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: https://amzn.to/49p1sCC
Phomemo D30 Label Maker Cable Wire Label Tape, Black Print on White Sticker: https://amzn.to/4cG1Hw8
Gourd Safety Pins: https://amzn.to/3vJkndC

Read the full blog post for this episode - https://backupplanpod.com/29-starting-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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a12063822/emotional-labor-gender-equality

Get in touch with Ariana & Meredith's realtor, Kenya Reeves-Costa,  at https://www.thelahomegirl.com or [email protected].

CONNECT WITH ARIANA
Instagram: https://instagram.com/arianamadix
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arianamadix
Drink From Home: https://dfhcocktails.com

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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 themselves with knowledge and achieve financial ease during this life-changing experience.

In this episode, we cover:
01:36 - Personal IVF Updates
09:28 - Helping Diverse Families
12:00 - Negotiating for Better Benefits
19:00 - Working with Human Resources
26:39 - Avoiding Pitfalls in Planning
32:48 - 3 Steps to Maximize Family Leave
38:29 - Freelance Benefits

Products Mentioned:
Buzzy Vibrating Ice Pack - https://amzn.to/3vqhoXl
Pineapple-Shaped Bandages - https://amzn.to/48WxwO8
Silicone Mats - https://amzn.to/4ajjBTw

Read the full blog post for this episode - https://backupplanpod.com/27-navigating-family-leave-w-diane-gatza/

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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 & Fertility Stipends at Work
05:58 - Using Health Insurance for Fertility Benefits
10:04 - Cost of Fertility Drugs
13:30 - Frustration with the Entertainment Industry Post-Strike

Read the full blog post for this episode.

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Support the Show!

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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, NPR
• Doctors and patients fearfully proceed with IVF after Alabama court rules embryos are children, NBC News

CONNECT 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 WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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 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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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-

• Instagram
• The Resilient Heart Podcast

-INFO ON FOOT STUFF-

• Dr. Ebonie Vincent
• Lapiplasty
• Cryosurgery

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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 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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.

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 Schuh
• Chosen Family: A Donor-Conceived Woman’s Journey to Redefining Family by Kiara Rae Schuh

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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://backupplanpod.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/backupplanpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backupplanpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backupplanpod

CONNECT WITH MEREDITH
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithk8

WORK WITH THE BACKUP PLAN
Visit https://backupplanpod.com/work-with-me for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Created, produced and hosted by Meredith Kate, co-produced by Julian Hagins.

Visit https://backupplanpod.com for show notes, transcripts, partner links, and our newsletter.