Husband & Wife Q&A: Pregnancy Nutrition, His Experience & Do We Know The Gender?

Summary

Pursuit of Wellness Podcast Summary
Episode: Husband & Wife Q&A: Pregnancy Nutrition, His Experience & Do We Know The Gender?
Release Date: June 9, 2025

In this heartfelt episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Mari Llewellyn and her husband Greg delve into their personal journey with IVF, pregnancy nutrition, relationship dynamics, and the anticipation of their baby's gender. The candid conversation offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of expanding their family while maintaining a balanced and health-focused lifestyle.

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1. Revisiting the IVF Journey

Mari begins by reflecting on their IVF experience, emphasizing the emotional rollercoaster they endured. She recounts her initial pregnancy announcement in a previous episode and shares how the past two months have been a period of profound introspection and isolation.

Mari Llewellyn [00:30]: "If you guys haven't listened to my episode titled I'm Pregnant, go back and listen, because I think it would give a lot of context as to what we're talking about."

Greg highlights the significance of working together through IVF, noting how a "slightly traditional relationship" with separate responsibilities has been beneficial.

Greg [01:08]: "Seeing you just happy and content at home, which I think is a huge reason for the success of this pregnancy thus far."

2. Impact on Daily Life and Social Media Detox

Mari shares her decision to disconnect from social media during the IVF process, which provided her a mental break but also left her feeling out of touch with current events and social trends.

Mari Llewellyn [02:12]: "I didn't know the Met gala was happening. I didn't know the Pope died."

Greg adds a humorous touch by mentioning how Mari missed out on popular memes, which he jokingly suggested could disrupt her sobriety.

Greg [02:34]: "If I saw a really funny meme, I didn't even want to show Mari because I didn't want to, like, break your sobriety."

3. Navigating Anxiety and External Pressures

The couple discusses the anxiety-inducing aspects of IVF, particularly the stress of waiting for transfer results and the fear of multiple embryo transfers. Mari recounts her harrowing experience during an egg retrieval procedure, underscoring the physical and emotional toll it took.

Mari Llewellyn [05:05]: "Most painful experience of my life."

Greg emphasizes their proactive approach in responding to a concerning drop in Mari’s HCG levels, highlighting their reliance on both holistic and scientific methods to support the pregnancy.

Greg [08:40]: "We were just barefoot on the ground, running to an acupuncturist, trying every holistic and science forward method."

4. Relationship Strengthening Through Shared Challenges

Mari and Greg reflect on how the IVF journey has fortified their relationship. The shared hardships and mutual support have deepened their bond, allowing them to prioritize what truly matters.

Greg [15:12]: "It removes, like, every sense of outside noise. It makes you realize what matters and what doesn't."

Mari appreciates Greg’s unwavering support, particularly his attentiveness to her nutrition and well-being.

Mari Llewellyn [17:04]: "He’s obsessed with me putting olive oil on things. He’s obsessed with me putting chia seeds, avocado. Obsessed with me using collagen every day."

5. Pets and Pregnancy Sensitivity

The couple humorously debates whether their dogs can sense Mari’s pregnancy. While Greg insists that the dogs show no signs, Mari shares amusing anecdotes of their pets interacting differently with her.

Mari Llewellyn [12:21]: "Arnold spent some time sniffing my uterus the other day, but he also just fully jumped on my stomach."

6. Social Media, Privacy, and Content Creation

Mari discusses the delicate balance between sharing her pregnancy journey and maintaining privacy. Having opted out of a public pregnancy announcement, she emphasizes the sacredness of this period and her desire to control her narrative.

Mari Llewellyn [35:17]: "I never want to monetize it or blah. Like, I... We did a photo shoot. We made it really special. It was very personal."

Greg supports Mari’s stance, acknowledging the impact of social media on their experience and appreciating the moments they’ve kept private.

Greg [35:00]: "What's... So, like, for example, did you do a full PR run announcing that you were pregnant? We didn’t do that."

7. Pregnancy Nutrition and Lifestyle Adjustments

Mari and Greg delve into their nutritional strategies during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet rich in healthy fats, proteins, and essential nutrients. Mari shares her daily smoothie routine and the dietary restrictions she adheres to for the baby's health.

Mari Llewellyn [30:40]: "I have a smoothie every day that I make at home, which I posted on my story with, like, banana, strawberry bloom, collagen, Organic whole milk."

Greg highlights the significance of maintaining calcium intake and the role of nutritious foods in fetal development.

Greg [30:42]: "Eating some good yogurt every day... Ensuring calcium is up there is important."

8. Dealing with Unsolicited Advice and Societal Expectations

Mari expresses her frustration with the overwhelming unsolicited advice she receives, both online and offline. She underscores the importance of relying on evidence-based information and personal experiences rather than outdated myths.

Mari Llewellyn [31:31]: "I've received so much of it that I'm just like, get out of my face."

Greg concurs, noting the conflicting information from various sources and the challenges of navigating societal expectations.

Greg [32:00]: "What’s a family heirloom mean? Like, a family tradition that, like, they heard from, like, doctors just say..."

9. Birthing Plans and Gender Reveal

The couple shares their plans for the birth, expressing Mari’s preference for a vaginal delivery while remaining open to a C-section if necessary. They also discuss their private gender reveal, choosing not to know the baby's gender beforehand to keep the experience magical.

Mari Llewellyn [45:26]: "I would like to give birth vaginally, but if they told me I needed a C-section, I would do that."

Greg reminisces about their private gender reveal moment, hinting at an upcoming video announcement.

Mari Llewellyn [46:19]: "We found out privately, and I'm gonna post that video at some point."

10. Preparing for Parenthood and Future Plans

Looking ahead, Mari and Greg discuss their excitement and preparations for their baby's arrival. They touch on setting up the nursery, selecting non-toxic furniture, and planning for their child’s education and social environment.

Mari Llewellyn [27:44]: "What is the baby’s room vibe gonna be? I feel like you don't even know."

Greg [43:01]: "We’re, some of our top priorities are just like school. They’re like a healthy but active social life."

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Key Takeaways and Insights

• Emotional Resilience: The IVF journey can be emotionally taxing, but mutual support and shared goals can strengthen relationships.

• Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Nutrition plays a crucial role in pregnancy, influencing both maternal health and fetal development.

• Privacy vs. Sharing: Balancing the desire to share milestones with the need for personal privacy is essential for mental well-being.

• Handling External Pressures: Navigating unsolicited advice requires confidence in personal choices and reliance on trustworthy information sources.

Notable Quotes

• Mari Llewellyn [05:05]: "Most painful experience of my life."

• Greg [15:12]: "It removes, like, every sense of outside noise. It makes you realize what matters and what doesn't."

• Mari Llewellyn [35:17]: "I never want to monetize it or blah. Like, I... We did a photo shoot. We made it really special. It was very personal."

• Greg [30:42]: "Eating some good yogurt every day... Ensuring calcium is up there is important."

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Conclusion

This episode of Pursuit of Wellness offers a deeply personal exploration of the IVF and pregnancy journey from both Mari and Greg’s perspectives. Their honest discussions on emotional challenges, nutritional strategies, relationship dynamics, and the navigation of societal pressures provide invaluable insights for listeners undergoing similar experiences. By sharing their story, they aim to foster a sense of community and support among those pursuing wellness and parenthood.

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If you enjoyed this summary, consider subscribing to the Pursuit of Wellness podcast for more inspiring and educational conversations on health, wellness, and personal transformation.

Transcript

[Mari Llewellyn]

This is the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, and I'm your host, Mari Llewellyn.

[Greg]

Nice studio. We're dusting it off.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Thanks.

[Greg]

Or you just dusted it off. You just did an episode.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know. How does it feel to see me at the office?

[Greg]

I've had a cloud of anxiety that I didn't really know why I had it. Well, I knew you were anxious for.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Your day a little bit. Yeah. It's like first day of school vice.

[Greg]

Yeah. You just had summer break.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

So what was announced on episode one?

[Mari Llewellyn]

That I'm pregnant. And I told the story. Oh, the HCG story.

[Greg]

That was crazy.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Oh, yeah, crazy. I. It was like I was remembering it, like, going through it and saying it all out loud. I was like, wow, that was really the worst thing ever. Like, if you guys haven't listened to my episode titled I'm pregnant, go back and listen, because I think it would give a lot of context as to what we're talking about. But, yeah, they know. I've been gone for two months. I've essentially kind of been like, a hermit. No social media. I was, like, watching YouTube shorts. I had no idea what was going on in the world. Greg was, like, filling me in, kind of.

[Greg]

I loved it. I mean, for context, obviously, like, the biggest. One of the biggest blessings in my life has been being able to have a career with my wife. As Bloom has turned into this megalodon of a beast, it has become much more than just Mari and I running Bloom, of course, or at least operating Bloom. And it has been nice to experience a slightly traditional relationship in the sense of having separate responsibilities. I don't know. It's been a nice two months. It's been a nice two months. Like, seeing you just happy and content at home, which I think is a huge reason for the success of this pregnancy thus far.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know. It's been really nice, and I kind of always knew I'd want to take a break at a certain point. But it is kind of crazy, because if you think about it, since 2017, I don't think I've taken one significant break like this.

[Greg]

I think you've taken off more than three days.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No.

[Greg]

@ least. Especially, like, not, like, literally deleting social media and your connection to the world. I mean, I remember, like, you didn't even know. Like, the Met gala was not that we.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I didn't know the Met guy was happening. I didn't know the Pope died.

[Greg]

Yeah. Big news.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Like, I didn't know.

[Greg]

Yeah. They're like, you just assume everyone kind of knows.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And then I would listen to the pod, a podcast, a date, and be like, oh, my God, you didn't tell me it was a Met gala.

[Greg]

That's so funny.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Like, it was really crazy how disconnected I was.

[Greg]

Actually, it was the saddest part was, like, if I saw a really funny meme, I didn't even want to show Mari because I didn't want to, like, give you that hit and break your. Your sobriety.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I wasn't interested, honestly.

[Greg]

No. No, you weren't.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I've read so many books. I didn't mention that on the episode I've read. All I've been doing is reading.

[Greg]

No, you explained it really well. Like, explaining, like, the experience of a Kindle versus a book.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Oh, yeah. I wasn't even aware that I was, like, almost done with the book. I think I read, like, four books in the past two months.

[Greg]

It's almost like as we're watching a series of TV shows and you don't even know you're on the last episode, and then it's just over one day because you don't feel, like, the book getting thinner and thinner.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And then you just go, okay, next one. You don't need to, like, run to Barnes and Nobles and get another book.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But it was also really nice being in, like. Because I'm reading the Queen of Shadows series, the girls who get to get it and. And being in, like, a fantasy world was really nice because I feel like now I'm in a good place. But a lot of our journey was very anxiety provoking.

[Greg]

We were super stressed. Social media at its core is like, compare yourself to everyone else.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I'm fully on this algorithm of, like, IVF girls and fertility girls, which I love.

[Greg]

And perfect pregnancy girls.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Well, yeah, that's everywhere. Like, I was just saying on my solo episode how the whole town is pregnant. No, I didn't say that actually. But, like, yeah, our whole neighborhood is pregnant.

[Greg]

It's crazy where you live in, like, a stroller capital of the world.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, we're all, like, very similar to me. Like, just weeks and months apart from me, which is amazing. It's such a blessing. But there's all this, like, discourse on the Internet right now about, you know, the clip I'm talking about.

[Greg]

It creates, like, this wild mental game where, like, even if you see people in your community who are having, like, the amazing experience of life of fertility and procreation in it, like, something that you would normally just love and love to see, and it's a beautiful thing, you just by nature, have, like, this sense of. Of jealousy. And why not me? And I don't want to say negative thoughts towards other people's magic.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, but it's not that. It's just when you're in that. That really fragile time before a transfer or after a transfer, like, I would see a girl say, this is my third transfer, and I'm like, oh, man. Like, do I have to go through this three times? Like, you automatically just other people's experiences to your own. And I didn't want to go into it with this, like, fear or anxiety. Like, I wanted to be as calm as possible, and I knew to do that, I would have to not look at other people's stuff.

[Greg]

Have you explained to the podcast what your actual retrieval experience was?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yes.

[Greg]

Like, Mari does not respond well to anesthesia. Passed out, like, crawling on the floor told them everything. Pretty. Pretty dirty experience.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I have a whole episode on it.

[Greg]

So the idea of potentially needing to do that again was horrifying with the weeks of recovery that that required.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I literally said to the doctor, I can never do an egg retrieval.

[Greg]

Again, which supposedly was a very unique experience, but does not mean that we wanted to do it again.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Most painful experience of my life.

[Greg]

Speaking of fantasy world from your book, I have a theory around ivf. So we had several embryos. They're ranked. Let's just say they're ranked good, good, good, fair, fair, fair, fair, fair. And you can, like, bas. You can quite literally choose. You could choose which gender and which ranking you want to do.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We didn't choose our gender. I just want to say that, like, we went into it not knowing the gender. I told them to not tell me.

[Greg]

Yeah. We didn't know until two weeks ago.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We didn't know until two weeks ago. But we picked. I knew I had two. I'm just going to say it. We had two of the same gender and one that was different, and we picked up the better grade of the two that were the same. Does that make sense? Like, we had three embryos that got through genetic testing. I've never said that, but I feel like now that I'm out of it, I can say it.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And.

[Greg]

And we were. We were. Lack of a better word, Satisfied with that.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And they said both genders were represented. Two of them are the same gender, one of them are a different one. And we picked one of the two that were the same, and we picked the good, good grade, like, the best grade.

[Greg]

And the other two are frozen at basically three weeks of development.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

Which is Mind blowing. Like, Mari could wait a decade and we can implant one of these frozen in time, three week old embryos. No.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I told them about how they handed me the picture that like the day of the transfer I think was the craziest day of my life.

[Greg]

Oh yeah, we have a photo of these frozen embryos.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. On the fridge.

[Greg]

Insane.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It was the cra. Watching myself get impregnated was the craziest experience of my life. I was in the room, I was. I think we were both just like, oh my God. Crazy.

[Greg]

It was crazy. I mean, it was in a full. It was in a full, like, you know, like I've never been in one of these rooms other than being in legitimate. I guess it is legitimate surgery. Like you're in a. You're in an operating room. Really scary stainless steel, scary operating room. And yeah, I'm just watching on the screen and I guess you're watching on the screen as they impregnate Mari.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Crazy. Like everyone was like, how did Greg find out? And it was like, there was no secrets here. Yeah. But no surprises.

[Greg]

I mean, obviously I don't have anything to compare it to, but I still feel like it was a super like magical. We left a lot of things up to chance. We didn't play God on too many factors here. Like we were still. We were still full of surprises and delight.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And you know, I told the story of how we found out with that phone call, like on the walk.

[Greg]

That was nuts.

[Mari Llewellyn]

What was your experience of that?

[Greg]

We didn't know when they were going to call us. So so much of this whole IVF journey has just been like this crazy waiting game of Thrones by the phone. Blood tests. Then you wait five days for the results. Embryo test. Then you wait five days for the results. Embryo retrieval. And like how healthy. How many do you get? And then how many actually like survive out of the retrieval waiting five days for the results. So we've been like just. We were just used to this holding our breath, can barely even focus on anything else. Waiting game experience. And so this was kind of the climax of the whole weight.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

Combined. And so, yeah, we were just on a walk, trying to distract ourselves.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And we received the phone call and they, and they told us it's successful, was amazing. But that again, we kind of thought we were out of. Out of the woods. So then 48 hours later we received a call that there's a 1% chance that it's actually going to make it because Mari's HCG was dropping.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And so you know, obviously I'm on chat gbt. We're reading every forum. Mari's. I mean, rightfully so, freaking out. But I was like, all right, if the doctor said 1%, that's all Mari has ever needed to do anything. So Mari's like, we're like barefoot on the ground, running to an acupuncturist, trying every, every holistic and science forward method. We're like Mari shining herself with red light, trying to like bring warmth and blood flow to the whole area.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I have a distinct memory of sobbing, crying in front of the red light.

[Greg]

We're chugging. We're chugging like this super bone broth.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Oh, my God, I forgot about that.

[Greg]

It was so we were doing everything on the sun and then the next day we went in and the HCG started to skyrocket.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Insane. And I was literally taking Chinese herbs. One of them was made from donkey.

[Greg]

Yeah, it's literally called ass hide.

[Mari Llewellyn]

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[Greg]

Absolutely not. What? Absolutely not. They are not showing any sign of that.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I don't agree.

[Greg]

You're crazy.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Arnold spent some time sniffing my uterus the other day, but he also just fully jumped on my stomach.

[Greg]

You probably had like some mayonnaise from a sandwich on your tummy.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Oh, great. Thanks.

[Greg]

He is not being gentle with Mari at all.

[Mari Llewellyn]

He's more cuddly with me lately.

[Greg]

I already want to cover Mari and bubble wrap and this dog does not make me have any comfort. It is is not okay.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, guys, I got really nervous because in the first couple weeks he like fully jumped on my stomach and I was like, are you for real?

[Greg]

Arnold thinks that we're trampolines.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Lulu I think, has no idea yet.

[Greg]

So. No, I would say no. I'd be curious. I feel like if any animal were to recognize it, it'd be Mari's horse. I feel like horses just like have that sense. No, I know, but you didn't really have that experience. I haven't seen Your horse in forever.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I went to see him and he was sweet, but he really just wanted treats. So maybe when the baby's bigger. Does it feel real? My first embryo transfer just stuck and it doesn't feel real yet. That's like, a big thing I've struggled with. Is it not feeling real?

[Greg]

We'll be watching the scan, and the baby's doing a backflip in her stomach. And I'm like, you feel this, right? And you're like, no, I have no idea this is going on.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It's crazy. Like, every time we do an ultrasound, it's like watching a movie.

[Greg]

They said in three weeks you'll start to feel it, though. Huh.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I can't wait.

[Greg]

That'll be crazy. So if you feel it, can I?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Like, you could put your hand on. Yeah, you could feel it.

[Greg]

That's nuts. I'm also freaking out, like, we're going to Colorado soon and, like, Mari's gonna be at altitude, and I'm just, like, concerned about all of these changes in an environment. Not that I love her being in 110 degree weather in Texas right now.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Greg's been a bit paranoid, guys.

[Greg]

The doctor said that pregnant women have more red blood cells.

[Mari Llewellyn]

He said we have more hemoglobin, but riches.

[Greg]

I think that it's the same thing.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I don't know.

[Greg]

And so you will adapt to lower oxygen faster.

[Mari Llewellyn]

He said that? But then my doula. I haven't even told him I got a doula. My doula was like, it would be better if you drove to, like, acclimate.

[Greg]

You don't want to have a shocking experience of any sort, whether it's like, cold water, hot water, change in altitude. But I don't know. I mean, doesn't a plane kind of have a slow change in altitude anyway?

[Mari Llewellyn]

I don't know, babe.

[Greg]

I don't know.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I don't know.

[Greg]

I'm driving. Mari's flying with Arnold.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think so we'll see. Yeah, that's the plan. As of right now, we're going to Aspen for a month. I don't know if I said that because it's so hot here. I mean, right now it's not. It's like, raining, but it's been so hot. And I've been so uncomfortable because I'm internally so hot.

[Greg]

Yeah, we love Colorado. I mean, obviously we lived there for a while.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, we lived in Boulder for a year. If you didn't know. How has your relationship evolved throughout the pregnancy so far? I felt like during IVF and the hcg scare. We, like, really came together as a team. Like, I think, like, any time we've gone through something really hard or stressful, we always are, like, better. Do you know what I mean? Like, I think you and me are really good at dealing with, like, hard things together.

[Greg]

It removes, like, every sense of outside noise. It makes you realize what matters and what doesn't. And so, like, any problem that was popping up in our jobs or the neighborhood or something was broken in the.

[Mari Llewellyn]

House just doesn't matter.

[Greg]

I didn't give a fuck.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And things that, like, used to, like, really trigger me.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I've never in my life heard you say that you didn't care about work until this moment. And it was for a fleeting moment. He was like, it's so weird. I don't even care about my job right now, and I've never heard you say that. And it was just that one day or a couple days.

[Greg]

And for whatever it's worth, I think it's making me better at my job. Sometimes you care about something so much that you don't actually do your best work on it and.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Right.

[Greg]

It's almost like being a helicopter parent.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

But if you care so much and you apply that care into your actions.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

That, like, you end up actually doing a net. A net. A net negative to the scenario of what your goal is. And so I feel like that, like, most of the things around my life, like friendships and. And. And work and whatever it may be outside of us has actually benefited from me kind of having, like, this reset of what I care about. But back to our relationship. Yeah. I think it's been really special.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It's been very special. I think it brings out in people the way I think in men, especially supporting their pregnant partner, like, how they show care. So Greg is kind of an Italian mother, I would say. He's very obsessed and not. Not in a toxic way. Very obsessed with everything I eat. Very. And obviously we're both very passionate about nutrition, but, like, Greg is the one making me eat fish eggs and, like, I would eat them anyway. Probably. But you're definitely making sure I eat the fish eggs and, like, salmon once a week.

[Greg]

Overall, healthy fats.

[Mari Llewellyn]

He like, oh, yeah. He's obsessed with me putting olive oil on things. He's obsessed with me putting chia seeds, avocado. Obsessed with me using collagen every day.

[Greg]

I actually didn't really care that much, no matter how many podcasts I listened to, until I saw how fast this thing was growing. And now I'm realizing every Meal is literally resulting in growth. So you are built. You're building it with whatever we feed you.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think I told Greg one week. Oh, I checked my what to Expect app, where it tells you the size of the fruit. And I'm like, it said this week, the baby's growing muscles. Something in Greg just, like, click. Something changed. Like, his bodybuilder, like, Demon Eyes woke up and he was like, you need to eat protein. And he just got really crazy. So I think the way that you show me care is, like, through food.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You always have been like that.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You really have, like. And you really worry if I'm eating something bad.

[Greg]

Like, I know. Maybe it's because I just think of food all the time, too.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know. I think you're kind of a weirdo. But I also think it's a. Interesting time because I'm not necessarily, like, fully bumping yet.

[Greg]

Oh, also, when we first did the transfer, it's not like Mari has had a normal pregnancy up until very recently. So, like, Mari couldn't weightlift. Mari couldn't pick up the dog to put the dog under the car. Mari. I mean, it was. It was. It was.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We were terrified of doing.

[Greg]

Yeah. Like, I don't know what we were. We couldn't, like, even have intercourse for a while. Like, a lot. A lot of things couldn't go on.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

So you were in, like, a fragile state for two months.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Couldn't swim, couldn't drink, cold things.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But keep in mind, like, this is all very conservative, like, IVF stuff. Like, there's probably women pregnant, listening, being.

[Greg]

Like, oh, no, no, it's not the tradition. First 10 weeks are not a traditional pregnancy.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

You're wanting this thing to quite literally stick. I guess.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But I was going to say it's weird because for the guy, like, your life really hasn't changed at all. Like, you come to work, you work out, you do all the same things. You don't feel the symptoms that I feel. Like, the only time you really are aware of is when you're looking at the ultrasound, you know?

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I think because I have not had bad symptoms. Like, I've had a very. Like, I think my biggest symptom has been anxiety, like, just how anxious I've been. But I'm definitely tired, but I haven't thrown up. Like, my symptoms are super mild. I think because of that, you almost, like, forget sometimes.

[Greg]

You mean you're always anxious, though.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Okay, so exactly. Exactly. Like, you don't even.

[Greg]

I only keep saying thing because I don't want to say the gender, by the way.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know. Yeah, but you know what I mean. Like, I think for the guy it's like a little more difficult to wrap.

[Greg]

Your head around every day having some nausea or food advertion is like tough to understand. But.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But you realize I don't have it even that bad. Like the fact that I can still eat meat and fish eggs is crazy. You know, I just feel blessed. I can eat anything. There's girls who like literally lose weight.

[Greg]

It seems. It's great. I mean, you were pretty exhausted there, babe, for like eight weeks.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I'm pretty tired right now.

[Greg]

Yeah. I mean, Mario has never taken naps in her whole life.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I take some naps. Some like two hour ones. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. I think something that gets really overlooked is men's mental health and the strength that comes from maintaining a healthy mind. Greg and I talk about this a lot and I notice with boys and the younger male generation, they really aren't encouraged to talk about their feelings. Men today face immense pressure to perform, to provide and keep it all together. So it's no wonder that 6 million men in the US suffer from depression every year. And it's often undiagnosed. It's okay to struggle and real strength comes from opening up about what you're carrying and doing something about it. You I have benefited greatly from therapy. I've been in therapy since I was 14 and it's a consistent in my life. I actually have therapy today and I'm so grateful. I've had somewhere to go during all the ups and downs of my life. Even sometimes when I feel like I have nothing to talk about, it always ends up being a beneficial conversation. And I think it just helps. Learning positive coping skills, setting boundaries, and empowering you to be the best version of you. It seriously has made me just a better person. In general. I highly Recommend Checking out BetterHelp. They have over 35,000 therapists. It's the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. The App Store rating is 4.9 out of 5 based on 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. And you can switch therapists at any time. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with better help our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com pal that's betterhelp h lp.com pal Today's episode is brought to you by Dream Recovery, the ultimate brand for optimizing your rest and recovery. As someone who is all about creating balance in life, I know how much sleep transforms your mind, body and spirit. And Dream Recovery takes it to the next level. Dream Recovery's innovative products are designed to help you wake up feeling like your best self. Whether it's their Dream Strips to help you breathe better and sleep deeper, or their luxurious Dream Tape plus infused with anti aging skincare to promote nasal breathing and glowing skin, this brand is all about helping you feel refreshed, restored and ready to conquer the day. Along with those products, I love their silk pillowcase designed to help you keep cool while providing amazing benefits for skin and hair. I love that. Dream Recovery's mission is rooted in the idea of awakening our full potential. Because when we sleep better, we do better. So whether you're an athlete, a busy parent, or just trying to prioritize wellness, Dream Recovery has the tools you need to level up your recovery game. Ready to transform your nights? Visit DreamRecovery IO and use the code PURSUIT15 at checkout for an exclusive discount. Trust me, your future self will. Thank you. God, there's so many questions. Just people saying they've never been so happy for someone I've never met before.

[Greg]

Yeah, we've been like literally trying for this for two years. We really appreciate everyone's congratulations so much.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Some people are asking why did we need to do ivf and did we ever find out the reason?

[Greg]

No, everything checked out. My sperm checked out, Mari's eggs and everything checked out.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think the only thing I could really point a finger at was my PCOS and the fact that I had so many follicles and perhaps the egg wasn't actually able to release itself.

[Greg]

That. I mean, we were both like probably abnormally stressed for a long period of time. Which is one of the reasons you took off from work for a while. I don't know. Stress seems to be a cause of so many modern day issues, so.

[Mari Llewellyn]

So we don't really know and I think we don't really spend a lot of time dwelling on it. You know, we just kind of like put our heads down and got through it.

[Greg]

No. I mean, even though there's like so much science obviously that we've been able to benefit from, the amount of unknown that the best doctors in the world even still have has been shocking.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. So no, you feel pretty out of control. It's Crazy body image question. Are you struggling with the idea of gaining for pregnancy and baby? I mean, yeah, you weren't struggling until.

[Greg]

They told you your weight.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Obviously I look different, right? Like, I was pretty skinny when I started ivf. And then IVF itself makes you gain weight because of all the hormones. You're starving and then getting pregnant, your boobs get grow. Like everything's just growing. I don't know. I have good days and bad days with it. Like this morning working out, I was like, oh my God, it looks like I have a little bit of a bump happening. And I get really excited about it. And I've waited so long, like, I truly don't care. Like, that's just not front of mind. But it has surprised me kind of how much it like, I think because I'm also hormonal and I'm just like, I cry a lot now. I feel like it has sort of like taken me aback because all my clothes in my closet were for like someone who's like lean and had small boobs and like, wanted to show off my stomach all the time. And I literally feel like I have nothing to wear.

[Greg]

I think you know, and I tell you all the time, you look incredible. Everyone says Mari's glowing. You look, you're very beautiful pregnant woman.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Thanks.

[Greg]

Obviously, if you're putting on clothes from six months ago, they don't fit. And that probably is a, is a head trip.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Like, none of my bras fit. Like, nothing.

[Greg]

You'll wear it in nine months.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know. And it's. It is just weird.

[Greg]

Like, I guess, I don't know.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think being in a bubble kind of helped. But now that I'm back on social media and people are like, I'm on camera, people taking photos of me, it's like a kind of a shock to the system. And then they made me get on the scale, which I don't like to do.

[Greg]

That was weird. I was surprised they even told you you're weight. They should have asked you.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Next time I'm telling them not to tell.

[Greg]

Well, there's no fucking point to know the number, I guess.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Well, in pregnancy you want to know.

[Greg]

Well, they could tell you, hey, this weight, this is a concern.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know.

[Greg]

I don't know. But like tell you the actual number.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It just kind of floored me.

[Greg]

But you're still strong. Like in the gym, like, you're still like able to. No, I know you kept a decent amount of muscle.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think that's made me feel a lot better, is working out. But it Is a bit of a we weird transition. Like, you just don't look the same, and it takes a minute to catch up. Especially when you're in the awkward phase of, like, before you have a bump and you're like, I just kind of look a bit fat.

[Greg]

I was driving to work yesterday, and there was a car that said, like, a pregnant woman on board instead of baby on board.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Cute.

[Greg]

I was like, oh, I should put that. A little magnet on your car.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, you should get that for me. I feel like I smell my tuna sandwich. Do you?

[Greg]

No, but that's all right. Oh, yeah. Her smell's been out of control.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I smell it.

[Greg]

She's. She's the fantastic five over here.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Honestly, sometimes Greg reeks to me, and I. I feel like the person who smells the most, though, is me. I'm like, I smell disgusting.

[Greg]

You don't.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But then everyone else is like, you don't smell. And I'm like, no, I really smell. I think I just, like, come up with things.

[Greg]

Or like, we. We. We. Mars been avoiding the construction site at our new headquarters, obviously, just because, like, there's dust and fumes and no need for Mario to be in there. But, like, when she did go for the first time before we realized that, you were just, like, noticing all these crazy smells that no one else was smelling.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I was like, something's bad in the fridge. Or Arnold smelled like throw up that one day to me.

[Greg]

I think you threw up that day.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Would you guys recommend going through ivf? My husband and I have been trying for three years.

[Greg]

You go first.

[Mari Llewellyn]

IVF is, like, such a privilege to be able to do because it's so expensive, and I feel really lucky. We got to go through is, I think, equally the hardest thing and the coolest thing I've ever been through Because I felt very involved in the process, and, like, I learned so much, you know? Like, it was kind of wild, and I felt very, like, involved in myself getting pregnant. It's weird.

[Greg]

Yeah. It gave you. It gave you a feeling or element of. Of control.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

I only know from our journey what it feels like, but I think we.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Had a pretty good experience.

[Greg]

I almost wish we did it sooner. Like, that's how good the experience has been.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I know, but it happened when it's supposed to.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I loved our IVF clinic. I love Dr. Mogadon.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

What is the baby's room vibe gonna be? I feel like you don't even know.

[Greg]

So currently, I wake up well before Mari wakes up, and that's kind of like, been the case.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You wake up an hour before me, so chill out.

[Greg]

I don't. In the morning, I don't use our closet or our bathroom just because we have a bedroom right next to our bed. Our master.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, but also, you wouldn't fit in the closet. I took up the whole thing.

[Greg]

And so I've just used this random guest room as my closet and my bathroom, especially in the morning, to not wake up marijuana. That room is being taken from me.

[Mari Llewellyn]

That room is the nursery. Because it's closest to our bedroom, that.

[Greg]

Room is becoming the nursery. So the vibes. I mean, you have to.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You have to get out.

[Greg]

How do you. How do you explain the vibes without saying any colors?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Obviously, that's. I'm like, how do I describe what I want without giving away the gender?

[Greg]

There will be color. Obvious.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Stripes. Okay, ready? Stripes. I would say it's giving traditional.

[Greg]

But fun natural materials.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Natural materials. Actually, I really want to bring the founder of Brunch Basics on the show because she has all the good baby wrecks. She sent me a crib from Europe that uses no formaldehyde or whatever. Like, none of the toxins because, you.

[Greg]

Know, throw a big Jasper air filter in the room for sure. Blackout curtains, for sure. A lot of, like, you know, Well, a lot of these, like, fire repellents and stuff.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I've already, like, ordered things on Etsy. Like, this doesn't give it away, but, like, cute little DIY farm animals.

[Greg]

Nice.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You know, I can't wait for the bookshelf. Love a bookshelf. Can't wait to read books. Yeah, I'm, like, big on reading. I love reading books.

[Greg]

For your rocking chair.

[Mari Llewellyn]

A glider. Yeah. Do you know what a glider is?

[Greg]

Is that just like a.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It's like a breastfeeding chair that, like, has an ottoman. And, like, you lean back, it's like a whole thing.

[Greg]

Gotcha.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You'll sit in it too, though.

[Greg]

Okay.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Where's Lulu? Seriously? The fact that they're still asking. This is so crazy.

[Greg]

Lulu's thriving.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I posted her the other day.

[Greg]

I think she's like, 11. Ish.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, she's 11 in August.

[Greg]

11. So she's about to be 11. She does not enjoy this heat.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No.

[Greg]

So she'll probably go to Grandma's for maybe a month or two or three or whatever.

[Mari Llewellyn]

She's summering in the Hamptons.

[Greg]

She's summering at Grandma's when she's on Long Island.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And she loves it over there, so.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, it's just too much first trimester and Keeping good eating habits. Did we let the pregnancy cravings win? I feel like I've had a really good balance of both. Like, my breakfast is always the same. It's always the toast, the eggs, the fruit. I have my one matcha. My lunch is really where I let whatever I want take over. Like, I'll order a sandwich or one time I got quesadillas or like. It's not always like that, though. I've been really into my smoothies. I have a smoothie every day that I make at home, which I posted on my story with, like, banana, strawberry bloom, collagen, Organic whole milk. Yeah.

[Greg]

Keeping the dairy up there. Calcium's important.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I eat cheese pretty much every day.

[Greg]

Eating some good yogurt every day.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yes. Awful fat dinner we're cooking. Like, we've been eating more pasta. Like, I'm a little more lenient, I guess, but I always get my nutrients in.

[Greg]

It's always a protein source.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Things I'm, like, avoiding. I mean, raw fish.

[Greg]

Well, you're not drinking alcohol. You're not drinking coffee.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No.

[Greg]

You're not drinking Bloom energy drinks.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, but everyone has their own approach. You know what I mean?

[Greg]

Like, but you're just saying what you're doing.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You and me tend to be a little bit more paranoid because of what we've been through. I think some people are really chill.

[Greg]

You know, but we know they are. Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And we're also just obsessed with nutrition and stuff. I really think the things you eat have a huge impact on the embryo and the fetus growth, you know, and.

[Greg]

If they don't, it's worth a try.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But I have never in my life received more unsolicited advice than I have pregnant, Honestly.

[Greg]

I'm sure.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I haven't even been on social media, and I haven't even, like, posted yet, or I've just started. And my. The unsolicited advice has been, like, irl. It's really interesting. Like, I feel like the second someone finds out you're pregnant, they feel like they can tell you what to do, what not to do, what to eat, what. It's bizarre. And I think a lot of people's beliefs come from, like, something someone told them 10 years ago. Family heirloom that they, like, never looked in. You know what I'm saying?

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

What is a family heirloom mean?

[Greg]

Like, a family tradition that, like, they.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Heard from, like, doctors just say, like, you can't do this. You can't do this. But they all say different things. So this book, Expecting Better, like, tells you the statistics on, like, how likely it is you'd get. You're more likely to get sick from lettuce than you are from deli meat. But, like, no one talks about that or people project their own experiences. Like, it's just, I don't know, it's been kind of a wild experience.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I, I, I know a lot of it comes from care, and I love and appreciate that. When you're hormonally, you're kind of like.

[Greg]

You've never really loved unsolicited advice.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I haven't. I think because I've received so much of it that I'm just like, get out of my face. And I've done fine. Like, I figured out everything on my own, and I'm fine.

[Greg]

You all right?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Will you do IVF for your future babies?

[Greg]

Well, they say that, you know, fertility rates are through the roof after not only a pregnancy, but after ivf, so we'll see how it goes. But in theory, we have two beautiful embryos.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, I, I think I'll do another IVF experience.

[Greg]

I mean, unless, you know, something happened before that.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I just. The fact that they're already tested is. Gives you peace of mind.

[Greg]

Why not?

[Mari Llewellyn]

You know?

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Even though they made me do the Natera test anyway.

[Greg]

Yeah. We just switched from the IVF doctor to just a normal obgyn.

[Mari Llewellyn]

What was the biggest lesson you learned? Getting rid of social media.

[Greg]

How much other people are using it.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Crazy. Like, the world literally is dependent on social media. Like, I, when I'm telling you, I did not know any information about anything. Like, I was completely in the dark.

[Greg]

That's your news.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Like, I didn't know what my friends were doing. I didn't know what was going on in the world. Like, nothing.

[Greg]

But the world kept on spinning.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think also how quiet my mind was. I just, like, had. I felt, like, pretty. Like, other than. Obviously, like, my main priority was the pregnancy and stuff. But once we got through that scary time, I felt like my mind was just really, like, quiet. And I was kind of like, sometimes I found myself being like, I don't really know what to think about.

[Greg]

Was it nice?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. I felt really, like, flatline kind of.

[Greg]

It has been funny to see people still participate in social media, even just in social gatherings while, like, you're off. And I don't really participate how you do. So, like, seeing people want to share what they're doing live time has just seemed like this. Like, you're able to watch the world from the outside in and, yeah. Realize like, hey, this. This. This might be an unhealthy habit for our age or whatever it may be.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. It's like a weird phenomenon, but now I'm back into it and I'm, like, kind of wanting to share. It's weird, though, because now I'm, like, a little bit more. I think I used to share very freely, and I didn't really think anything through, and now I'm kind of like. I just, like, second guess everything. I don't know.

[Greg]

Is this something you want out in the world?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Kind of like, it's like, my first time ever having, like, true privacy.

[Greg]

Does creating content out of this ruin the experience for, like, the real life that I'm in?

[Mari Llewellyn]

I guess, yeah.

[Greg]

I mean, we obviously always had, like, this weird intervention with. Or this weird experience with social media. Like, for example, when I proposed to Mari, just going back years, like, do I set up a camera on a tripod and try to get this reaction for content? Like, you think about these things no matter what you're doing or if you're having.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We didn't. We didn't. You didn't film my engagement. And I'm upset that you did very.

[Greg]

Much intentionally, because I was like, I don't want the camera rolling for this special moment. As special moments present themselves in your real life, it's like you obviously, Mar. Mari has created a whole career around creating content from her life. But sometimes you need to draw the line on, like, hey, what's. So, like, for example, did you do a full PR run announcing that you were pregnant?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Okay, you didn't explain that very well. I got approached by press.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

To have an exclusive moment with announcing my pregnancy. And I said no.

[Greg]

Right.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Because I don't like that. I don't. I want to control my narrative. I've been through so much.

[Greg]

You don't, like, monetize this beautiful thing.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No. It's so sacred to me, and it's such a. I think I feel way more protective of everything than I ever have. Like, I used to just. I mean, I'm so glad I shared my fertility journey. I think that's so important for women to talk about. Like, it really creates a sense of community and such a lonely experience. But, like, I would never. Yeah. I don't want to, like, monetize it or blah. Like, I. We did a photo shoot. We made it really special. It was very personal.

[Greg]

We did a photo shoot.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yes.

[Greg]

Right.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yes.

[Greg]

For our living room. Framed photos.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But we kind of have a unique perspective on things because, like, we've been.

[Greg]

In the game for a while.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We've been in the game for a while and we've had a lot of really cool experiences and opportunities where we have, like, been in the press and whatever. I don't know. I don't know what I'm trying to say. I just feel different than I ever have. And I. I saw a lot of people asking, like, will you share your kids on the Internet? Which is like a big question.

[Greg]

You don't have to think about it.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I don't even know if I'm ready to answer it.

[Greg]

I get it. I get why you wouldn't want to. And I. I very much respect it when I see someone put an emoji over their kid's face.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I do too.

[Greg]

I think that that's a really cool thing.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I respect. I see both.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Sides, like, you're so excited you want to share your beautiful kid.

[Greg]

I think it's also a really cool thing when you share your beautiful kid. I think both are really cool.

[Mari Llewellyn]

There's people who do, like, they'll show the back of the head and like, do motherhood content, but they don't fully show the kid.

[Greg]

It's kind of like we've never shown the front of our house.

[Mari Llewellyn]

One thing I would never do is make my kid the center of my content. I will never do that. I will never be the person using their kid to monetize.

[Greg]

What if they were six years old and they were like, let's make some content, mom.

[Mari Llewellyn]

They can get a flip cam and a little cute camera that they go make videos of and nothing happens with those videos until they're 18 if they want to post them.

[Greg]

What about like 13?

[Mari Llewellyn]

I used to make pretend YouTube videos all the time and nothing happened.

[Greg]

If at 13, it freaks me out, babe. They were like, I want to try to one, make some money or two, make some content. And that's a good. That's now a career in, in the 2000 and twenties. I don't know.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I don't think it's. I don't think they're meant to see all that. There's so much like. It's so adult on there.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

These 13 year olds on Tick Tock. It's so sexual. It's so insane.

[Greg]

That's crazy.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I. I don't want that. I don't know. I don't want them to be on social media. I can't talk about this. I'm getting upset. Like, I just. They can make little pretend videos, you.

[Greg]

Know, we'll develop an app.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, we'll make a movie that has.

[Greg]

Like fake people posting and commenting and.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It'S all really like innocent.

[Greg]

It's all really just us commenting with different handles.

[C]

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[Mari Llewellyn]

Greg and I have been using Thrive Market for years. They're all about high standards, honest prices and no compromise. They are all about getting the quality you believe in without overpaying for it. In a world where inflation has made healthy eating feel like a luxury, Thrive Market makes it easy to stick to your values and your budget. I absolutely love the brands that they carry and it also is really easy to categorize based on your diet. Whether you're paleo, more protein heavy, maybe you're vegan. It makes it so easy to shop. I feel like you I can get my bougie groceries without the bougie prices they have over 1,000 ingredients restricted, which is crazy because the US allows over 10,000 additives. They have 100% non GMO products with the highest sourcing standards. Premium grocery brands without the inflated price tags. Up to 30 off groceries plus fast and carbon neutral shipping. And a free gift of your choice with your first order. You guys know I like to avoid things with seed oils and artificial additives. And Thrive market makes it so easy to filter out those ingredients. And I can focus on finding things that are high protein. You can also look for gluten free, low sugar, whatever your values are. Want to skip the junk without overspending? Go to thrivemarket.com pow to get 30 off your first order plus a free $60 gift. That is thrive market.com po Most protein bars are packed with sugar and excess calories. David bars are different. They have 28g of protein and 150 calories. Zero gram of sugar, which is crazy. It comes in an iconic gold packaging. You've probably seen it available online and at retailers. It's perfect to keep in your bag for a quick, satisfying snack. It's endorsed by so many fitness enthusiasts and professionals like Andrew Huberman. It helps with muscle maintenance, recovery and overall health. That's why I always have David protein bars with me. David is offering our listeners a deal to buy four cartons and get the fifth free at davidprotein.com pow that's davidprotein.com pow to get your fifth carton free. Humans aren't perfect, but David, is the main way your thinking has shifted now on the journey to having a child. I feel like we've wanted it for so long that like now it's actually happening. I think, I think about like their experience of okay, next summer, like where do we. Not that I'm going to be such a young baby but like I think about like, okay, what kind of camps should we do? Like we, I want to make sure that they have this experience or that they grow up near their grandparents or I don't know, just think about things like that.

[Greg]

Yeah, I think we're, some of our top priorities are just like school. They're like a healthy but active social life.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We just talk about like education is.

[Greg]

Like a top frankly concern for us. You know, we both had odd experiences in, in public education. Odd that like I wouldn't want to replicate if I had the power to not replicate our exact experience.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I think we're just asking questions more. We're like meeting other parents and we're.

[Greg]

Hearing about other experiences and it's like, kind of crazy. Some of the things that other parents are doing.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And. And compelling. And I get it. And I'd love to learn more on a few things.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. There's, like, so many more options now. It's super interesting. Yeah. And I just. I think I'm thinking about the way I grew up and things I liked and things I didn't like. Like, oh, my God. I had such a, like, international upbringing that I moved to so many different countries. I heard so many languages. Like, but we're not going to move country. So how do I replicate that? Like, how do we. You know what I mean?

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Am I eating liver? Not yet.

[Greg]

We. I wanted to, but Dr. Gabrielle Lyons said we. You don't show any signs of needing more iron.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

That's kind of like, the main reason you would have the liver.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think I'm nervous of doing anything too extreme.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You know, like, if everything seems good, like, I've heard liver is beneficial, but, like, I don't know. It sounds like a lot for me right now.

[Greg]

Yeah. We asked her doctor that really, like, pro meat. Like, you know, she would have totally told us to.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Kind of ics me out. They asked about my workouts and have they changed?

[Greg]

Yeah, they've changed.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. They're definitely, like, I'm not doing Pilates anymore. It's too much core. And I'm just weightlifting. I mean, weightlifting, I think, is just the queen.

[Greg]

I think your doctor said, like, at this point, you can do whatever you want to do.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. I mean, I have so many different doctors. We're referring to, guys. Like, I have my IVF doctor. I'm sorry, the regular OBGYN. I have Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. Like, and I just. I take everything with a grain of salt and do it my way, you know? And I think with the weights, I took it very slow. I gradually up upped them over time. I do things that are not core focused. I've just started barbell squatting again. I do a lot with dumbbells, a lot of lunges, a lot of, like, shoulders and biceps and stuff. I need to do more back.

[Greg]

Okay. Yeah. Our home gym isn't really set up for some good back.

[Mari Llewellyn]

My back is unable to hold up my boobs at this point.

[Greg]

So we need to work Yamari's little scoliosis forming over here.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Okay, thank you. Greg just thinks my posture is not good. How many kids do we want?

[Greg]

What do you think? More than one. But I feel like we're so blessed to have one. So I don't even want to speak on that.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Let's see how it goes.

[Greg]

Yeah, I think three. Sure.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

I just don't want to wait too long if we decide to have more.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I know, but I think the thing I feel is with. Because of how obsessed I've been with getting pregnant now for two years and going through ivf, I would love to just take a beat and not think about it for a second.

[Greg]

I get it.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And, like, just enjoy the baby.

[Greg]

Of course.

[Mari Llewellyn]

How did we find out the gender? So we didn't know the gender. Most people who do IVF pick out the gender.

[Greg]

We could have.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We could have. And we were like, no, thank you. I don't know. I mean, I. I always kind of knew I wanted to do that. So they put in. We picked the embryo based on the grade, but we didn't know the gender. None of the doctors slipped once, which is crazy. Like, even doing the ultrasounds, no one said the gender. We found out privately, and I'm gonna post that video at some point.

[Greg]

When?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Soon.

[Greg]

Okay.

[Mari Llewellyn]

How shocked were you?

[Greg]

Oh, man.

[Mari Llewellyn]

You were shocked? Yeah, I was shocked. I mean, I knew I could tell based on my symptoms, and I did every old wives tale test, and all of them indicated this gender.

[Greg]

Dude, Mari was putting a ring on a string and waving it over her stomach to see how it spun.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Babe, everyone does that.

[Greg]

The ring she chose was the aura ring. So I was like, that's not a normal magnetic process. This thing has, like, a, you know, processor inside of it.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I peed on baking soda. I did the Chinese calendar. I. What else did I do? Just everything. I mean, I wonder. I would love to know their guesses based on my symptoms, actually. So maybe I'll let you guys guess. Let me know what you think. Do you have a birthing plan? Not fully yet. I have a doula. I mean, I'm pretty. I'm kind of crazy. I like to do things ahead of time. So I literally got a doula. I found a nanny. I have a pediatrician. Like, I have all this stuff lined up, and I would love to do a vaginal birth. I don't have super strong feelings on an epidural at this point. I just want the baby to be healthy. Like, that's all I care about. I would like to give birth vaginally, but if they told me I needed a C section, I would do that. Yeah.

[Greg]

Same day first.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I think, like, yeah, I just don't have, like, insanely strong feelings. I. I do about certain things. I. I think I'm not as, like, opinionated about it as I expected to be.

[Greg]

Just safety first.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, let's see what happens. You know, as of right now, my placenta is kind of covering my cervix, but it seems to be mo right way, so we'll see about that. Did you know you were pregnant on the last episode? No. Like the transfer episode? No, I didn't. I hadn't even done my transfer peak.

[Greg]

This sucks.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Oh, my God. I was such a mess.

[Greg]

I was like, you're like, I can't even talk about anything.

[Mari Llewellyn]

No, I literally was like a mess. Did you implant one or two embryos? I get this all the time.

[Greg]

Yeah, I think old school ivf, they would just do two. I guess in the thought process was that it would increase the chance of one sticking.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah, you never do that now.

[Greg]

Things have changed, like, oh, my gosh, so much. Just the last five years.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Are you still a firm believer in pomegranate juice and seeds for fertility? Yeah, I did that the whole time and my lining was really thick. Yeah, I think it, like did its job.

[Greg]

You, you, you, you got regular compliments.

[Mari Llewellyn]

On the uterus health, the lining thickness, and that helps with implantation.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Will you be having a home birth? No, I want to be at a hospital.

[Greg]

This was like not an at home experience from the start and I don't think it's going to end that way.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Greg]

And that's okay.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Even though my personality you' that. But I just have been through so much at this point that I. I don't know.

[Greg]

We're not like total granola heads. Shout out to them. But like. Well, you're pretty open minded to whatever needs to be done sometimes.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I'm a gran. It depends. Yeah, depends. Congratulations. Do you have any advice on something you believe helped you succeed with the transfer? I mean, I did so much. To be honest. I don't know if any of it helped. Squashing stress, I think. Yeah, I think taking a break really helped. I think the warming foods, not no ice water. Like, I think that's a thing.

[Greg]

Honestly, avoiding the overall fight or flight that you, that we were intentionally putting into your life. Right. Like, the sauna is supposed to be a stressful thing. The ice bath is a stressful thing. Like work. We would take ourselves to stressful points. We would, you know, push ourselves in adventures in life. Just stressful points because it was fun and exhilarating and adrenaline. But, like, that is not the environment for fertility. No, it's like our, our, our world was not really conducive. Of a fertile state.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I didn't travel that much.

[Greg]

But you did previous to that. So you stopped traveling?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Stopped traveling? Yeah.

[Greg]

Completely stop traveling.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Followed acupuncture twice a week.

[Greg]

You're a little stir crazy right now.

[Mari Llewellyn]

I am. I'm ready to go. Yeah.

[Greg]

You don't get the hell out of Texas.

[Mari Llewellyn]

We get on a plane on Saturday. That's what sucked.

[Greg]

Because the last month I was on 14 flights. Oh, this month I canceled basically all travel. Although I'm heading to the airport after this.

[Mari Llewellyn]

But yeah, my first trimester, I was like, alone.

[Greg]

Yeah. That was a shame.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Just kidding. I wasn't alone. I followed Chinese medicine practices. Pre transfer, Warming foods. No swimming in cold water, foot soaks, Brazil nuts, pineapple core.

[Greg]

Anti inflammatory lifestyle.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Good food, lots of water, limited caffeine, no alcohol. I did all the things that people do. I did all of it. Who knows if it helped? French fries afterwards.

[Greg]

Yeah. We found some healthy ones from that Not a damn chance. Burger?

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah. Tallow. No Canola oil. Are we gonna do a gender reveal? We did. I did a little one with my friends already. Like a little private one.

[Greg]

Like, I wasn't even invited. Just girls.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Just girlies. Yeah, but you and me did a private gender reveal. Are we still doing the progesterone shots? No, those stopped like two weeks ago. Thank God.

[Greg]

Yeah, pretty much through the first. Through almost through the first trimester.

[Mari Llewellyn]

They're not that bad. Greg wasn't great at them. I love you, but you weren't that good.

[Greg]

Yeah. Mari had a nurse come to the house a couple times when I was. If I was traveling. Because, Mark, I guess you couldn't do yourself, which makes sense.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And I could. They're in the butt.

[Greg]

Yeah. Yeah, they're in the glutes. And a nurse would come over and like Mari claims she had fantastic experience.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Couldn't feel it. Literally, when this nurse did my shots, I couldn't feel it. When Greg did it, I was screaming in pain.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

And Greg left bruises all over me. And I still can't be touched on the side of my hip. Butt area. It's so sensitive. And if I have to run, like across the street or something, it is excruciating.

[Greg]

Well, you shouldn't be running across the street.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Okay. If a car, whatever, you know, if I have to move quickly.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It's just so painful.

[Greg]

Yeah, we gotta keep you foam rolling on your glutes.

[Mari Llewellyn]

When's the baby due? December. Are we gonna launch a Bloom prenatal?

[Greg]

It's not even close to the pipeline. Actually, I mean, Bloom Baby obviously would be a hell of a brand.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Any like ending statements?

[Greg]

No. We're full of joy, feeling very blessed, cannot wait, and so proud of you.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Aw. I love you. I'm really tired and I need to eat.

[Greg]

Good bye. I'm off to the airport.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Thank you for joining us on the Pursuit of Wellness Podcast to support this show. Please rate and review and share with your loved ones. If you want to be reminded of new episodes, click the subscribe button on your preferred podcast or video player. You can sign up for my newsletter to receive my [e-mail] it will be linked in the show Notes this podcast is a Pursuit Network production brought to you by by Michaela Phillips, Joel Contartese, Daviel Waldner, Jen Lauren and Mackenzie Meisel. You can also watch the full video of each episode on our YouTube channel at Pursuit of Wellness podcast. Love you POW girls and POW boys. I will see you next time. The content of this show is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual medical and mental health advice and does not constitute a provider patient relationship. As always, talk to your doctor or health team.