Gaëlle's story touches us deeply, as it echoes the story of Elsa, co-founder of MotherStories, who is very familiar with this disease that has put obstacles in the way of her plans for motherhood. Gaëlle's story proves once again that life can take over from a medical diagnosis, that not everything is rational and, above all, definitive. Miracles do exist, and this MotherStory is proof of that. Because if getting pregnant naturally 2 times despite severe endometriosis isn't one of them, we need an explanation. Happy reading, Mothers (-to be).

Gaëlle, can you introduce yourself in a few words
I'm 37, from Geneva, and I work in human resources for a local private bank. With my husband Michael, who is 7 years older than me, we have 2 daughters, Noémie, born during the 1st covid wave in May 2020, and Elyne, born in July 2022.

As an endometriosis sufferer, did you have any difficulties getting pregnant?
Yes, we had a lot of difficulties! For Noémie, it took over 2.5 years and for Elyne over a year. As we knew it would be difficult because of the disease, we wanted to maximize our chances by having an operation (2 years before Noémie was born) to remove as many nodules as possible from my uterus and other organs.

If it didn't work out, how far would you and your husband have gone to have children?
We set ourselves a maximum of 3 IVF cycles and were ready to consider adoption. It was inconceivable to me to give up on motherhood. We had started the process for a first IVF with a renowned gynecologist in Geneva. Following our appointment, we waited impatiently for my period to arrive so that we could begin the treatment. Miraculously, they never arrived (smile). Against all odds and prognosis, I became pregnant naturally! Just goes to show that it's possible.

Who did you turn to for support during these 2.5 years of trying for a baby?
My gynecologist had recommended that we have someone close to us who knew what we were doing. We took my mom into our confidence, and she was an unconditional help in all my states of mind. My friends knew about my endometriosis and my difficulties in getting pregnant. It's important to be able to count on those close to you when you're faced with yet another negative pregnancy test!

Any idea when miracle baby Noémie was conceived?
She arrived just as I let go mentally and yes, I think I know exactly when she was conceived (smile).

What memories do you have of your 1st pregnancy?
As difficult as it was to get pregnant, my first pregnancy was a real joy! I felt serene because the hardest part was behind me. We lived through those 9 months like a long, quiet river. I didn't have any physical ailments, but I had to be closely monitored for other medical reasons, which resulted in a placenta that wasn't working properly. As a result, Noémie weighed only 2.8 kg at birth and had difficulty gaining weight.

What about the birth?
I was afraid my baby wouldn't come out, it was a total unknown (smile)! In the end, after 6 pushes, she was here! I didn't even have time to take a bath. Let's not forget that we were in the middle of covid, and our biggest fear at the time was that my husband would catch it and not be able to be there. The mask was compulsory except during flare-ups (phew!) but it was a really complicated situation.

When you were pregnant, you were "protected" against endometriosis, or at least its advance. Did it come back after Noémie?
Between my 2 pregnancies, there were no more warning signs of the disease. I was under the care of a naturopath whose natural treatment helped enormously with the pain and avoided having to take hormones to boost my fertility. I can say that it was thanks to her that I became a mother.

Was having a 2nd child important to you?
In an ideal world, yes, we wanted at least two, but we were already happy to have Noémie! That's why we didn't put any pressure on ourselves. I ended up getting pregnant naturally with Elyne 1 year later.

Unlike Noémie, why did you have to give birth by Caesarean section?
I was in the delivery room, labor was well underway, my cervix was at 7cm and all of a sudden Elyne turned a quarter on her face. The midwifery team tried for 45 minutes to turn her, but to no avail. The C-section decision was taken for safety reasons. As there was no vital emergency for me or my baby, I had 1 hour to prepare myself psychologically. For a long time, I had the feeling that I'd missed my 2nd birth, or at least "the finale", but thanks to the support of my partner and the kindness of my gynecologist, I finally accepted that it wasn't my fault.

And what about the post-partum period?
I find it crazy that the subject is still so taboo, even among girlfriends! And yet, there's so much to say about breastfeeding, returning from childbirth, the descent of hormones and so on. In Noémie's case, I had to manage and find out all by myself. For Elyne, I was better prepared, but the reality is that the post-partum period is a huge physical and emotional tsunami!

Did you breastfeed your daughters? How did it go?
Noémie, who weighed 2.8 kg at birth, couldn't latch on because I had too much milk and the flow was too fast for her. So I pumped, but cysts formed in my breasts and turned into very, very, very painful abscesses that required two operations. I still lasted 3.5 months! For Elyne, I was terrified of going through the same thing again. Nevertheless, I tried and lasted about 4 weeks, with huge cracks in my nipples that took weeks to heal. I had a lot of milk again and it took over 4 weeks to stop. I really wanted to breastfeed my daughters, knowing it was what was best for them, but my body resisted! How do other moms do it? And then, in all honesty, I couldn't breastfeed Elyne while looking after Noémie.

First-time mom at 35, too early or too late?
I have no regrets about waiting until I had the right partner, and taking advantage of travel and professional stability before embarking on the adventure of motherhood. I have no regrets. We're fine with the choice we made for ourselves, not for society.

Baby project 3?
No, and even if we wanted to, we couldn't because I had my tubes removed during my Caesarean section. My husband and I had already made this decision before Elyne was born. The good news in all this: no more contraception (smile). Since then, traces of endometriosis have reappeared, but I'm pain-free for the moment. I'm continuing my treatment with my naturopath to keep the disease at bay as much as possible.

How did your return to work go both times?
The 1st time, I returned to work quite well, because we had found a good rhythm and, above all, a good family organization. What's more, thanks to the pandemic and Work From Home, Noémie benefited from my presence at home (smile). With Elyne, on the other hand, the return to 100% work was more difficult. The pace was much more intense, with the unpleasant feeling of always having to run out of time! As a wife and mother, you have to do more to prove that you're on top of things... Not to mention the absences we get blamed for when our children are ill. I must admit that I'd like to spend more time with my daughters during the week, and I'm thinking of lowering my working hours soon.

Do you think it's possible to reconcile working life and life as a mom?
Yes, but you need to be a real team with your partner and be able to take turns so that you're not running the household on your own. I think it's hard for both parents to have a career, and that one of them has to give up (although it doesn't always have to be the wife!). We chose to have children so that we could spend time with them, but in reality we both work 100% to pay our bills and give them a good life.

What has motherhood taught you about yourself?
We understand our parents better (smile). Otherwise, my already calm nature has made me even more calm and confident. I feel fulfilled and fulfilled in my role as a mother.

A message for women who are going through what you went through?
Believe in yourself and your feelings. Don't give up even when people tell you no or that it's impossible. The proof: against all odds, it worked for me. Share and tell your partner how you feel, too, to avoid tension in the relationship.