A Premature Baby, Living Away From Family and 'Bouncing Back' Culture. Uncut with Sheri!
Jan 8, 2025
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In this engaging conversation, Sheri Hockley, a nutritionist and Brittany Hockley’s sister, shares her journey into motherhood after having her daughter Maya, born prematurely. She discusses the challenges of postpartum intimacy, the emotional turmoil of living far from family in Scotland, and her experience with hearing loss. Sheri opens up about navigating new identities as a mom and the pressures of bouncing back. Listeners will appreciate her relatable insights on parenting in a supportive, yet distant, environment.
Sheri shared her unexpected and rapid birth experience at 34 weeks, highlighting the mix of shock and anxiety she faced during pregnancy.
Living away from her family in the UK, Sheri emphasized the emotional challenges of motherhood and the necessity of maintaining a supportive network.
Discussing her journey with hearing aids, Sheri highlighted the importance of embracing technology while reducing stigma among young users.
Deep dives
Sherry's Pregnancy Journey
Sherry experienced an unexpectedly quick and uncomplicated pregnancy, conceiving shortly after deciding to try for a baby. She described her pregnancy as a 'unicorn pregnancy' due to its ease, contrasting it with the challenges many face during that time. Despite her initial excitement, she faced unexpected feelings of anxiety when she realized how soon her baby was arriving, leading to a mix of shock and denial. Her first symptoms of labor started early, and after a series of twists, she found herself giving birth at 34 weeks, surprising everyone involved with the speed of the delivery.
Navigating Life as a New Mom
As a new mother living overseas, Sherry reflected on the emotional challenges of being away from her family during such a significant life event. She made the difficult decision to stay in the UK to be with Jay's family, recognizing the practical benefits of their support. Maintaining connections through regular FaceTime calls helped alleviate some feelings of isolation, but she grieved the idea of her loved ones holding Maya in her early days. Adjusting to her reality meant reconciling her expectations of motherhood with the challenges she faced, emphasizing the importance of a support network.
Sherry's Experience with Hearing Loss
Sherry discussed her journey with hearing loss, first noticed in her mid-twenties when friends and family pointed it out jokingly. After realizing the extent of her condition through a hearing test, she was advised to use hearing aids, which she resisted at first but gradually accepted as necessary. Sharing her experience on social media, she noted how many young people reach out to her, expressing embarrassment about their own hearing aids, and how her openness has encouraged them to embrace the technology. She revealed that hearing aids are now more discreet than ever, helping reduce the stigma around their use.
Maintaining Relationships After Baby
Sherry emphasized the impact of having Maya on her relationship with Jay, highlighting how managing emotions and expectations during parenthood is crucial to staying united as a team. They developed a humor-based strategy to prevent miscommunication and resentment, reminding each other not to let the baby divide them. Despite experiencing a dip in intimacy, Sherry noted the importance of patience and understanding, especially regarding changing hormones post-birth. They discussed the challenges of navigating parenthood, ensuring both partners felt supported despite the exhaustion that often accompanied the early months.
Physical Recovery and Identity Post-Birth
Sherry addressed concerns about body image and identity post-birth, acknowledging the societal pressures young mothers often face. She expressed feeling guilty for not bouncing back physically as expected, despite a healthy diet and regular exercise, emphasizing the slow recovery process after having a baby. Nutrition became a focal point as she discussed the need for proper fuel during this challenging time, noting the extra caloric requirements of breastfeeding. Overall, she stressed the importance of self-acceptance and managing expectations, urging new mothers to focus on their journey rather than outside comparisons.
Today's episode is a special bonus episode with Britt's sister Sheri! We put a call out a little while ago and Sheri was one of the most requested guests so we thought it was time to get a bit of a life update! Since we last had Sheri on the podcast, her and her husband have moved over to Scotland and had their first baby Maya. Maya was born 5-7 weeks premature.
We asked Sheri:
How are you going wearing hearing aids now? Do you feel stigma about being so young?
How does Sheri feel about Britt's long distance relationship and pending marriage?
What made you want to move overseas and did you feel guilty being so far away from family?
Their pregnancy journey
Maya's birth story
What was the best gift you were given after birth?
Have you lost much of your identity since becoming a mum?
How did you navigate getting 'back' nutrition and exercise?