255. Bryony Deery: On Postpartum Recovery, Hormone Crashes, Birth Preparation & Pregnancy Fitness

Summary

The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Episode 255 – Bryony Deery: On Postpartum Recovery, Hormone Crashes, Birth Preparation & Pregnancy Fitness
Date: March 24, 2026
Host: Gary Brecka
Guest: Bryony Deery

---

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, host and human biologist Gary Brecka welcomes back Bryony Deery for an in-depth conversation about the physical and emotional journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Bryony, a fitness entrepreneur and new mother, shares raw and insightful experiences about preparing for birth, postpartum hormone crashes, birth plans, bouncing back, and learning to balance fitness and motherhood. The episode covers under-discussed topics like the reality of bonding, intrusive thoughts, self-care, and the impact on personal identity, all while offering actionable advice for mothers and their partners.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Birth Preparation and Planning (03:08 – 07:42)

• Bryony’s Changing Birth Plan: Initially planned a C-section for control and logistics but switched to vaginal birth 10 days before delivery.
• Unique Preparation Tool:
  • The “Epino”: Describes using a device to stretch the birth canal, which she credits for avoiding tears and stitches.
  • “No one talks about it. It’s unbelievable…physically and mentally because I didn’t tear or have stitches, and I had a big baby.” – Bryony (05:03)
• Breathwork and Mindset: Used breathwork with contractions, having opted for gradual epidural doses so she could stay aware and aligned with her body during labor.
  • “If I could breathe in line with my contractions…that would help my body.” – Bryony (06:09)

---

2. Birth and the Immediate Postpartum Experience (08:24 – 15:52)

• The Shock and Magic of Birth:
  • Discusses the societal expectation of instant love vs. the reality of being in shock and needing grace in the first moments.
  • “It’s okay that you feel like you need a minute the second your baby arrives.” – Bryony (11:35)
  • “The bonding happened as time went on, every hour, the love grew.” – Bryony (11:50)
• Intrusive Thoughts & Survival Mode:
  • Open talk about anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and protectiveness as a new mother.
  • “Your mind goes crazy, and you’re in survival [mode], like a lioness protecting your little cub.” – Bryony (15:52)
• Physical Challenges:
  • Shares experience with a postpartum blood clot and intense pain—worse than labor—requiring manual removal by her doctor (17:08–17:43).

---

3. Postpartum Recovery, Hormones & The Pressure to “Bounce Back” (18:04 – 25:06)

• Caregiver Syndrome and Guilt:
  • Gary highlights the common pattern in women of prioritizing others over themselves, leading to guilt around self-care and “bouncing back.”
  • “Women have a tendency to develop this pattern of behavior called caregiver syndrome…” – Gary (18:05)
• The “Bounce Back” Dilemma:
  • Bryony discusses her conflicted feelings about “bouncing back,” emphasizing individual choice over societal expectations.
  • “At the end of the day, I’m a believer of you should really tune into what feels right for you and do exactly that.” – Bryony (21:08)
• Preparation Pays Off:
  • Argues the value of conditioning for birth—regular exercise improved her pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery.
  • “The more you do for yourself during pregnancy, the better you are afterwards, the more prepared you are post birth.” – Bryony (24:35)

---

4. Hormonal Challenges and Emotional Shifts (25:57 – 32:58)

• Identity & Emotional Depth:
  • Discusses profound changes in her identity and deeper empathy since becoming a mom.
  • “I feel like a completely different person. It’s wild. I feel everything much deeper.” – Bryony (25:57)
• Heightened Sensitivity & “Mother’s Intuition”:
  • Talks with Gary about new, enhanced sensitivity—knowing a baby's needs and feeling in tune with her child.

---

5. Relationship Dynamics & The Male Role (53:43 – 62:19)

• The Partner’s Journey:
  • Bryony praises her husband’s support but notes men face their own adjustments and need to understand hormonal realities.
  • “The biggest thing that they can do is to really understand the realness of hormones.” – Bryony (57:43)
• Modern Parenting Roles:
  • Challenges old language like “babysitting” for dads; discusses their 50:50 approach to parenting and how times are changing.
  • “Pretty sure you’re just parenting.” – Bryony (60:07)

---

6. Fitness, Nutrition & Supplementation (35:09 – 53:12)

• Postpartum Fitness:
  • Returned to exercising two weeks after delivery thanks to prenatal fitness; emphasizes individual assessment and gradual progress.
  • Typical routine: Four Pilates sessions + Two weight training sessions per week.
  • “I was working out the day before delivery. I felt empowered…like I was training for the delivery.” – Bryony (36:16–36:30)
• Diet & Supplementation:
  • High-protein, balanced diet: eggs, protein shakes, salmon, steak, vegetables, berries, Greek yogurt, dark chocolate, nut butter.
  • Supplements: Methyl folate, essential aminos, creatine (HCl), zinc, iron (for hair loss), magnesium, probiotics.
  • “Speaking of brain fog, I feel much sharper taking creatine…” – Bryony (52:15)
• Breastfeeding & Hormones:
  • Stopped breastfeeding after five weeks due to work and hormone crashes. Saw almost immediate mood improvement.
  • Open to estrogen support on her OB’s advice.
  • “Almost to the day, it shifted.” – Bryony (43:08)

---

7. Advice for New & Expecting Mothers (62:42 – 67:35)

• Tune Out the Noise:
  • Encourages moms to trust themselves and their intuition, acknowledge both hard and beautiful moments, and take time for personal reflection.
  • “Really try to use it as a time to go inwards…look forward to it, it’s the most unbelievable thing you will do.” – Bryony (63:05)
• Practical Parenting Tip:
  • Incorporate baby into your life; don’t stop living—travel, go out, expose babies to real life, and avoid excessive “sterile” environments.
  • “Just bring your baby and your kids into your life. Don’t come to a full stop…” – Gary (65:31)
• Routine for Sanity:
  • Bryony credits routine with enabling her own freedom and her daughter’s stability.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | 05:03 | “No one talks about [the Epino]. It’s unbelievable…physically and mentally because I didn’t tear or have stitches, and I had a big baby.” | Bryony | | 11:35 | “It’s okay that you feel like you need a minute the second your baby arrives.” | Bryony | | 15:52 | “Your mind goes crazy, and you’re in survival [mode], like a lioness protecting your little cub.” | Bryony | | 21:08 | “At the end of the day, I’m a believer of you should really tune into what feels right for you and do exactly that.” | Bryony | | 24:35 | “The more you do for yourself during pregnancy, the better you are afterwards, the more prepared you are post birth.” | Bryony | | 57:43 | “The biggest thing [men] can do is to really understand the realness of hormones.” | Bryony | | 60:07 | “Pretty sure you’re just parenting.” | Bryony | | 67:05 | “Now as a mom…I think being the ultimate human is really about being truly proud of myself and looking at myself through my daughter’s eyes.” | Bryony |

---

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:00 – 01:07 The importance of preparing for the physical demands of pregnancy and postpartum.
• 03:08 – 07:42 Bryony’s last-minute birth plan switch, the Epino, and conscious labor choices.
• 08:24 – 15:52 The birth experience, immediate aftermath, and honest talk about bonding and intrusive thoughts.
• 18:04 – 25:06 Caregiver syndrome, self-care guilt, and the “bounce back” conversation.
• 25:57 – 32:58 Shifts in identity, emotional depth, and the enigmatic “motherhood intuition.”
• 35:09 – 38:35 Bryony’s postpartum fitness journey, mindset, and exercise routine.
• 41:39 – 47:23 Pressures from social media, Ozempic, and body image after baby.
• 47:23 – 53:12 Nutrition, supplement routine, the impact of stopping breastfeeding, and managing hair loss.
• 53:43 – 62:19 Modern parental roles, partner support, and changing parenting language.
• 62:42 – 67:35 Advice for new moms and parents, the value of routine and integrating children into everyday life.

---

Final Reflections

The conversation closes with Bryony’s vision of the “ultimate human” as someone her daughter would be proud of, emphasizing self-pride, positive modeling, and pouring into her child. Gary and Bryony’s candid dialogue normalizes the less talked-about aspects of childbirth and postpartum, offering solace, motivation, and practical tips for expecting and new parents, especially women navigating identity, fitness, and self-care in the context of parenthood.

---

For resources, community links, and more:

• Gary Brecka Official Site
• Bryony Deery’s Pilates Community
  (link not specified in transcript)

---

Summary by the Ultimate Human Podcast Summarizer, structured for clarity and impact for new listeners, parents-to-be, and anyone interested in the science and experience behind the journey to becoming the “ultimate human.”

Transcript

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

We prepare during pregnancy for the baby and we don't do anything for us. You are so depleted after birth. So the more you do for yourself during pregnancy, the more prepared you are post birth, which is when you need it.

[Gary Brecker]

Don't think about conditioning for pregnancy, but I mean, this is arguably the single hardest physical event that a woman will ever go through.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Imagine what the female body is going through. All of a sudden you're so depleted, you're exhausted, you've given birth, your hormones are just completely all over the place. And then you're like, oh, my God, I have to care for this tiny human being.

[Gary Brecker]

Every appet aspect of life changes. You change who you are, but by

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

choice, at the end of the day, I'm a believer of you should really tune into what feels right for you and do exactly that.

[Gary Brecker]

For all of the young, soon to be moms out there, what, if any, advice would you give?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

One thing that I think is helpful, and I wish I was kind of told this more, is that. Ultimate human.

[Gary Brecker]

Hey, guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human podcast. I'm your host, human biologist Gary Brecker, where we go down the road of everything, anti aging, biohacking, longevity, and everything in between. And today's guest, very special guest, back on the podcast for the same time. I have to tell you that when we announced this second podcast, it was the highest level of interest we had in all of 2025. And I had some big guests on in 2025, so this area of interest in prepartum, postpartum pregnancy, bouncing back, and all things surrounding pregnancy, hormones and life was just such a level of interest. So welcome back to the podcast.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Thank you so much. I'm so shocked to hear that.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

But yeah, it's such an interesting topic. So, yeah, I'm so happy with it.

[Gary Brecker]

It really is. And I, and I think, you know, the, the more that I've been doing podcasting and sort of taking audience feedback and getting, you know, where are the levels of interest that I should, you know, steer so that I'm really serving my audience.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, there, there's an enormous area of interest in and female hormone therapy and menopause. And there is an enormous area of interest. Seems like the whole world's getting pregnant right now, including in my company. Right. Like baby number three.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And I have a very small team.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes.

[Gary Brecker]

But just such a paucity and women really being willing to get out there and be vulnerable and, you know, talk about the nuts and bolts of pregnancy, the do's and don'ts. And some of the things that surprise them. So I'm really excited for this podcast for my female audience.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, I'm so excited. Thank you for having me.

[Gary Brecker]

I wonder if you might just share your birthing plan if you had one.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So this is quite funny because I had planned a C section which surprises people. I don't know why that surprises people, but it does.

[Gary Brecker]

It's convenient. Then you could be one o' clock on Tuesday.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Well, exactly. And I think it was funny because I was not really. Weirdly, I didn't feel afraid of the pain, but I felt afraid of the lack of control. So for me. And also we live in Denmark most of the time, so we were coming back to London to have our baby. So I just kind of wanted that control of knowing when, what time, all the things. And then. So I, I didn't consider anything because I thought, well, it's going to be very controlled, all is well. And about eight, 10, no, 10 days before I changed my mind and I said, I'm gonna have a natural birth or. I don't know, some people say all births are natural. I agree. So vaginal birth, I think I should say. Yeah, so vaginal birth. So, yeah, I just last minute changed my mind and I had no preparation, not one bit of preparation. And I thought, I can do this. There was something that I went for a scan and I knew, I knew she was going to. Our baby was going to come early. I knew it. I could feel she was coming, like quite.

[Gary Brecker]

Intuition.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. So. So I said, I know I can do this. I know that my body can do it and I want to just give it a go. So then to prepare. So my birth plan was essentially 10 days. And in that 10 days, I did some things that I think are really fundamental that no one talks about and I think are really beneficial. So one of those things was a thing called the epino. Have you heard about it? No. So you know what an episiotomy is? So it essentially is no episiotomy. Okay. So you put a balloon inside you, you pump it up, you hold it for 10, 15 minutes and you breathe it out. And every day you go bigger and bigger and bigger. So you essentially stretch yourself.

[Gary Brecker]

Right.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And no, I've never heard anyone talk about it. And it's unbelievable, not only physically, because I didn't tear, I didn't have stitches, I didn't have any of those things. And I had a big baby, you know, she was eight pound six.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh my goodness.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Eight pound six.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes. And healthy girl. Yeah, she Was a healthy baby.

[Gary Brecker]

She walked out.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly. But I really think mentally, it. It was like a form of visualization for my birth. I was like, in mental training for those 10 days. Wow. So I knew what to do. I had been there before. It was familiar to me because I had done it with the balloon, which is crazy to say, because a balloon is not a baby. It's very different. But the feeling like it was familiar in some way. So you essentially use your breath work to breathe this balloon out. So, yeah, it was amazing.

[Gary Brecker]

Wow. Did you. And if there's anything uncomfortable to ask,

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

then by all means, ask everything.

[Gary Brecker]

So did you have an epidural?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes. So that's another thing. So I had an epidural, but they did. I don't know, because a few of my friends have had different experiences where they kind of give you all the epidural in one go. I had top ups, like, very gradual top up. So I still wanted to be aware of when my contractions were happening. Don't ask me why, but I just had this theory that if I could breathe in line with my contractions, that would help my body. Because if you're. A lot of women I had spoken to had said they didn't feel. They didn't know when to push when they had an epidural. And I had this theory that that would then cause the tearing. Because if you're pushing for so long, you're more likely to tear. Whereas if, like, the contraction is kind of your internal push, isn't it? So if you're breathing and pushing with that, in line with that, I pushed for 21 minutes.

[Gary Brecker]

Wow.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And she was out.

[Gary Brecker]

That is phenomenal.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. So I just want to tell everyone about that because I think it's unbelievable. The epino that I used, and I really think that that helps. And the topper, I didn't go all in with the epidural. I felt every contraction. I was telling my doctor's incredible clairmellon in the Portland. She's unbelievable. But I was telling her, I'm pushing now because I feel a contraction versus most of her patients. She told me, want to not feel anything. So you're kind of trying to figure out when the contractions are. So. Yeah, that's a big tip, I would say.

[Gary Brecker]

First of all, I've never heard of either of those. And I didn't know that you could top up epidurals. I mean, I haven't had three babies. My former spouse had three babies with me.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

But that period was hours and hours long. It Wasn't it? Certainly. And she had an epidural every time and. But it certainly wasn't 21 minutes.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I mean, no, I mean, the. Well, the pushing part was 20 minutes. 21 minutes. You can be in labor.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, no, she was.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

For a lot longer.

[Gary Brecker]

No, but I mean, really just the birthing part was. And at some point they.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And that's exhausting.

[Gary Brecker]

Began to give her, like, inducing drugs like the Pitocin and other things to really kind of assist it because she was so exhausted. I just remember being so wiped out.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I mean, imagine what the female body is going through. It is such. And my husband describes it as like a physical fight that you're going through in that. That time, and it can go on for so long, and then all of a sudden you're so depleted, you're exhausted, you've given birth, your hormones are just completely all over the place, and then you're like, oh, my God, I have to care for this tiny human being.

[Gary Brecker]

So not so tiny in.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, exactly. Giant, biggest baby in the hospital.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. You know, I'm always fascinated by. I've read a lot of things about, you know, the, the baby's first few minutes into the world. Right. And because obviously they're going from a fluid environment to. And a womb to outside of the womb. There's air, there's lights. You know, I mean, that transition must be mind numbing. It's like, you know, waking up from hibernation and the real impact and that it has on the nervous system of the baby to very soon after birth being contact with the mother. And so I wonder if you, you walk us through that first. Just two or three minutes.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Right. I mean, immediately after birth, was your husband present?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Okay. So he was there too. I passed out.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. Yeah. I don't blame you for God than I am.

[Gary Brecker]

I mean, I got, I didn't completely go out, got woozy and I had to actually sit down.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

He was probably.

[Gary Brecker]

I wanted to stand, but it did cut the cord for, for all my kids. And it's. It's such a miraculous process. I. I get emotional even thinking about it. And any father, their, Their mother that's been through it probably would too, because it's just such a miracle. When we talked about this before the podcast started, you know, the more I study physiology, the more I just believe in God. Like, it's.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And we don't need to go that direction, but I mean, the miracle birth, it just can't be random in my opinion. It just doesn't happen by Accident. But walk us through that first few minutes, like, right out of the womb.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. So I think it's so important to say, because one thing I had in my head, which we're told is the second your baby's here, you are gonna feel like the world stops. You're madly in love. Your baby's gonna look at you, you're gonna look at the baby. It magical moment, and it is a magical, miracle moment for sure. But there are also other things going on that it's a lot to deal with. You know, you have just, as I said, you know, pushed out this huge baby, and you're. You're so in shock. Like, I really think most people go into a state of shock and disbelief, and then all of a sudden, you're handed this baby and you're like, oh, my God, what's just happened? You're still processing what you've just been through. So I would say that one thing that I think is helpful, and I wish I was kind of told this more, is that it's also okay that you feel like you need a minute the second your baby arrives.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, that's good. Give yourself some grace.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's also okay. Give yourself some grace. Give your husband some grace, your partner, because you've both just been through this crazy moment, no matter how. You know, I am so lucky with my labor. It was amazing in so many ways, but it was still such an unbelievable moment that you have to go through. And then, you know, I think the bonding happened. You know, as time went on the next every hour, the love grew. It wasn't. I had. So, you know, it's a funny, funny one to kind of put into words because you feel, oh, my God, this is my baby. I'm gonna take care of you forever. I love you so. But you then feel okay. I'm getting to know you, you're getting to know me. I'm getting to know myself as a mum as well. And that takes time, and that's okay. Doesn't mean you have postpartum depression. Doesn't mean you're a bad mum. Doesn't mean your baby's gonna get taken away. These are all valid feelings, you know, but we tell ourselves, you know, the world stops, and then Mozart starts playing.

[Gary Brecker]

And then I feel this, and then I don't.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly. And then that fucks you up because you're like, oh, my God, I don't. And then you keep it to yourself. I'm not feeling the way everyone's telling me you should feel. And so, yeah, I would say definite now. It's unbelievable because, you know, I've firstly, I've had a shower since then. I've like collected myself. I feel like I've, you know how to sleep and things. You're so. At the end of pregnancy, I was so sleep deprived. Oh my gosh, it's unbelievable. So as the days go on, you just are just so madly in love with your baby that it's unbelievable. But I would just, I want to be honest with that and share that it's okay if you don't feel this like romanticized version of birth.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, I'm so glad you said that because I don't know if I've ever confessed this in my life, but my. So I have three kids and my oldest is a girl. She's 27 now. But I still remember the birthing process and, and, and then when we got home, I felt so guilty because I felt like somebody else's baby was in the house. Like I was like, is somebody going to come?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I have to say no. I have a feeling like someone thinks I'm going to. I've stolen this baby.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. And, and for me it was like 72 hours.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And then.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And I didn't go through anything nearly what you went through or my, my former spouse went through. But I remember kind of looking at my daughter even in, in the crib. And yes, I felt detached and like I loved her, but I didn't feel that.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Mozart esque.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Like romanticized version of even how a father was supposed to feel. It was three or four days and then like a biological nuclear weapon. And then it was. And it's been over ever since. Right?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exact. And probably like as time grows, you're like, how can I possibly love them more? But you do. But it's so good that you say that because I think more people need to say that. It's actually more like survival mode. When you've just had your baby and your baby's in this world. Firstly, you're trying to make sure that you're so panicked that, I mean, you have these crazy, intrusive thoughts. Like I remember crazy, intrusive thoughts. You do. It's.

[Gary Brecker]

My wife uses that term.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It is, it's. And do you know what? The more I say it, the more women say to me, oh my God, I had the same thing. It's really a thing. And I had heard it a couple of times. But experiencing it, it's unbelievable. The thoughts that go through your head. My friend. When we got back from the hospital had filled Elle's room with balloons on the ceiling. So sweet. And at the nighttime, I was like, oh, my God, what if those balloons somehow go down into the crib? And all these stupid things that you would never. But, yeah, you just. Your mind goes crazy, and you're in survival, and you're like a lioness protecting your little cub.

[Gary Brecker]

If your energy is low during the day, the problem usually started the night before. Sleep affects focus, mood, metabolism, literally everything. And most people never learn how to properly support it. Our free sleep challenge is April 29th and 30th, and it's designed to teach the basics of better sleep better in a way that's realistic and easy to apply. If learning how to sleep better feels like the right place to start, we'd love to have you join our challenge on April 29th. Now let's get back to the ultimate human podcast. Yeah, I think it's so good that you, you know, tell mothers to give themselves grace. So how long were you in the hospital?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So I was in the hospital for. So there's a story that we were the labor for the. For the birth. One night and two days, and we were ready to leave, and then I suddenly had a lot of pain. So I essentially. I had a big blood clot, which can happen during birth, but mine was quite large. So they were thinking about doing a surgery rather than. Because you can take something where it naturally passes. I had, like, the way. Way, way worse than labor. I had the pain.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, it was worse than labor.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Way worse. Like, the worst pain of my life. So anyway, my doctor removed it with her hands after I had given birth, so that was something. And so I just had. I was like, come on, let's go. And we. I was doing. I was listening to positive affirmations, the whole birth, the whole thing. And I just put my headphones in. I had a bit of gas in it, and she just manually removed it with her hands, and it was crazy.

[Gary Brecker]

And then did it stop just like that?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Just like that. Oh, the pain. Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And then. So now you're on your way home.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Oh, yeah. So then. Then literally stopped just like that. I stayed an extra night so that they could monitor, and then I went home. And then back with the baby. Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

So, you know, what. What I. What I think is a journey that very few women talk about is. Is, you know, immediately post birth, you know, maybe the guilt of saying, okay, now I want to bounce back, too.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Oh, yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And, you know, I want to get back the body that I had. I want to get back to feeling like I had maybe being active again. But now you have this, this infant. And you know, there's, there's an interesting phenomenon that happens with women. It's called caregiver syndrome. And if you look at the category, for example, of autoimmune disease, 82% of autoimmune disease is found in women. And, and the reason why is not because autoimmune diseases selected by sex, it's selective by weakness. And, and they have surmised that women have a tendency to develop this pattern of behavior called caregiver syndrome, where they put the needs of everyone else before the needs of themselves. Okay, so it's their spouse and their children, you know, it's their co workers, their career, their girlfriends, whatever it is. And over time, this has consequences because they don't engage in self care very often. They think that self care is selfish. Like they won't give themselves maybe the thirst to first 30 minutes of the day or 60 minutes of the day because they're like, I have so many other people that rely on me that I need to take care of. And so I wonder if, you know, right after birth and you have this infant at home, was it one of those intrusive thoughts of maybe I feel guilty that I actually want to get my pre pregnancy body back. I want to need some actual me time. I've been at this for months.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly.

[Gary Brecker]

Walk us through.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Well, it's really interesting because there's this narrative of especially kind of in the, in the wellness space, like you're, you're scrutinized for saying, like this bounce back thing is, in some ways it can be very, I feel like quite conflicted about the bounce back phrase because I totally understand the narrative of you don't bounce back because you're this new person and you know it's not realistic and don't put that pressure on yourself. Like, I so get that. And it's crazy what the female body goes through. But at the same time, I don't think you should feel bad for wanting to bounce back in inverted commas because that's okay too. Like, it's okay to have physical goals which make you feel confident and make you feel like your old self or whatever you want to call it. Like, that's okay. And I think there's so much online that it's like anti bounce back. But anti bounce back. Yes. And at the end of the day, I'm a believer of every woman should just do what makes them feel good at the end of the Day, whether that's during pregnancy, type of birth, breastfeeding. No breastfeeding. Using formula, not using formula, Bouncing back to or giving themselves more grace, taking it easy. You should really tune into what feels right for you and do exactly that and quieten everything else. Because why should we have an opinion on someone else? I have no clue. I find it the weirdest concept.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. And I think there's plenty of people with opinions on it. But if you were looking back now at the pregnancy journey, first of all, did you guys plan it? And yeah. So timing wise, you guys were, let's do this.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Well, we never really like had a sit down meeting and we're like, let's go August 2nd. Yeah, exactly. I'll see you on the 9th.

[Gary Brecker]

Well, you gotta time the ovulation cycle. Right. So it's a little weird.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, exactly. And I so understand why and how and all the things that people need to do to get pregnant. It's not always easy. But we were very lucky. And it was straight after we got married and we never had a conversation to be like, let's go. But it just, just. It happened literally one month after we got married.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, wow.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So, yeah, I mean, we were so lucky. But I have to say I was, I listened to. I think it was you and Sage, who I love. She's so sweet.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, I love her too.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You and Sage on the Skinny Confidential. And I think you're talking about methyl folate and all those things. I think I spoke about this on the last episode. So I was doing a few things that maybe helped. I also was in the best shape of my life because I had just done this huge challenge. You know, I was getting ready for my wedding. I was in this like athlete mode, which I also think is really beneficial for pregnancy, for pregnancy, during pregnancy, after pregnancy. I think so too. The mindset and this like that. The only way I kind of have it in my mind is this like athlete mindset.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, like a fit pregnancy.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly. So, yeah, we were, we were very lucky. We didn't plan it, but it happened very quickly.

[Gary Brecker]

Is there anything, if you were looking back on that timeframe now that you would do differently or that really surprised

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

you on the pregnancy as a whole? The thing that surprised me the most was the hormones, for sure. Yeah. Just the, just the real ups and downs and the kind of like you, you do have like lonely moments. And that surprised me and the sickness. But one thing I would say that really got me through and it's annoying for someone that is in the fitness space to say this, but it's so true. Like, I compare my pregnancy to other people I know that haven't done exercise throughout their pregnancy. And it's just unbelievable, the difference. And also unbelievable, the difference in the labor.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And then the recovery. So I think it, it was kind of a real moment for me to be like, this is so cool what we do, like, what we do on the app, what I believe in, really, really is so cool.

[Gary Brecker]

Well, I think, you know, what's interesting is, you know, we don't think about conditioning for pregnancy, but I mean, this is arguably the single hardest event, physical event that a woman will ever go through. You'll train, at least intentionally go through. Yeah. And I bet if we were to look at and be interesting to do it, like caloric burn and heart rate and, you know, just all of, you know, the stress levels and the strain, I mean, your whoop must have been about to explode. And, and thinking that, you know, I would do nothing to prepare for that moment seems a little oxymoronic. And you, like, you wouldn't prepare for a half marathon or marathon. You would condition yourself for that event. Makes a lot of, a lot of sense to me.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And I also just think on that we prepare during pregnancy for the baby. So we prepare their room, their nursery. We buy every single thing that everyone tells us we need to buy, and we don't do anything for us. And I think that's really, really important because you are so depleted after birth. So the more you do for yourself during pregnancy, the better you are afterwards, the more prepared you are post birth, which is when you need it.

[Gary Brecker]

What would you say post birth was the biggest change for you as, as a woman? I mean, physically, you obviously know what, what you go through. But what was the biggest change? Because I, I hear a lot of women talk about a priority shift that they didn't anticipate. Right. If they've never had a child. And I've heard women talk about it's the, this kind of love that came out of me that was for the first time I cared about something more than myself. And I'm not asking you to say that if that's not what happened, but there seems to be this incredible new cascade of emotions, hormones, an identity that happens after birth. It just had never happened. In your career, in your adult female career, did you experience something like that?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes, I have experienced the biggest change in my identity and my priorities and what I have time for. The, the biggest shift ever. I feel like a completely different person. It's wild in what ways? And in honestly, every way I could have ever imagined. Like, I was at one of our community dinners last night explaining this to someone. And the only way I can articulate one of the kind of feelings I've gone through is I feel. Feel everything much deeper. So I feel like it's not that I'm kind of. I don't know whether you'd call it. I've now become, like, a very sensitive person or something. But I just. I feel everything. Whether it's positive, sad, empathy for someone else. I have, like, unlocked these feelings I never knew I had. So that's really crazy. I feel my priorities have completely shifted, which is, of course, obvious, because you care for that little person more than anything in the world. That is your purpose now. But I also feel it gives you this ninja focus.

[Gary Brecker]

You do kind of feel like, well, hell, yeah, I got that. Nailed it.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's really weird because I feel in so many ways, I think, feel like this, as so many women will relate. You're dissociated. You feel kind of very sensitive, very all over the place in your mind. Like, sometimes you can. I can go into a room and people are talking and I'm not really hearing them. I feel that. But. So you go through all of those natural feelings and being very hard on yourself and all of that, but then on the other side, you try. Feel like superhuman. It's weird.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, it's interesting. I read a study a while ago called the Spain scale of emotion, Scale of positive and negative emotion, and talked about frequency, right? Frequency that leaves our body. The frequency of authenticity, frequency of love. And we often talk about, you know, the universal law of attraction, you know, depending on the kind of frequency you put out, is what you would attract in the universe. And there's a prevailing theory that women are more intuitive. Their intuition is heightened, not because they're more intuitive, but because they're more sensitive to frequency. And after pregnancy, they have this heightened sense of sensitivity to frequency.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

That's so interesting.

[Gary Brecker]

We call it intuition, but it's not intuition. It's actually a sensitivity to frequency. Like, in my case, you know, my wife Sage, she's a very good judge of character. Just to categorize it and, you know, we'll meet somebody. I like this guy.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Oh, yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

She's like, I just don't like this dude. I'm like, well, why? Let me look at his shoes. Came in a Ferrari. He's got great suit, you know, nice watch. I mean, what's wrong with him? And she's Like, I don't think you should do business with him. And I'm like, well, why? Like, what is it? Is eyes too close together? Like. Like, give me some data. And. And she's like, I can't put a finger on it, but something's up. And then six months later, I'm pulling the knife out of my back. Right. You know, and. And I think, you know, maybe as a part of this miracle of birth, because what I observed in my former spouse, when in all three of our kids, was once we brought the baby home, I was petrified.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

I was like, I don't know what to do with this thing. I thought it was. I always felt like I was gonna break it.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Right. So I was, like, so gentle. Like, I would put her up, and her head would fall and be like, oh, my God. And. But they're so much more resilient than you think.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

I mean, they're really tough. And. And so I was. I always approached my firstborn, and by the time we got to three, I was like, just lay him on the floor. Yeah. Yeah. He doesn't need a playpen.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

There's so many. Hand me down. Sorry, Dylan, I'm not sure. Yeah. Yeah. You know, like, when you. When you get on your first commercial flight with your first baby, it's like the Ringing Brothers Circus. You have the playpen, you got the diaper bag, you got extra formula. You always. You always spot the first parent.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You're just like, here's the seatbelt to play with.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. It's like if you put them in the seat, stick you in the back seat pocket. And it is funny because you actually learn that they're a lot more resilient. But what fascinated me, and it sort of correlated to what I had been reading, was when my daughter would cry, it all sounded the same to me.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And, like, she's just in there wailing and. And she's like, no, she's hungry or she's gassy or she wants to be picked up. And I'm like, how do you.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

But there was, like, this. This person that emerged that I never knew, but somehow was confident and understood what to do. And I was like, have you been reading books? Like, is there a manual somewhere I didn't get a copy of? Like, how do you just know? And I think it's a part of that miracle of birth, at least from having observed it. Like a woman, just this entire woman emerges from them that they've never met before. Your husband's never met before. And it just sort of takes over and has this confident sense of I know what to do.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Did you sort of experience that? Yeah, that was wild for me.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's crazy because you kind of step into your. No matter like what you're doing, power dynamic in your relationship, when you bring that baby home, you are that, as I said, that lioness. Yeah, exactly.

[Gary Brecker]

No doubt.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And the dad kind of like follows in your footsteps.

[Gary Brecker]

Well, just so you know, we're panic stricken. Right. Okay. Just. We don't know what to do.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's so hard on the dads too, you know, like, we all talk about women, but it's hard for everyone and the ups and the downs and everything. But yeah, I completely experienced that. And especially with, with breastfeeding, I felt. I felt there was a lot going on with that. That was surprising to me. But yeah, I saw actually one. One of these videos online where they recorded the mom and the baby, like the bedroom and the baby would start crying. But what you saw on the video was the mom got out of bed like seconds before. Woke up seconds before the cry. So it's so crazy how in tune. But if you think about it like you are literally on a cellular level bonded to that baby for nine months. And it's just. It's unbelievable when you think of it like that. You're so in tune with them when they come out. It's. It's crazy. So I think that is kind of unfortunately the edge we have over dad.

[Gary Brecker]

So wild. I mean, again, this really correlates to what I was reading because they, you know, what we call intuition is really this frequency. And for you to be that tied into the, the. The baby and as their frequency is changing, the mother senses it. And I mean, there's lots of documentation of this. Right. And. And it's one of those miracles. Like, I feel like we're only beginning to understand it. As smart as we think we are, Mother Nature has really outsmarted us.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, even. Even when I used to feed, you know, and I always refer to the first child because I kind of had it down by the time third one came around. You know, I would pick up my daughter and she's like, she wants a bottle. And I would be like, well, shoving it her face. And she turned on her head.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

She's like. And I'm like, she doesn't want the bottle. And then in. And then she would grab her and lay her a certain way and go right in.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

She's like dazzling

[Gary Brecker]

arm than I do. But you know, that Must just be such an amazing time to like meet this person that was always been inside you but just for whatever reason wasn't, wasn't presented to the world until, until this miracle of birth.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

But it is amazing. It's incredible.

[Gary Brecker]

And, and I know you hate this phrase, but can we talk a little bit about the bounce back phase?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

We can. No, I don't even hate it. I hate that it's problematic thing. Yeah, yeah, like, who cares? Bounce back. If you want to bounce back, don't bounce back. Be calm, be, take your time, do whatever you want to do. But yeah, for me, to be completely honest, this is my job. This is what I love to do. So I do want to feel strong. I do want to also look strong and I have physical goals as well and I want to be strong in my mind for my baby. So, yeah, there was definitely a kind of fitness protocol when I came back. I actually started working out two weeks after having l, which is typically, it's normally six weeks. You get your doctor's check, you then start exercising. And I think that is good advice for someone that isn't very like confident in the gym or in workouts. But otherwise, I think, you know, a lot of people know their own bodies.

[Gary Brecker]

If you know me, you know, I'm a huge believer in the benefits of hydrogen water. H2TAB delivers cost effective portable tablets that generate ultra clean molecular hydrogen. And at 12 parts per million, one of the highest concentrations on the market. With over 1300 published studies showing benefits of oxidative stress, energy recovery, brain function, and so much more, taking charge of your health has never been easier or more cost effective. Just drop a tablet in water, let it dissolve and drink it back. It's less than a dollar a day, science backed and part of my daily routine. I never travel without this and it is my favorite biohack. Visit drinkh2tab.com that's drinkh2tab.com and upgrade your hydration today. Now let's get back to the ultimate human podcast. Probably has a lot to do with the preparation beforehand, right? Because there was, if you look at the break that you took between, you know, exercising through pregnancy and then having the birth and then starting to exercise again. Probably has a lot to do with how early you can start that process.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Oh, for sure. I was, I was working out the day before delivery. Yeah, the day before delivery.

[Gary Brecker]

What were you doing?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I got to know I was doing Pilates.

[Gary Brecker]

Were you?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And lifting weights.

[Gary Brecker]

Were you? That's so.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And I was lifting heavy weights and I was doing A long class. I felt. Felt empowered. Like, it was. I felt so heavy by that point and so sleep deprived. But the one time I felt like me was when I was on the mat doing my workout. I felt empowered. I felt good. I was like, in the zone. You know, that athlete mindset. I felt like, okay, I was almost training in that workout for the delivery, which, of course, they're two very different things, but that was my mindset. So I think, as you say, having then two weeks off for the recovery and also sleep and just feeling like you had a tiny bit of energy at some point in the day. And then I was just gradually building up and building up, and now I'm pretty much back to my normal workouts.

[Gary Brecker]

And how far out?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Eight weeks.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, my gosh. I mean, you look amazing.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Thank you so much.

[Gary Brecker]

And how are you feeling sleeping?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I will be honest. Like, I feel good in clothes. Clothes. Clothes are working wonders for me right now. But, yeah, I'll be completely honest. I had a photo shoot yesterday with our community, and at the beginning of the photo shoot, I just did, like, a few pictures that we had to get for some press images, and I felt really not great. And, you know, I'm coming from someone that did get back to feeling, you know, good in clothes quite soon after giving birth and things. But, you know, the second you have, like, a camera, bad camera angle or whatever, you're like, oh, God, you know, and that's just. That's just how it goes. And I think I'm working on giving myself more grace in that sense and being patient. And it takes time. And not everyone goes straight into a photo shoot after birth.

[Gary Brecker]

Right.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So that was pretty stupid to do something like that. And we need to just stop putting pressure on ourselves in that sense and just get back to doing the things that make you feel good. So, yeah, I've been working out. I've been doing. I do four Pilates classes a week from the app and I do two weight training sessions. So I do one upper and one lower kind of focus.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, my wife is a part of your community. She loves it. Oh, so pretty is a part of her community. What really got her into your community? Community had nothing to do with birth or even Pilates. It was actually about your journey with your back injury because it really resonated with her. She had a an L5S1 fusion from a really bad car accident, and it changed everything about her life because she was born in Steamboat Spring, so she grew up skiing, and she's an expert, expert skier. Her Nickname is Safety Sage. And she hasn't have a parking ticket since 1994 or something. We call her Safety Sage. Like, if there's a crosswalk walk, she goes all the way through the crosswalk, makes a 90 degrees angle, waits for the light to change. I'm already over there, half a block down the street, you know, like, I've got. But when she gets on a pair of skis, it's like Lindsay Vaugh. I mean, it's craziest thing I've ever, I've ever seen. Like, just little ponytail sticking out of a helmet, and down the mountain she goes.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I love that.

[Gary Brecker]

And so this back injury was a really tough thing for her because, you know, it's very similar to your experience with your, you know, your, your back injury. And it just really resonated with her. And I will say, not just to plug your community, but she's, she's gotten a lot out of it.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So please. Yeah. When she sent that message, I, I was so passionate about her trying it because I know it, I know it will help.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. And, you know, muscle is our metabolic currency. And I think, you know, when women think about weight training, strength training, resistance training, I think there's a, A, A stigma, if you will. You know, women don't want to get too big, they don't want to get too bulky. I think Dr. Gabrielle Lyon has done a great job of messaging about the importance of muscle. And, and, you know, there are, there are a lot of, you know, great thought leaders in, in the space that you're very unlikely to get bulky by doing resistance training, but it probably had a significant impact on your ability to not only get through the birthing process, but this bounce back, back coming for two weeks for you to be out, be back to your full exercise routine. Yeah, it's pretty soon. You know, I would say barring a C section, probably very few women.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Are able to do that well.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I mean, two weeks I was modifying, so I was building my core back up because it takes a lot. Like you're not able to fully do everything on your core or you. You still can train your core during pregnancy, but not everything. So I was building up, and now I fully back to my full workouts, which is amazing. I'm back to doing my live classes, and that feels really good. But it's a funny time, I think. I think also for women now there is such a rise in the likes of Ozempic and things. So I do think postpartum mums have a harder time nowadays because there Is that there's this kind of new world of Ozempic feeling like is everywhere.

[Gary Brecker]

Let's get on. That is. Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. And I think the comparison of, you know, different body types now the norm and has changed and I think that creates a lot of added pressure for women. So. Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

So what is, has anything changed about your diet, your supplement routine and you know, obviously exercise has gotta be built around your child's schedule.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Do you mind me asking if you're breastfeeding?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So I stopped breastfeeding after five weeks.

[Gary Brecker]

Five weeks. Okay.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Mostly because just I needed to go back to work and it's a full time job breastfeeding. It really is. I mean what I didn't realize is that, I mean during the day alone is like five times and each time is like 45 minutes to an hour that you need to allow. So I mean, how can you get anything done?

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I've got so much respect for people that are able to do it and want to do it. I think whatever journey is great. But for me, I had to stop. I also noticed I really felt low with my hormones. Yeah. And I spoke to my doctor and again, like it's, it's so weird and irrational. But I texted her and said, I'm so embarrassed. You know, I'm having these like low moments and stuff.

[Gary Brecker]

Stuff.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

She said, well, we can try an estrogen patch or we can, you can stop breastfeeding and see how. And honestly, like almost to the day, it shifted.

[Gary Brecker]

Wow. You know, I, I see this in menopausal women too. You know, I've been trying to do a lot more content around, you know, female specific topics where there's a paucity of information. And you know, since my wife just went through menopause, it was a big topic for us. And what I will say is we didn't, we didn't notice or flag the signs of menopause early enough because it, it sort of crept in on, on her, you know, started with some brain fog. And she was like, I'm just busy. We got a lot going on, we're traveling a lot. But you know, as soon as you see the hot flash, okay, that's like the, the big warning sign. And I think everybody goes, okay, hot flash, menopause. But what started years earlier was just the brain fog, the fatigue, especially in the morning, like she just couldn't get out of bed. And wow. Much to what you were saying. We did this test called a Dutch test, hormone test, a 24 hour urine test, and everything came glaringly apparent. She had no cortisols. Her melatonin was through the roof in the morning. So she was trying to wake up almost by taking a sleeping pill.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Right.

[Gary Brecker]

Because the melatonin was so high, the cortisol was so low. It explained a lot of mood and emotion things, explained the lack of libido. We've been very vulnerable and, and yeah, you know, open about it because I think it, it will help a lot of women for sure. But I'm, I'm happy to hear that your obgyn offered estrogen because, you know, if, if there was just one lever to sort of torture a woman, it would be estrogen. Right.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Wow.

[Gary Brecker]

Like everything that a woman does not want happens by changing estrogen. And it's, it's either dominance or lack thereof in the body. You know, skin elasticity, water retention, brain fog, you know, libido, energy focus, concentration, short term recall. Like just by shutting that one switch off. It's like the hub of a wheel with all these spokes. It seems like whole world went to hell in a handbasket at once.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And I think so many obgyns are, are afraid to suggest hormone therapy, especially at your age.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

So that's really, I think progressive for.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Or her to have done that. It's great.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And I'm so happy that we're talking about it because you just, do you just get so embarrassed. Like I really was like shocked by, I thought, you know, you guilty.

[Gary Brecker]

You convinced your mom with this beautiful baby. Right.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. And, and I cannot describe to you the, the crashes. Like I would be like, so, so happy, having the best day. Everything was amazing. Just like elated. And then all of a sudden, whoa, I feel the worst I've ever felt. I feel low, sad, dissociated, all these things. Like one literally one minute to the next and, and again, like that is. It's really sad that people, and probably a lot of people, people don't diagnose or delay the diagnosis because they do have that shame attached, which is really sad. And they probably feel like whether it's postpartum, they're worried that something's going to happen or with menopause and maybe they're embarrassed or something. And it's such a shame to feel like that when actually the diagnosis is the thing that will change.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. I really applauded our federal government of the Food and Drug Administration because they recently removed the black box warnings from female hormone therapy. There's a humorous study done called the Women's Health Health Initiative, and it looked at female Hormone therapy over a prolonged period of time, tens of thousands of women. But it was really misreported. And the diagnostic underpinnings of this study were. They weren't manipulated in the study, but the information was manipulated. It did not show hormone therapy is having an increase in breast cancer, but that's what people thought for decades. And so women just completely avoided hormones. And, you know, getting testing for women and looking at your levels and ratios of hormones can completely change your life. So for you, stopping breastfeeding brought those back into a normal.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly, yeah. And sorry, I completely went off on a tangent. You asked me about nutrition and supplements, but yeah, I think really being so incredibly mindful of your nutrition is so important. And I don't mean cutting calories. I mean fueling and nourishing your body. You know, getting healthy fats in, lots of protein, lots of fiber, drinking a lot of water. That's especially if you're breastfeeding.

[Gary Brecker]

Oh, yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You're so dehydrated and, you know, having. Having more calories if you are breastfeeding. So I think it's really important. I think that is the time where you should be focusing on your nutrition more than ever.

[Gary Brecker]

And you're not vegan or vegetarian, right?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

No.

[Gary Brecker]

Okay. So, I mean, could you give us, like, a typical day's worth of meals? What does that look like?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So in the morning, I'll have something like eggs or a protein shake if I'm in a rush. You got me back on eggs, actually. Perfect protein and berries. So I try and eat, you know, I guess protein powder is the. The one, like, processed thing I would. I would be going for. And then I will have for lunch, I'll do like, leftovers, which maybe is salmon, vegetables, rice. And then in the evening, maybe it's a steak, more vegetables, sweet potato, quinoa, something like that. And I'll have, like, for snacks, Greek yogurt, dark chocolate, nut butter.

[Gary Brecker]

Has your palate just completely changed? Has it stayed the same or did you have any those weird pregnancy cravings? You always hear of pickles and ice cream or something crazy. Did you go off the rails?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I had extreme aversions. I had crazy sickness for the first three months. So certain garlic. The smell of. We were in. In Spain and like, basically everything has garlic in the cereal. And normally I would love all the food in Spain. And I was just like, get me away from. It was my birthday like, that hyper. Stayed in the room. Yeah, I ate cereal for my birthday in the. In the room.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

But, yeah, so there were There was a lot of aversions. I didn't have so much like craving more like crispy cold fruit, things like that. But yeah, now it was weird because I thought. Thought has. Because I started eating eggs during pregnancy and I started noticing that I was less sensitive to dairy and that seems to.

[Gary Brecker]

Less sensitive to dairy.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Wow.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, that's great.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. So I was having more dairy than ever.

[Gary Brecker]

Like yogurts and.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly. Not. I don't drink milk and dairy milk. But yeah, yogurts and things like that. And I wouldn't be so worried about like a sauce or something. Something. But yeah, I've pretty much stayed the same. And then supplements wise, I'm taking. Let me think with my brain fog. All the things with my brain fog.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, I'll fix that for you after the podcast, please.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I'm so excited to do that test. So methyl folate.

[Gary Brecker]

Methyl folate monster. Huge.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Really good. I take perfect aminos in the morning.

[Gary Brecker]

It's excellent. All essential amino acids.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. I have the one that has the electrolytes in it as well. Yeah, yeah. Creatine. I actually put those together. Creatine is a big one. I think is.

[Gary Brecker]

Creatine is huge. I actually just launched a creatine here in the UK and all throughout Europe. It's, it's a, it's the HCL version so that there's much less bloating, it's more water soluble.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Amazing.

[Gary Brecker]

And then, then the monohydrate. Some women do fine on monohydrate, but if you don't. And my wife bloats like a puffer fish on, on.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Oh, that's interesting.

[Gary Brecker]

But the creatine hydrochloride, the HCl she does excellent with. What was it? What is astounding about where the pattern of research is really starting to support creatine, especially for women, is in the cognitive side. Crossing the bond, brain barrier. Hey guys, let me tell you about one of my favorite new hydration drinks. Now this is for distance athletes, hits, cardio exercisers, people that sweat a lot or exercise intense, intensely. An A game is a hydration drink. It has eight essential vitamins. It has all of the electrolytes, the entire suite of B vitamins. Before you freak out and read that as 21 grams of sugar, which it does. The sugar is coming from natural cane sugar and honey, my preferred mechanisms for getting glucose into the blood during intense exercise. It also has natural flavors, but these natural flavors don't come from bacterial fermentation. They actually come from real citrus fruits. And the color is from vegetable Juice, juice, not artificial dyes. So next time you're looking for a great hydration drink and you're exercising intensely, a game is your choice. Now let's get back to the ultimate human podcast.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Speaking of brain fog, that's what I really notice. I feel much sharper taking creatine, which is crazy because some people think it's,

[Gary Brecker]

it can mitigate sleep deprivation.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, I feel really good back. I didn't take creatine when I was pregnant, even though I'm sure you probably could, but I just, I didn't see. I feel good back on that. And then what else? Zinc, iron. That's mostly for the hair shedding.

[Gary Brecker]

I'm glad you brought that up too, because that is a strong correlation to female alopecia postpartum.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's, it's crazy because you have this, like, luscious, thick hair during pregnancy and you're like, great. That was the one, you know, like, great thing that I like.

[Gary Brecker]

Come on, Garden.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You know, and then it, then it just takes it away from you. Yeah. And then what else am I taking? Magnesium probiotic. Did I say that one? And I think that's everything.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, that's it. You know, I think to the, you know, the mindset towards a lot of this, like you said, I think a lot of women put so much pressure on themselves to perform and they don't give themselves that grace. They don't actually raise their hand when they have these bouts of, of, of sadness. You know, very often postpartum goes undiagnosed by the female. It's usually the spouse that comes in and finally says, we got to get you some, some help because you are not yourself.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Could you talk a little bit about the, the male's role? I don't want you to throw your husband under the bus or. But, but like, what would you, what advice would you give to, you know, young couples, young husbands that are going to go through this with their spouse for the first time? Because I've got three kids heading this direction and so excited. And, you know, I, I had a phenomenal ob GYN on my podcast the other day, and he talked, it was male, and he talked about the importance of pregnancy, getting pregnant, having the baby, and then immediately after caring for the baby, called it the thousand day pregnancy.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Okay.

[Gary Brecker]

And he called it a thousand days because he talks about the preparation phase. You know, men sort of think like their role is over after the wife is pregnant, but the truth is, you know, they're contributing 50 of the genetic material. Sperm health is just as important as egg health. Yeah, but we focus mainly on egg health. And, you know, sperm counts are declining at 1% a year right now. Infertility is rising at 2% a year. This is a very dangerous divergence.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And, you know, the male has a. Has a very significant role in this pregnancy process, even though they're not carrying fetus. So how did hubby do?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Well, he's amazing. I got no complaints. So he's. And you know what? He's really. You know, everyone says that you. You love them more when they become a dad, and that is definitely true. I mean, I loved him a lot already and now it's. It's definitely a different type of love.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah. See a different side of him, right?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, exactly. But what I think is really amazing is that I'll. I. Because he's very, you know, he's much older than me. He's very kind of. He's not used to this new world of mental health anxiety, you know, that we're now discussing. So it's not so normal to him to have these open discussions. He didn't. He wasn't raised in that way. So is he Dutch? He's Danish.

[Gary Brecker]

Or Danish.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

I mean.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah. So I, you know, I was talking to him and again, it's like, not something he's used to. So I was like, I'm feeling like this and, you know, I'm feeling all these lows and I just constantly crying, like, like constantly, daily. And he was kind of like taking it in and I thought, you know, does he get it? He doesn't get this. And then it wasn't until when we were sat with his mum and there was something that was like a comment was made or whatever, and he. And she wasn't even remotely attacking me, just to clarify. But he felt that he needed to, like, stand up for me somehow. And he just repeated everything I had been saying that, you know, like, as women, you're like, are they listening?

[Gary Brecker]

Are they actually.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Did he actually take any of that in? But. And then he repeated all these things. Well, you know, and the estrogen and this happens and you know what? Women have to go through so much. And he just completely, like, came to my defense and I was like, it's so interesting. Cause whilst I've become this, like, like lioness towards the baby, he's become this, like, protector of me and the baby. So it's, it's, it's interesting. Like, the guys don't get enough credit because they are going through a lot as well. And you Also, like, the dynamic changes. I mean, firstly, you're. You're literally not able to have sex medically for the first six weeks, you know, so that is quite a change for some people.

[Gary Brecker]

Sure.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So there are so many things that go on that are, you know, a shift in the dynamic and the sleep and everything, so. And you're both going through that. So I would say for men, just, I think the biggest thing that they can do is to really understand the realness of hormones.

[Gary Brecker]

Yes.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And the support that the mom needs emotionally, I would say.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

And he's really, you know, he's been amazing and really surprised me in that sense. Not to, like, discredit him before, but not to say he was so insensible.

[Gary Brecker]

Amazing to hear how, like, every aspect of life changes. You know, you change who you are, but by choice, by. By design and by choice. It's not like I got this baby and I, you know, gotta. Gotta put the baby first. No, like, your priority shifts.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

And it's what you choose to do. And it happens biophysiologically. Which again, it brings me back to this miracle birth. It's like, this can't happen by accident, you know, you talking about videos of the mother waking up before the child wakes up and is on her way in and the child wakes up. It doesn't surprise me at all. It's just so fascinating to me. And I know a lot of young women, there was for years this push for women to be like men and be entrepreneurs. Seize the day. Sleep is for losers. You sleep when you die. Take the hill. You're just as qualified. And I don't. Don't deny or argue any of those points. But when it comes to pregnancy, it really is on, on, on their shoulders. And to watch this, like, miracle emerge from them, to me was really just fascinating.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Like, it's a time where you can't go into that kind of like, oh, yeah, like, sleep is for losers. And like, hustle culture. You cannot. You can't do that. You really can't. And it's a fact of life. And the more support that you can get, the better.

[Gary Brecker]

But to hear that it changes, you know, hormonally and physiologically. So you're like, actually, I want nothing to do with that. This is my priority now.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly.

[Gary Brecker]

It's like God gives you that gift of this shift in priority so you don't have to fight those tendencies. Do you know what I mean?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

But what is interesting, like, for. For us, we had like, a slightly different, I guess, have like a different Situation from the norm. Like I'm working much more than he is working, for example. So really he's more available than I am to. As in he's more flexible.

[Gary Brecker]

That's cool.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Which is really cool. So, but, but again, it's, it's so weird to me that there's this narrative of like I've heard some dads being like, oh, I'm babysitting tonight. It's like, pretty sure you're just parenting.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Pretty sure. That's just cool. Being a parent.

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You know when it's like, oh, I'm on dad duty. It's like, imagine a mom saying I'm babysitting or a mom duty. Like that doesn't happen. So I like, we're really 50, 50 in this parenting. And I, I, it's funny because I feel so lucky because I'm so aware that that's not the norm. But at the same time, you know, why should I be feeling like. It's a bit funny one, isn't it?

[Gary Brecker]

Yeah, that really is. Now that you say it. That's. I had, I probably said that a thousand times.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Imagine, imagine like I said, imagine like

[Gary Brecker]

I'm home with the kids tonight. Like, pretty sure you're just parenting. Okay.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Pretty sure you're just existing in your life how you chose it to be.

[Gary Brecker]

Did you get hired?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, exactly. Are you getting paid by the hour?

[Gary Brecker]

We sort of feel like we should get a cookie or something.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes, exactly.

[Gary Brecker]

It's like, hey, I was here all night with the kids.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly. But yeah, well done. But it's so funny because he's so not like that. And like he'll talking about, you know, filling yourself, filling your own cup postpartum, like in the mornings. He knows I need to work out, I need to meditate, I need to do my breath work, all those things. So he goes and takes Elle, does her morning feed. Like we'll, you know, look after her as I do and we're complete tactics, tag team. But he, he knows, okay, just as much as he needs his time, I need my time. So we tag teamed. But it was funny. I had one, I did a Q and A on Instagram and I've actually been so lucky. I've not really had any kind of like negative comments or anything, but one person really made me laugh. She said, where is Elle during the day? Well, my office is at home, my baby's at home, Casper's at home. Like, I've openly said we have a nanny, you know, as if I sent Elle off To like summer camp or something. Eight weeks old.

[Gary Brecker]

I don't know. That's a great question.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

You know, but I think it is because we're not used to that, like kind of the. And I get it because typically, you know, historically the men went out to work and. But you know, times are changing, guys. So. Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

So overall and, and then I want to get into the VIP questions because I have a VIP community like you do. And when I told them you were coming back on, I mean, it was the most number of questions we ever had submitted. My team had to just narrow, narrow them down. So I, I want to get to those questions. But for all of the young, soon to be moms.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yes.

[Gary Brecker]

Out there, and you know, they're, they're in a great relationship, they decided, okay, them, I'm gonna, I want to get pregnant.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, the, the fire stoked. What, if any advice, you know, would you give? And I would love some early stage parenting advice if you're comfortable doing that, of course.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

So I would say just go with what you feel is best for you. Your family situation, your partner during pregnancy. Try not to. I know it's really tempting to listen to all the advice, but just really know that you know best right now and I think that kind of just relieves you in some way. And I also think there are hard times during pregnancy, but there are also amazing times and bonding times. And I would say, especially if you're a first time mom and you're able to have that time, you know, alone and things without other kids running around, if you're a first time mom, really try to use it as a time to really go inwards and have that, like, cozy time with yourself, to reflect on who you are as a person and who you want to be going into motherhood and what you want to teach your, your child and just look forward to it. It is, it's a roller coaster, it's a journey, but it is, is the most unbelievable thing you will do. And yeah. You'll just. I'm so excited for you. It's amazing.

[Gary Brecker]

You know, I, I don't give parenting advice other than to say, it just gets better and better and better. You know, my kids, I can truly say this, are my best friends. Yeah, they are truly my best friends as adults. They're 27, 25, 21 and 17. But they choose to spend time with me and I choose to spend time with them. We're like a traveling comedy show. We work in the same industry together. I'm, I'm so Empowered by them and inspired by them and. Yeah, for different reasons. But the one thing that I think we did very well through all three of our kids was we just, we didn't. Didn't shut our life down. We brought our children into our life. Like we had the bugaboo stroller. We went to restaurants.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

Nightclubs. But I mean, we went out to dinner. The kid actually falls asleep in a noisy restaurant. And if they were a little bit late getting to bed, I didn't make it. So you had to come to the house and tiptoe around the house, like. Because I noticed what those kids were like when they were on commercial flights next to the baby's first time that they've actually heard noise when they're trying to take in the.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, that's so true.

[Gary Brecker]

If I was to give any advice, it would just be, just bring your baby and your kids in. Into your life. Don't come to a full stop and create this sterile environment, hyper regimented environment. Because then the first time that that child is outside of that environment, you know, it's a disaster. Yeah, it's like a. It's like a meltdown.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

It's interesting because I, I'm. We've actually got Elle on a big routine, but within that, we're not, you know, we'll be, for example, like where El sleeps is right next to our kitchen. We'll have friends over. Like, we're not.

[Gary Brecker]

That's what I mean.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Yeah, Things like that. I just don't think. I don't. I want my baby to be able to sleep anywhere, anytime. And you know, I think things like that are so important. But the routine that we have her on, what I will say, and it's not advice because I still think you should just do whatever you feel is best, co sleeping, whatever that is. But for me, the routine has helped me then have my routine and my freedom.

[Gary Brecker]

Yes.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Her being on a routine has given her structure in her day, but also me structure in my day. Knowing when I have. Have time, that's so good for work as well. So. Yeah.

[Gary Brecker]

So. Well, guys, as I wind down all of my podcasts, I ask all my guests the same question. I asked it to you the last time you were on the podcast, if you remember. But before we head into the VIP community, what. What does it mean to you to be an ultimate human?

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Well, now as a mom, I think being the ultimate human is really about being truly proud of myself and looking at myself through my daughter's eyes, like, would she be proud of me and passing that on and kind of of giving everything that I am to her. And, yeah, I think that would make me, in this phase of my life, the ultimate human.

[Gary Brecker]

Amazing conversation. Making her proud in just a few short months.

[Pregnant Woman / New Mom]

Exactly, yeah. Thank you so much for having me.

[Gary Brecker]

You're so welcome. Thank you for coming on. And until next time, guys, that's just science.