"You have to want it. You have to want to transform. You have to want to reinvent yourself. And that comes with growing pains. It's difficult to do, but if you are able to learn to love life again in this other way, in this other life that you didn't choose, it's a pretty good life." - Marie-Helene Brody




In this episode, listeners are invited into an insightful conversation between host Marie-Eve Bédard and Marie Helene Brody, a bilingual speech-language pathologist specializing in young children with language disorders and developmental challenges like autism.

Marie-Helene offers a unique perspective on both professional and personal growth.

The conversation takes a poignant turn towards Marie-Helene’s five-year struggle with infertility involving several medical interventions (insemination, IVF treatments, egg donation, etc.).

This journey was fraught with emotional exhaustion compounded by multiple miscarriages which led her to seek therapy—a crucial step toward healing where she learned self-compassion amidst grief.

Her narrative reflects broader themes prevalent among many women who face societal pressures regarding motherhood—pressures demanding acknowledgment alongside internal dialogues promoting kindness towards oneself during such trials.

Tune in now to hear more about her story!




Marie-Helene's Bio:

I am a 49 year-old childless woman who lives in the Greater Montreal Area in Quebec. I am a Speech-Language-Pathologist who works with young children who have language and developmental difficulties in private practice for the last 17 years. I am also married and I have been with my spouse for the last 17 years. We had two cats for many years, one passed away last year, we are left with our 16 year old cat that we adopted when we first got together. We tried having a child for about 10 years (from early 30s to early 40s), tried at home, with IVF, many early miscarriages, operations, egg donation, nothing worked. I went to therapy for two years bc I was lost in my identity and my grief was so intense. I finally found Femme Sans Enfant, a saving life line for me...women who understood from the inside what I was going through. They are my second family. I have also contributed actively to further the cause of childless women and people: I participated in many (7) university studies in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, women studies, fine arts, and poetry, by sharing my experience. I also made a video interview with Catherine Emmanuelle Delisle, the founder of FSE about my experience, which she shared during her many conferences to women and childless people here in Quebec and in France. I also participated a few years ago in a TV program here in Quebec called Rire Sans Tabou on childless and childfree people, two men, two women, by choice and by circumstance. I participate every year in the World Childless Week by writing a text online on different topics, like the importance of our pets in our lives. After MUCH work on myself, I am finally at peace with being childless, when I had thought it was not possible...




If you'd like to connect with Marie-Helene Brody, you can contact me on social media and I will put you in contact with her.




Links to organizations mentioned in this episode:

- World Childless Week: https://worldchildlessweek.net/

- Wave of Light: https://babyloss-awareness.org/wave-of-light/

- Femmes Sans Enfant: https://femmesansenfant.com/




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