Q&A: Breastfeeding, Postpartum Recovery, Mental Health, and Balancing Life After Baby

Pursuit of Wellness

Mari Llewellyn & Pursuit Network

Mental Health, Health & Fitness, Nutrition, Fitness

4.7 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 23 March 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I'm back and so excited to reconnect with you all! In this episode, I'm answering your questions about motherhood, postpartum life, and everything in between. From the chaos of breastfeeding and pumping to the reality of finding help, managing relationships, and navigating the fourth trimester, I'm getting real about what these first three months with Cai have actually been like. I talk about the mental load of exclusive breastfeeding, why I decided to start combo feeding, and how that choice gave me my life back. I also open up about the guilt, the fog, the anxiety around leaving the house, and the pressure to bounce back while your body is literally feeding another human. We also dive into building a village when you don't have family nearby, the importance of finding the right help, how my relationship with Greg has shifted, and why I'm finally stepping back into my fitness routine without the rush. This episode is unfiltered, honest, and full of the things I wish someone had told me before becoming a mom. If you're postpartum, pregnant, or just curious about what this season really looks like, I hope this brings you comfort, clarity, or at least a little solidarity. _____ Leave Me a Message click here! (https://sayhi.chat/pursuitofwellness) For Mari's Instagram click here! (https://www.instagram.com/marillewellyn/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU%3D) For Pursuit of Wellness Podcast's Instagram click here! (https://www.instagram.com/pursuitofwellnesspodcast/) For Mari's Newsletter click here! (https://marillewellyn.com/) For Mari's TikTok click here! (https://www.tiktok.com/@marillewellyn?lang=en) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	motherhood and postpartum is one of those things that you can hear about and read about,
0:05.0	talk about, but until you go through it, it's like difficult to put into words.
0:10.4	I really was hesitant to accept help, but I think I hit a point where I was so burnt out
0:16.6	that I realized I wasn't being the best parent I could be because I was mentally exhausted.
0:21.8	It's actually insane, honestly, the pressure to breastfeed for as long as possible
0:25.9	while losing weight, while bouncing back, while feeling like yourself, going back to work.
0:31.1	After struggling with infertility, you never want to complain about being pregnant or about having
0:36.6	a baby because you're like, well, I wished
0:38.2	for this for so long.
0:39.8	This is the Pursuit of Wellness Podcast and I'm your host, Mari Lawellan.
0:45.2	Before we hop in, I just have to add, I was reading the YouTube comments and everyone's like,
0:50.3	oh my gosh, they do not take your organs out when you get a C-section.
0:54.0	I'm sorry if I phrase that wrong.
0:56.0	That is what Greg told me was happening.
0:58.0	I don't know, guys. I wasn't looking. I haven't seen the photos.
1:02.0	From what I was told, there were organs out and around.
1:06.0	Maybe that's not the case. I don't want to freak anyone out.
1:09.0	So if that was inaccurate information,
1:11.4	I'm so sorry. And if I could say anything about the C-section, it was extremely chill and I'm
1:16.5	recovering great. So if you're getting a C-section, please don't freak out.
1:20.4	Hi, guys. Welcome back to the pursuit of wellness. My name is Mari. I am the host of the show.
1:26.6	And I'm actually coming out of retirement right now from my
	...

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