The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Episode: Finding out we're pregnant with baby no. 3 & telling our family

Release Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, Matt and Abby share the story of finding out they’re expecting baby number three. The episode navigates their emotional journey—from the very first conversations, through the decision to try, early pregnancy symptoms, taking the test together, and the joy (and anxiety) of telling their family and friends. Sprinkled with humor, vulnerability, and relatable real-life details, the conversation provides insight into planning for another child after both unplanned and planned pregnancies—and the unique experience of sharing that news with loved ones.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Decision to Try for Baby #3

• Contrast with Previous Pregnancies & Planning

  • Abby and Matt reflect on how different this third pregnancy is from their previous two—particularly because this one was planned. With their first, it was all new and mysterious; with their second, a surprise; now, excitement is more intentional and calm.
  • Abby: “Having an unplanned pregnancy is like, every baby is a blessing… but it's a totally different experience... when you’re expecting it, planning for it, looking forward to it.” (00:56)
  • Matt: The realization to go for a third began during the holidays with family, envisioning a big, lively family. (01:42)

• Deciding on Timing

  • Abby didn’t want to be heavily pregnant in the Arizona summer again, having gone through that discomfort with her previous July and August babies. (05:39)
  • The couple discussed period apps and picked the optimal “fertile window”—with Matt joking that it was “probably the best week of my entire life” (07:38), leading into a sweet exchange about their intentionality and how in love they felt.

Finding Out: The Test and Symptoms

• The Waiting and Anxiety

  • Abby noticed some early symptoms (food aversions, breast changes) but waited until the day of her missed period to avoid unnecessary stress from ambiguous test results. (09:19)
  • They decided to take the pregnancy test together for the first time, making it a shared, intimate experience.
    • Abby: “I wanted to take the test together. Because both times I took them independently.” (14:04)
    • Matt: “That was the first time you let me look at the test first.” (14:16)
  • Detailed timeline: Took the test on June 24th at 3:32pm. (10:20, 10:30)
  • Both felt confident and excited, with Abby admitting she would have been sad if it were negative. (10:41)

• Emotional Impact

  • Abby describes the emotional roller coaster of testing and waiting.
    • “You can't anticipate how emotional this process is going to be until you're going through it…there’s just so much tied up in it. It feels like the stakes are so high.” (11:32)

Sharing the News

• Telling Friends and Family

  • Abby first told her gym trainer for practical, safety reasons, then close friends on a playdate—a tender, spontaneous moment as they burst into happy tears. (16:06–17:37)
  • Matt revealed the news to their friends’ husbands in a playful group photo moment: “Say: Abby’s pregnant!” (17:52–18:06)
  • They ordered a “Middle Child Energy” shirt for Augie to use in revealing to Abby’s parents—a beloved family inside joke. (18:14–19:03)
  • Another group reveal happened with Augie wearing the shirt, which set off a chain reaction: another friend immediately announced she was pregnant, too, leading to a joyful group celebration. (19:52–20:23)
  • Matt’s parents were genuinely surprised, having thought they were content with two children, making the reveal extra special. (43:01)

• Community of Expectant Friends and Family

  • Remarkably—at least seven close friends and both their sisters-in-law are currently pregnant, creating a supportive, unique community of expectant parents. (22:18–22:24, 32:40–32:49)
    • Abby: “There’s just a bond and there’s just a community element there that's really, really special.” (21:49)

Early First Trimester Experience

• Physical and Emotional Differences

  • Abby reports markedly different symptoms than her previous pregnancies—less nausea, more fatigue, leading to some anxiety about whether “everything was okay.”

    • She began obsessively taking pregnancy tests, second-guessing her lack of symptoms, and learned about the “hook effect” in HCG testing. (23:12–28:23)
    • Practical tip: Share about Unisom and B6 for nausea and how the fatigue has been unusually strong. (31:16–31:56)

  • Matt has been picking up more of the parenting load, especially at night, due to Abby’s exhaustion—an experience with both silver linings (closer bonding with sons) and challenges. (47:09–51:50)

Parenting Reflections and Life Adjustments

• From “Expert Mode” to “Easy Mode” Parenting
  • Matt reflects on how parenting has evolved as their older son became more independent, giving them capacity and confidence to embrace another child. (04:23–05:08)
• Pragmatic Preparations
  • Abby and Matt discuss the need for a new vehicle (with a third row!), adjusting sleep routines for the boys post-travel, and anticipated changes for this new parenting phase. (48:00–48:10)
• Baby Names
  • Baby naming is underway: they feel more settled on a boy name than a girl name, and debate sharing names with family/friends before birth. (52:13–53:52)

Gender Anticipation & Reflections

• Gender Curiosity
  • Griffin, their eldest, hopes for a sister (15:18), while Matt and Abby both express genuine neutrality—neither have a strong gender preference, and both are open to either, reflecting on how it simply adds a “piece to the family puzzle.” (38:36–39:00)
  • They debate waiting until birth vs. finding out at 20-week scan vs. early genetic testing. (41:27–42:51)
  • Abby: “I literally feel completely neutral. It's been on my mind recently as I've been listening to a romance audiobook…” (37:47–38:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Emotional Maturity with the Third Pregnancy:
  • “Now we know how much joy and purpose another little blessing brings us… The impact is even deeper.” — Abby (36:00)
• On Cherishing These Years:
  • “It just kind of hit me, like, how special this time really is because it doesn't last forever. The most cliché thing you can say—'they grow up so fast.' But it's true.” — Matt (37:21)
• On Parenting Shifts and Support:
  • “Matt has done the bedtime routine for the kids pretty much every single night… I was asleep before the kids were asleep last night on the couch…” — Abby (47:09)
• On Outpouring Community:
  • “I can literally think of seven [close friends] off the top of my head who are pregnant, but I think there's more.” — Abby (22:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:33 | Matt & Abby announce Baby #3 | | 01:42 | Holidays spark the conversation to try for a third | | 05:39 | Abby on timing the pregnancy to avoid AZ summer | | 07:38 | Matt, joking: “That was probably the best week of my entire life” | | 10:20–10:30 | Taking the pregnancy test together for the first time | | 14:04 | Abby on testing together and emotional impact | | 16:06–17:37 | Telling close friends and experiencing their excitement | | 18:14–19:03 | The “Middle Child Energy” shirt family reveal | | 19:52–20:23 | Group announcement with friends (two family pregnancy reveals!) | | 21:49 | Abby on the importance of pregnant community/friends | | 23:12–28:23 | Abby’s symptom anxiety & HCG “hook effect” explained | | 31:16 | Unisom & B6 use for nausea, fatigue’s impact | | 38:36–39:00 | On gender preference: “I literally feel completely neutral…” | | 43:01 | Telling Matt’s unsuspecting parents in St. Louis | | 47:09–51:50 | Matt supporting parenting routines, Abby’s fatigue | | 52:13–53:52 | Baby name brainstorming & family dynamics |

Tone & Speaker Dynamics

The tone remains characteristically warm, humorous, and intimate—Matt and Abby’s vulnerability shines as they share their fears, excitement, and gratitude. The interplay between their personalities—Matt’s easy optimism, Abby’s thoughtful reflection, and both their playful humor—makes for an engaging listen:

• Plenty of gentle teasing and candid admissions about misunderstandings, bodily changes, and parenting fatigue.
• Multiple moments where laughter or emotional pauses underscore the sincerity of the discussion.
• Invitations to the listener to engage, empathize, and share community—especially for those also pregnant or journeying through young parenthood.

Final Thoughts

Matt and Abby celebrate this new chapter with honesty and relatability, providing both practical insight and emotional support for listeners who may be navigating similar stages. Community, intentionality, and mutual support are dominant themes, making this episode both informative and encouraging for fans and new parents alike.

[End of Summary]