In this episode of Pursuit of Wellness, Mari Llewellyn shares her personal journey to pregnancy through IVF treatments, including a strategic two-month break from social media and work during her embryo transfer. She discusses her experience with early pregnancy symptoms, medical challenges, and the emotional complexities of waiting to share her news until after the 12-week milestone.
The episode covers Llewellyn's approach to maintaining wellness during pregnancy, from adjusting her exercise routine to developing a personalized nutrition plan. She details her decisions about diet modifications, including her choices about caffeine intake and the incorporation of specific foods for fetal development, drawing from sources like Emily Oster's pregnancy research and Dr. Rhonda Patrick's nutritional guidance.
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Mari Llewellyn shares her personal journey through infertility treatments, detailing her two-year IVF journey before achieving pregnancy. During her embryo transfer, Mari took a deliberate two-month break from social media and work to focus on her well-being. After reaching the significant 12-week milestone, she felt ready to share her pregnancy news with her followers, though she had mixed feelings about ending her private time.
While Mari had anticipated pregnancy would be purely wonderful, she found herself experiencing both joy and anxiety. After her embryo transfer, Mari and her husband Greg endured a challenging two-week waiting period. When they received positive test results, their excitement was tempered by concerns about the pregnancy's viability, leading them to wait before sharing the news.
Early in her pregnancy, Mari faced significant uncertainty when her clinic warned of only a 1% chance of success due to low HCG levels. Despite this dire prediction, Mari and Greg maintained hope, continuing with weekly ultrasounds and blood tests. With support from her acupuncturist and dedication to holistic practices, Mari's pregnancy progressed positively, eventually leading to an earlier due date due to the baby's strong growth.
Mari experienced typical pregnancy symptoms including breast changes, fatigue, and morning nausea. She modified her exercise routine, reducing weightlifting initially but maintaining daily walking goals. Regarding nutrition, Mari developed a personalized plan informed by Emily Oster's "Expecting Better," choosing to avoid alcohol and limit caffeine while allowing herself certain indulgences. Following Dr. Rhonda Patrick's advice, she incorporated fish eggs into her diet for their DHA content, beneficial for fetal brain development.
1-Page Summary
Mari Llewellyn opens up about her intimate and challenging journey through infertility treatments, sharing her experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the measures she took to ensure the best outcome.
After two years of infertility, filled with negative pregnancy tests, Mari found herself on a grueling path to motherhood. She has publicly shared how it took time, perseverance, and emotional endurance to navigate the IVF process before she could finally confirm her pregnancy.
With her desire for privacy and cautious hope, Mari took significant steps to focus on her well-being during the embryo transfer. She took a two-month hiatus from social media, effectively becoming a hermit, to prevent any external influence or stress from jinxing the delicate procedure.
After the embryo transfer, Mari consciously chose to take it easy, indicating a pause from her regular rigorous activities. This step not only illustrates her commitment to the potential of new life but also underscores the immense personal sacrifice and care that IVF demands from individuals.
Mari's Ivf and Embryo Transfer Experience
Mari Llewellyn shares her emotional journey of discovering her pregnancy after enduring infertility struggles, conveying a mixture of joy, hope, and anxiety.
Mari had envisioned that pregnancy would be an exclusively amazing time. However, upon becoming pregnant, she found herself experiencing both immense happiness and unexpected anxieties.
While attempting to remain positive throughout her journey, Mari faced unexplained infertility issues with unwavering optimism. Even as she experienced some pregnancy symptoms, Mari remained cautious, trying not to get too attached or overly excited to safeguard against potential disappointment.
Mari describes the looming two-week wait after her embryo transfer as one of the most challenging periods she has faced, pointing to her need for certainty and control as a source of significant anxiety for both her and her husband Greg.
After an anxious wait ...
Emotional Journey of Discovering Pregnancy
Mari and Greg's journey through early pregnancy is marked by a challenging egg retrieval process, uncertainty, and concerns about HCG levels and viability, but it ultimately turns into a story of hope and reassurance.
Mari describes a state of fear and uncertainty due to concerns about the success of her pregnancy, especially after a blood test initially showed the potential for an ectopic pregnancy, which is not viable. She describes the emotional rollercoaster and mental torture of waiting for phone calls from the clinic.
Mari's initial HCG levels indicated low levels that raised alarms for viability concerns. After being notified of her slow-rising HCG levels—having increased from 98 to 119—her doctor informed her that there was only a one percent chance of a successful pregnancy, hinting at the low probability of viability. The clinic even discussed the next steps for a second transfer, implying the current attempt may not succeed.
Despite the ominous probability, Mari, supported by Greg, clung to hope and continued to monitor her pregnancy. Upon receiving a higher-than-expected HCG level of 280 later on, there was room for cautious optimism, though the clinic remained noncommittal. Amidst this uncertainty and the challenging wait between tests, Mari removed herself from social media to evade the emotional strain of comparisons to other people's experiences.
Navigating the Ups and Downs of Early Pregnancy
Mari Llewellyn shares her experience with pregnancy symptoms and discusses the lifestyle changes and nutritional adjustments she has made in anticipation of her baby's needs.
Throughout the initial weeks of pregnancy, Mari Llewellyn experiences significant changes and symptoms. She particularly notices her breasts hurting and becoming substantially larger, which presents practical challenges such as difficulties in getting dressed. Alongside breast changes, Mari faces waves of fatigue at various times of the day and mild nausea that typically strikes first thing in the morning, requiring her to eat right away to calm her stomach.
While adapting to these symptoms, Mari expresses how she missed weightlifting, an activity that aids her mental well-being and body image. After the embryo transfer, her clinic advised against working out initially, especially heavy lifting, to minimize risks. At around 9 or 10 weeks, she slowly eases back into weightlifting about four days a week, ensuring she avoids core exercises and heavy strain. However, despite some adjustments to her workout routine, Mari consistently aims to achieve close to 10,000 steps each day through walking. Additionally, Mari accommodates her cravings for items like lemonade and sandwiches and permits herself the occasional taco or sandwich when she’s not feeling well or feeling especially fatigued.
Nutrition during pregnancy takes a significant place in Mari's daily routine. She emphasizes eating more often, with an increased focus on protein, and indulging in carbs, which she finds makes her feel better. Mari mentions she is attempting to eat cleaner, avoiding seed oils and fast food but also allowing herself some indulgences, which notably includes a preference for fruits. Her approach to dietary restrictions during pregnancy has been informed by reading "Expecting Better" by Emily Oster, a bo ...
Pregnancy Symptoms, Lifestyle Changes, and Nutrition
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