“I've met some children recently that are so amazing” – My Big Fat Fabulous Life’s Whitney reveals what’s pushing her toward motherhood

My Big Fat Fabulous Life's Whitney Way Thore is ready to become a mother, and she’s doing it on her own terms. The reality star, now nearing her 41st birthday, opened up in a July 26, 2025, interview with E! News about her decision to pursue artificial insemination in the hopes of starting a family.

“I've met some children recently that are so amazing and wonderful,”

Whitney said, explaining what has inspired her to take the step toward motherhood.

“I get excited for the dance classes, the soccer games, stupid stuff like making lunches, going on vacations. It feels like an entire new life.”

Whitney, who stars in the 13th season of My Big Fat Fabulous Life, acknowledged that the idea had been building over time. After spending time in London teaching at Pineapple Dance Studios and connecting with young students there, she realized she wanted a child of her own.

Her personal experiences, combined with her biological clock and memories of her upbringing with late mother Barbara “Babs” Thore and father Glenn Thore, further shaped her decision.

Why did My Big Fat Fabulous Life's Whitney Thore commit to becoming a mother?

During her interview with E! News, Whitney explained that approaching her 41st birthday made her reassess her timeline.

“I just thought I realistically should not waste any more time,”

She said of her decision to start exploring artificial insemination. While she considered the possibility of having a baby the traditional way, Whitney admitted that it wasn’t a likely route for her.

“Had I met someone the old-fashioned way—you know, through a dating app—it’s easier to fall in love and just accept, like, ‘Okay, this is my baby daddy,’” she said. “It’s much harder to actually have to choose.”

The My Big Fat Fabulous Life star also ruled out adoption early on, saying it “didn’t look like a very viable option” for her. Though she has frozen her eggs, Whitney told E! News that her doctor advised her she might need to consider surrogacy. Still, she wanted to try for pregnancy herself first.

“I thought, ‘Why spend all that money if I could just try it myself?’” she said.

She found the process of selecting a sperm donor far more emotionally taxing than anticipated, likening it to dating apps but with much more at stake. While physical appearance wasn't her top priority, she admitted feeling let down by many of the donor profiles.

The written responses in the Q&A sections, in particular, made a poor impression; some came across as so poorly written that she immediately ruled them out. Eventually, she turned to a close friend for help. “I honestly could not handle the responsibility,” she explained, revealing that she asked Isaiah Martin, husband of her trainer Jessica Powell, to choose the donor for her.

“I think I would still be trying to choose a donor if I was really shouldering that responsibility.”

My Big Fat Fabulous Life: Inside Whitney Thore’s experience with artificial insemination

Whitney’s first insemination attempt didn’t succeed, leaving her feeling disheartened. My Big Fat Fabulous Life star described it as a clear reminder that the journey ahead would be tough. The setback also made her more aware of how her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) might complicate the process.

“I feel like that’s not the best sign in terms of my fertility,” She told E! News.

She added that she has already experienced “every single symptom” of PCOS, including chronic inflammation, facial hair, hair loss, and weight gain.

“The infertility piece has been the one thing that I was able to ignore, because I wasn’t trying to get pregnant,” she said. “And so now that’s really at the forefront and I feel like I have finally won the PCOS Olympics.”

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My Big Fat Fabulous Life airs every Tuesday on TLC.

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