Text me! 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...

Text me! 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. CONNECT...

Text me! 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 -...

Text me! 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 -...

Meredith is starting IVF this week! She's taking Estradiol (Estrace) in before shots start next week. Despite some confusion with the Family Building Team at Kindbody, Meredith prepared with IVF organization tips and answers some listener questions. 00:18 - Officially Starting IVF 02:30 - Kindbody Bummer 08:06 - The Nebulosity of April 10:17 - IVF Organization 11:18 - Ask Me Anything ITEMS MENTIONED: Shoe Organizer: https://amzn.to/3TAP7FK Phomemo D30 Label Maker Machine:...

Ariana Madix (Vanderpump Rules) and Meredith go WAY back - they’ve known each other longer than they haven’t at this point. Ariana has some hot tips for Meredith on the egg retrieval process, talks about why she decided to freeze her eggs, and reproductive panic. Read the accompanying blog post here: https://backupplanpod.com/28-fertile-myrtle-w-ariana-madix Women Aren't Nags—We're Just Fed Up, by Gemma Hartley:...

Meredith is joined by Diane Gatza to discuss family leave (or maternity leave, or paternity leave...whatever floats your boat). Diane is revolutionizing the way parents-to-be approach the maze of benefits available to them. Whether you're in California or beyond, her insights are invaluable for anyone looking to strategically plan and secure the support they deserve as they embark on the journey of starting a family. This episode has actionable advice for expecting parents who want to arm...

Meredith doesn't like talking finances, but she's going to for your benefit! This week is all about the frustration of not being as prepared as she'd like to be, the privileged position she's in because she's raising this baby with her mother, the cost of each medication prescribed for the upcoming egg retrieval, and a quick rant about the state of the entertainment industry (her given profession). In this episode, Meredith covers: 00:18 - Personal Finance Woes 04:47 - Privilege &...

In this episode, Meredith quickly shares that she made it through Morton's neuroma surgery! Prepping for IVF is imminent... Read the full blog post for this episode. Articles mentioned: Big News: Lala Kent Is Conceiving Her Second Child on Her Own via IUI, and She’s Ready to Destigmatize It, Cosmopolitan CONNECT WITH THE BACKUP PLAN Website: https://backupplanpod.com YouTube: https://www.www.youtube.com/@backupplanpod Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod TikTok:...

It’s a wild time to start IVF right now, so Meredith’s got a stream of consciousness for y’all this week, from rage about Tommy Tuberville’s thoughtlessness to Backup Plan listener reactions. In this episode, Meredith covers: 00:39 - Where she’s currently at in her conception timeline 05:09 - Personal Feelings on the IVF Ruling in Alabama Read the full blog post for this episode. Articles about the ruling... The science of IVF: What to know about Alabama's 'extrauterine children' ruling,...

Michael has officially frozen sperm for Meredith's impending IVF! The two pals talk about the donation process and the litany of doctor's appointments they had across Los Angeles this week while he was in town. Support the showCONNECT WITH THE BACKUP PLAN Website: https://backupplanpod.com YouTube: https://www.www.youtube.com/@backupplanpod Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod CONNECT...

Gabi Garland joins this week to share her single mother journey - from being in an abusive relationship, to losing her partner, to ultimately finding the best version of herself. Gabi is an authenticity coach and podcast producer who provides incredible advice to Meredith as she prepares to start IVF. This episode is available on YouTube! -INFO ON GABI- InstagramThe Resilient Heart Podcast -INFO ON FOOT STUFF- Dr. Ebonie VincentLapiplastyCryosurgery Support the showCreated, produced and...

I didn't mean to take another hiatus, but curveballs were thrown! This week you'll hear about my birthday, an attempted break-in, triangulated travel from LA to Orlando to NYC, and my latest fertility updates: revised sperm results, fluctuating AMH levels, and a timeline for cryopreservation and egg retrieval. Support the showCreated, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins. @backupplanpod on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. backupplanpod.com...

Meredith's Mom joins this week to talk about her previous and current ideas about IVF, and how she's feeling about Meredith's decision.  Talk turns to what could  be happening in other multiverses, including the career and passions of Meredith's would-be Orlando spouse. MENTIONS: The Single Greatest Choice Podcast - Season 5 Episode 1 with Kiara Rae SchuhChosen Family: A Donor-Conceived Woman’s Journey to Redefining Family by Kiara Rae Schuh Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code...

Meredith is making a big choice about IVF and is turning to her friend (and artist extraordinaire) Carla Furey for advice and guidance. They recap meeting under the dark shadow of Scandoval and how their friendship has blossomed since then. This is the first episode simultaneously released on YouTube! Check it out here. Carla's Art: WHITE SHADOW ART Doctors Worth Checking Out: Dr. Marc Kalan (Fertility) & Dr. Larry Lin (Urogynecology) Support the showCreated, produced and hosted by...

WE'RE BACK! Whitney joins this week to ring in 2024 and make sure that Meredith adequately recounts everything that happened in December. This episode has it all: genetic test results, learning the origins of cuckoo clocks, and shifting ideology regarding fertility treatments. What more could you ask for?? A parting note - remember to👆☝️✌️, y'all. Support the showCreated, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins. @backupplanpod on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest,...

Joy of Life Surrogacy founder Joy Millan joins Meredith this week to explain the role a surrogacy agency can play in a conception journey. Follow Meredith's travel adventures on her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@msmeredithkate Support the showCreated, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins. @backupplanpod on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

Meredith shares the results of her fertility assessments, specifically AFC and AMH levels, from her first round of appointments with Kindbody. Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code “MEREDITHB“Kegg Fertility Tracker Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Kegg Trackers at the above link. Kindred Bravely 15% off nursing and maternity wear with code “Meredith15“.Mosie Baby Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Mosie kits at the above link. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links....

Let's hear it for Kindbody - a company that performs fertility and wellness services in modern, tech-enabled clinics. Meredith had a fantastic call with one of their doctors in the Newport Beach office and made some choices about her fertility journey moving forward - including full diagnostic testing. Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code “MEREDITHB“Kegg Fertility Tracker Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Kegg Trackers at the above link. Kindred Bravely 15% off nursing and...

Meredith attended CreateHer this week, an exclusive event for creators hosted by The Prego Expo. She got to walk the floor of The Prego Expo before it opened to the public, got to speak with entrepreneurial brands, and received support on the fertility journey from folks who have been there. Check out the following brands and services mentioned on this week's episode: KindbodyLecheInternational School of Los AngelesJoy of Life Surrogacy CybexMila's KeeperCharlie BananaLa Petite...

DID SHE GET PREGNANT? Will she survive Covid? Answers to these questions and more in this week's episode. Meredith also lays out plans for the next few months, including partaking in Prego Expo/CreateHer this coming week in Los Angeles. Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code “MEREDITHB“Kegg Fertility Tracker Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Kegg Trackers at the above link. Kindred Bravely 15% off nursing and maternity wear with code “Meredith15“.Mosie Baby Support The Backup...

PSA: Mere hours after I recorded this, I started experiencing symptoms of Covid and tested positive. Get your boosters! This week's episode is all about Meredith's trip to Washington to see Michael and get the turkey-bastering done. And IT HAPPENED. Thrice!! Meredith goes over using the Kegg fertility monitor and the Mosie Baby insemination kit. Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code “MEREDITHB“Kegg Fertility Tracker Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Kegg Trackers at the above...

As Meredith heads off to Washington to meet Michael for a turkey bastering, we answer audience questions about our situation. We also indulge in a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on the eerie tales of haunted St. Augustine, our outrageous Halloween costumes, and the wild parties that filled 42 Sanford Street. Hello Bello 20% off for new customers with code “MEREDITHB“Kegg Fertility Tracker Support The Backup Plan by purchasing Kegg Trackers at the above link. Kindred Bravely 15% off...

Meredith's had technical difficulties this week, so it's a shorty episode! The big news? She's going to Washington in less than a week for another DIY-ICI. She covers the fears and concerns that she has as well as her excitement. Support the showCreated, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins. @backupplanpod on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube. backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.