Pregnancy Update: IVF Reflections, Ultrasounds & Travel
In this episode of Pursuit of Wellness, Mari Llewellyn shares updates about her pregnancy journey, including her plans for a European babymoon and her approach to birth preparation. She discusses the physical changes she's experiencing, her modified fitness routine with a prenatal trainer, and how she's adapting her lifestyle to accommodate her pregnancy.
The episode also explores Mari's emotional and mental preparations for motherhood, including her work with a therapist to process her past fertility struggles while embracing her current pregnancy. She and her partner Greg examine their future parenting philosophy, drawing from their own upbringings, while Mari reflects on the shifting priorities and perspectives that have accompanied her pregnancy journey.
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1-Page Summary
Pregnancy Journey and Preparations
Mari Llewellyn shares her plans for a European "babymoon" to the South of France and Cotswolds at 17-18 weeks pregnant. She's preparing thoroughly for the long flight with snacks and entertainment, while considering a social media break to fully immerse in the experience. Following a positive ultrasound experience, Mari reflects on her past struggles with infertility while embracing the joy of her pregnancy. She plans to keep her birth experience intimate, with only her partner Greg and a doula present.
Mindset, Emotions, and Self-Reflection
Mari describes a significant shift in her priorities since becoming pregnant, moving from career focus to embracing motherhood. Working with her therapist, she's learning to celebrate her pregnancy without guilt while maintaining empathy for those struggling with fertility. Mari and her partner Greg are actively discussing their future parenting approach, drawing from their own childhood experiences to shape their philosophy. She's particularly fascinated by the brain changes during pregnancy, noting increased clarity and emotional shifts in her own experience.
Physical Changes and Self-Care
Mari enthusiastically embraces her body's changes during pregnancy, noting rapid hair growth and adjusting to new clothing sizes. She's adapted her fitness routine, transitioning from intense Pilates to working with a prenatal-certified trainer twice weekly for safe weight training. Mari also shares her commitment to educating herself about important parenting decisions, including studying vaccine schedules through resources like the book "Vax Facts," though she plans to keep these personal choices private.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a personalized travel comfort kit for your next journey, including items that cater to your specific needs, such as a neck pillow, noise-canceling headphones, or a favorite snack that's hard to find at airports. This ensures you have a stress-free and comfortable experience, much like preparing for a long flight with snacks and entertainment.
- Start a private journal or a digital document to reflect on personal growth or life changes, which can be especially meaningful during significant life transitions. Writing down your thoughts can help you process emotions and document your journey, similar to how someone might reflect on past struggles while embracing new chapters in life.
- Engage in a low-impact exercise routine that aligns with your current physical abilities or health goals, such as yoga, swimming, or walking. Working with a professional, like a certified trainer or instructor, can ensure that your activities are safe and beneficial for your body's needs, akin to adapting a fitness routine during pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Journey and Preparations
Mari Llewellyn shares her experiences and preparations as she embarks on her pregnancy journey, reflecting on the joy of her growing baby while remaining sensitive to the challenges faced by others.
Mari's European "Babymoon": South of France & Cotswolds
Mari Llewellyn is embarking on a "babymoon" to Europe, a personal retreat in the South of France and the Cotswolds, areas linked to her childhood memories. With a nine-hour overnight flight to London followed by a transfer to Nice, Mari plans to stay well-nourished and entertained. She’s packing snacks such as rice cakes and cheese sticks, taking cues from her partner Greg who often travels with a lunchbox.
Bringing Snacks and Entertainment For the Flight; Considers Social Media Break
For entertainment, Mari will bring her Kindle and intends to download films to watch during the flight. She also contemplates a social media hiatus to fully engage in her journey and enjoy the moments without digital distractions. At 17 to 18 weeks into her pregnancy, she feels energized and ready for the trip, having ensured that hospitals and doctors would be accessible during their travels.
Positive Ultrasound Experience
Mari shares an uplifting update on her recent ultrasound, describing it as an exciting rather than fearful event.
Mari Reflects On Infertility's Impact on Her Celebration of Pregnancy and Awareness of Others' Struggles
Having confronted infertility issues, Mari understands the anxiety that can accompany such appointments for women who have faced IVF, infertility, or loss. Yet, witnessing her baby’s growth has formed a sense of joy for her. She is grateful for the normal reports, revealing issues like a shifted placenta and a resolved blood hemorrhage that have since been resolved, bringing good news regarding her baby's health.
Mari eagerly anticipates feeling her baby's movements as her sen ...
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Pregnancy Journey and Preparations
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- A "babymoon" is a trip taken by expectant parents before the baby arrives, serving as a relaxing getaway to enjoy quality time together and prepare for the upcoming changes in their lives. It is a chance for the couple to bond, relax, and celebrate their pregnancy before the arrival of their child. The term combines "baby" and "honeymoon," symbolizing a special trip taken during the pregnancy period. Babymoons can vary in duration and destination, but the main purpose is to create lasting memories and strengthen the couple's relationship before they become parents.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting. It is commonly used to help individuals or couples with infertility issues conceive a child. The fertilized egg, known as an embryo, is then transferred to the uterus to establish a pregnancy. IVF can also be used in gestational surrogacy and to prevent the transmission of genetic conditions.
- A doula is a non-medical professional who provides physical, emotional, and i ...
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Mindset, Emotions, and Self-Reflection
Mari Llewellyn gives a candid insight into her emotional journey through pregnancy, acknowledging the changes in her mindset and priorities and how this transformative phase has sparked deeper reflections on her future parenting style.
Mari Notices a Shift in Mindset and Priorities Since Pregnancy, Feeling Clearer On Boundaries and Focus
Mari Llewellyn has experienced a change in mindset since becoming pregnant. She now feels a clarity about her boundaries and focus. Despite facing two years of struggle that has made her very empathetic and sometimes hesitant about discussing her pregnancy, she is learning to celebrate this milestone without guilt. She's advised by her therapist to allow herself to be happy and has divulged that her 29th birthday marked a shift from career focus to feeling a strong purpose in motherhood. Mari has also discussed the anticipation of change once her baby arrives, like pausing her podcast during maternity leave, which indicates her priority on boundaries and planning ahead.
Embracing and Celebrating Pregnancy Without Guilt
Mari has engaged in a journey of self-reflection and emotional navigation during her pregnancy. She has had feelings of guilt but has worked through these with her therapist. She emphasizes that she deserves to enjoy and celebrate her pregnancy while staying compassionate to those struggling with fertility. Mari has also expressed a strong desire to look pregnant and feels a sense of pride in the physical manifestation of her pregnancy, documenting her journey enthusiastically.
Mari Observes Different Parenting Styles, Sparking Conversations With Her Partner About Their Goals For Raising Their Child
In conversations with her partner Greg, Mari has considered different parenting styles, driven by deep contemplations of the values, education, and experiences they intend to impart to their child. They discuss content from their childhoods — the positives and the aspects they wish to leave behind. These discussions reveal their unified approach to not following the rules and applying this to their parenting style, underlining a desire for open-mindedness, flexibility, compassion, and patience. Mari reflects on the importa ...
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Mindset, Emotions, and Self-Reflection
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal boundary map to clarify your priorities and focus areas, especially during significant life changes. Start by listing out the various aspects of your life, such as career, family, personal growth, and hobbies. Then, assign a level of importance to each and decide how much time and energy you want to dedicate to them. This can help you set clear boundaries and make intentional choices about where to focus your efforts.
- Develop a family mission statement with your partner to align on parenting values and goals. Sit down together and discuss what values are most important to both of you, such as open-mindedness, flexibility, compassion, and patience. Write a mission statement that encapsulates these values and how you plan to instill them in your child. Refer back to this statement when making parenting decisions to ensure they align with your shared goals.
- Integrate cultural learning into your family routine to foster a love for travel and d ...
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Physical Changes and Self-Care
Mari Is Excited About Her Changing Body During Pregnancy
Mari Llewellyn expresses enthusiasm and embraces the physical transformations occurring during her pregnancy. She talks about the rapid hair growth she’s experiencing in areas like her armpits and eyelashes, and notes that her stomach has notably grown in the last three days. Mari also comments on the adjustments she's had to make regarding clothing sizes, moving up to a size large for comfort and acknowledging her increase from a size 8 to a 10. Furthermore, she shares her struggles with the new size of her breasts, which she says are beautiful on others but cumbersome for herself, citing an aversion to bras and calling bigger boobs a lot of work.
Reincorporating Hair Extensions Helps Her Feel Like Her Best Self
While the provided content does not directly mention hair extensions, it indicates that Mari has chosen to put her hair extensions back in, after having tried to go natural. This decision is part of her adapting to her changing body and doing what helps her feel like the best version of herself.
Mari Shifted From Pilates To a Prenatal Weight Training Program, Prioritizing Safety and Comfort
Mari mentions transitioning from Pilates, which she describes as involving intense core workouts, to weightlifting with a prenatal-certified trainer. She emphasizes that this shift in her exercise regimen focuses on safety and com ...
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Physical Changes and Self-Care
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore clothing subscription services that cater to maternity wear, allowing you to adjust your wardrobe sizes flexibly as your body changes. These services often offer a range of sizes and styles that you can swap out as needed, saving you the hassle of buying new clothes that you may only wear for a short period.
- Consider incorporating accessories like scarves or statement jewelry into your wardrobe to draw attention to areas you feel more confident about, balancing out any discomfort you might have with other body changes. This can be a creative way to celebrate your body's transformation and express your personal style without focusing solely on the areas you find cumbersome.
- Engage in a low-impa ...
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