The Backup Plan

Sharing my stereotactic breast biopsy in chair experience at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach. In the middle of IVF treatment, I felt something a little strange in my left breast and decided to get it checked out before my frozen embryo implantation. I’m SO GRATEFUL that my doctor at Kindbody get my set up with the Hoag team so quickly. Also talking about mental health and maintaining support expectations during a health crisis. 00:00 Introduction 00:56 The Biopsy 09:02 Aftercare & Emotiona...

08-07

15:51

IVF as a single mom by choice is hard enough, I don't need a cancer scare! Fears of breast cancer are looming as I get a radial scar checked out at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach. Having a mammogram under 40 wasn’t on my bingo card for 2024. — Hey, I'm Meredith! I'm becoming a single mom by choice using a known donor; I'm so stoked to be having a baby with my gay best friend. After a few tries with the turkey baster in 2023, I turned to IVF in Spring of 2024. CONNECT WITH THE BACKUP PLAN Webs...

07-31

09:01

IVF success isn’t just getting pregnant - it’s a lot of steps along the way. In her journey to becoming a single mom by choice, Meredith decided to celebrate her embryos after they passed preimplantation genetic screening with an EMBRYO REVEAL PARTY - a modern twist on a traditional gender reveal party. Support the show --- I'm becoming a single mother by choice using a known donor; I'm so stoked to be having a baby with my gay best friend. After a few tries with the turkey baster in 2023, I...

07-24

26:05

Meredith is sharing news from her fertility doctors at Kindbody this week - her frozen embryo transfer (FET) has been scheduled! She goes over the process, why her and her doctor chose a controlled FET and plans for her BLASTOSHOWER - an embryo sex reveal. TOPICS COVERED 00:53 Getting the physical PGT-A results and planning the BLASTOSHOWER! 02:23 Scheduling the FET 04:02 Explaining what an FET is 05:09 Choosing a natural or a controlled FET and preparation 09:18 What happens after a frozen ...

07-17

13:16

Meredith got her PGT-A test results a week early! Watch as she shares the news with family and friends, talks about next steps, and shares tips for maintaining sanity during the process. Frozen embryo implantation comes next…stay tuned! ITEMS MENTIONED Jujube Dr BFF Bag: https://amzn.to/3LfQp5f SMBC COMMUNITIES SMBC Official: https://www.singlemothersbychoice.org Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/SingleMothersbyChoice NEW TO THE BACKUP PLAN? Who is Whitney? https://backupplanpod.com/18-whoo...

07-10

13:53

Meredith has embryo news!! Aside from sharing which zygotes made it to blastocyst status, she's going over best practices for checking in on a friend who is undergoing IVF. Support the show --- I'm becoming a single mother by choice using a known donor; I'm so stoked to be having a baby with my gay best friend. After a few tries with the turkey baster in 2023, I turned to IVF in Spring of 2024. Watch video versions of The Backup Plan on YouTube! CONNECT WITH THE BACKUP PLAN Website: https:...

07-03

17:36

Meredith came out of her most recent egg retrieval with very different results! What were the differences in treatment? Did she keep calm, cool, and collected this time? Will this be her last retrieval? STAY TUNED. Support the show --- I'm becoming a single mother by choice using a known donor; I'm so stoked to be having a baby with my gay best friend. After a few tries with the turkey baster in 2023, I turned to IVF in Spring of 2024. Watch video versions of The Backup Plan on YouTube! C...

06-26

15:13

Mental health is muy importante, so Meredith is sharing her journey from sad little girl to a healthy medicated lady. In preparation for pregnancy (and because of the influx of hormones in her system thanks to the second round of egg retrieval), she decided to get in touch with a perinatal psychiatrist early. Here's how she found one and how her first appointment went. --- ARTICLES DISCUSSED The health benefits of spicy food, Piedmont (https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/the-health-...

06-12

37:41

Meredith discusses the results from the PGT-A tests her embryos underwent, explains what a segmented mosaic embryo means, and discusses next steps in her IVF journey. SHOP THAT BANGIN' PREMIERE LOOK Mock Neck Cloak Sleeve Pleated Midi Dress Silver Cuff Bracelets Long Metal Bar Drop Earrings Mirrored Metallic Evening Bag ARTICLES DISCUSSED What Does It Mean When Your Embryo Is a Mosaic?, Fertility Centers of New England What is a Mosaic Embryo?, International Fertility Group Does Chrom...

06-05

20:04

Nana is back in California! They’re discussing Meredith’s Day 5 4BB and Day 7 4BA embryos (better known at Chip & Dale); the nail-biting wait on genetic test results, whether or not to learn the sex, and if so, WHEN? TOPICS COVERED 0:00 - Introduction and Catch Up 04:09 - Should I find out the sex of my embryos? 16:10 - “The Parents Who Want Daughters and Daughters Only” by Emi Nietfeld22:30 - The Birth of the BLASTOSHOWER23:56 - Survival Rates of Female/Male Embryos 33:34 ...

05-29

45:57

After a week of waiting, Meredith learns how many of her fertilized eggs have become full fledged embryos. She shares how she found out, how she's feeling, and what's up next. Read the full blog post here - https://backupplanpod.com/34-blastocysts/ ITEMS MENTIONED: Diva Cup - https://amzn.to/3UJRfLO Support the show --- I'm becoming a single mother by choice using a known donor; I'm so stoked to be having a baby with my gay best friend. After a few tries with the turkey baster in 2023, I...

05-15

26:41

What’s it like to have an egg retrieval for IVF at KindBody? Meredith just had hers and she’s here to share the results - how many eggs were retrieved, how many were mature, and how many were fertilized with her gay best friend’s sperm. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE. OTHER EPISODES REFERENCED: The attempted break-in! - https://backupplanpod.com/21-january-was-wild/Meet Krystina - https://backupplanpod.com/9-to-breed-or-not-to-breed-w-krystina-arielle-whitney-warrenRead the full blog post for this e...

05-08

33:08

When your follicles don't respond to hormones, you pump up the volume and keep injecting. Meredith has to keep up the routine this week in anticipation of the egg retrieval and symptoms have really started kicking in! Belly bruising, foggy brain, and increasing shot pain...oh my. ITEMS MENTIONED: Small Ice Packs with Sleeve - https://amzn.to/3vMNfC2 Read the full blog post for this episode - https://backupplanpod.com/32-egg-retrieval-injections-week-2/ Support the show --- I'm becoming a s...

05-01

17:25

We've moved into the injection phase! Meredith is 22 injections in and reporting on all of the wild side effects: vivid dreams, unsupportive family members, and an incredible amount of trash. Truth be told, it's a lot easier than she anticipated and way more enjoyable than the estrogen priming. ITEMS MENTIONED: Small Ice Packs with Sleeve - https://amzn.to/3vMNfC2 REPORTS MENTIONED: Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology's 2021 National Report - https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_...

04-17

26:08

Bare with Meredith this week, she was in a lot of pain when she recorded and edited this episode! With a full week of estrogen priming under her belt, Meredith talks through the pain she’s experiencing, updates on third party clearance for Kindbody, and refreshes the “What do we call Michael?” situation. ITEMS MENTIONED: IKEA Klipsk Bed Bed Tray: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/klipsk-bed-tray-white-00258882/ Read the full blog post for this episode - https://backupplanpod.com/30-estrogen-pri...