out there who just live off centrelink benefits – she is showing her three children that if you work hard you can recreate a life for yourself even after divorce and retiring from competitive sport rather than just relying on tax payers to fund the rest of your life.

I think she is a strong woman who knows what she wanted out of life and is creating exactly what she wants/needs in her life – good for her I say!

- - Jane Burford, SA said
  - 16 May 2017
    6:41 pm
I have 3 friends who have done exactly the same thing. Their children are loved and very well cared for.
I had children with a partner and we are now separated. Kids have to do 50/50 after lengthy legal battles.

- - BellaB, ACT said
  - 16 May 2017
    6:15 pm
If she can support them, I don’t see any problem with this. It’s easier to have someone to share parenting with, but if she’s happy without, that’s fine.

- - nealsq, VIC said
  - 16 May 2017
    4:32 pm
More power to her!

- - mumfour, NSW said
  - 16 May 2017
    4:20 pm
Good on her if i had my time again i would do the same

- - mom206279, VIC said
  - 16 May 2017
    3:08 pm
If she can support them she can have as many babies as she damn well likes. I grew up without a dad and I’m more or less ok. I’d much rather be the child of a single mother who wanted me so much she made me happen without a partner than an accident from bogans.

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Article Jana Pittman explains why she had two children as a single mum