In this interview, Steph (Stephanie Phillips), founder of World Childless Week, shares her path to childlessness: after leaving an abusive relationship, she and her future husband tried to conceive in her late 30s, received devastating news from a doctor at age 39, and declined NHS-funded IVF due to timing, low odds, and her inability to lose weight while grieving. She describes navigating shock, isolation, and pronatalist culture, finding a crucial Facebook support group, and how she and her husband largely processed grief separately. Now nearly 60, she explains grief’s evolving “triggers,” speaking openly, and fears and planning around aging without children. Stephanie spent a large part of her twenties in an abusive relationship so took the contraceptive pill to prevent a child being born into that situation. In her early thirties she met her husband to be but they didn't try to conceive until nearing forty. At the age of 39 she was told by an unsympathetic doctor "if he manages to get you pregnant it is highly unlikely you'll carry full term". She knew in that moment, she would never be a mum. In 2016 Stephanie Joy Phillips founded Childless Path To Acceptance, a free support group on Facebook that welcomes anyone who is childless by circumstance, infertility, chance or tough choices. In 2017 after realising there was no national recognition of the childless community Stephanie had an idea for a global awareness week. She mentioned her idea to several childless friends who encouraged her to pursue her idea. Inspired by their enthusiasm, she spoke to the childless not by choice community who rallied round and stepped forward to offer their support and participation. Six weeks later World Childless Week went live for the first time. In 2026 World Childless Week will be celebrating ten years of giving the childless community a platform where they can find their voice and share their stories with confidence.Stephanie lives in Worcestershire with her husband and two rescue cats, Storm and Tea-Cup. She enjoys gardening, arts and crafts, a good book, dining out and relaxing in front of the television with a puzzle book and one of her two cats snuggled up beside her.Meet StephHer Childless JourneyDiagnosis and IVF DecisionFinding Support OnlineMarriage Under GriefSpeaking Up PubliclyAging Without ChildrenAging Without Kids PlanningSilver Linings And PreparednessWhy World Childless Week BeganChoosing September 16First Year On FacebookChildless Versus ChildfreeGrowth Website And WebinarsCommon Threads And IsolationHealing Worthiness And AnonymityMeaningful Life And Getting InvolvedConnect with Stephanie:https://www.facebook.com/WorldChildlessWeekhttps://www.instagram.com/worldchildlessweekhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-phillips1966/Connect with Elizabeth:IG: @bychanceavenueStay connected & up to date with all things By ChanceWant to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

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