Maternal Strength: A Journey Through PLO

In this episode of "Motherhood Unveiled," host Ashley welcomes Aimee Lucido, an author and puzzle maker, to share her profound journey through motherhood. Aimee discusses her struggles with conception, pregnancy, and postpartum challenges, including her battle with pregnancy & lactation osteoporosis. She candidly talks about the emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive, severe morning sickness, and the complexities of postpartum life. Aimee emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a coping mechanism and highlights the support from her family. The episode aims to inspire listeners by showcasing the resilience and strength that motherhood can evoke.

Meet Aimee

Aimee is a working mom trying to balance taking care of a 1.5 year old human, 5 year old dog, and 41 year old husband on top of managing her own writer and puzzlemaker career. She's moved twice in the past year, lived with her parents for five months while recovering from postpartum injuries, but is finally feeling like they've got their heads on straight. Professionally, Aimee is a maker of crossword and trivia puzzles. Her work is often published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Scientific American, and AVCX, among many others. She is the games editor at Bloomberg. She is also the author of the middle grade novels EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE and RECIPE FOR DISASTER, as well as the brand-new picture book PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA, chapter book, LUCKY PENNY, and the upcoming middle grade novel WORDS APART. Outside of being a mom and working, Aimee likes to run, hike, do yoga, play pub trivia, eat, and sleep. 

Amy's Background (00:01:24)  

Amy Introduces Herself (00:02:34)  

Discussion on Puzzles (00:03:19)  

Lyra's Name Story (00:06:20)  

Journey to Motherhood (00:06:35)  

Injury and Diagnosis (00:07:34)  

Fertility Challenges (00:09:44)  

Sperm Test Results (00:10:44)  

Transition to IVF (00:12:42)  

Pregnancy Success (00:13:49)  

Labor Experience (00:15:01)  

Postpartum Reflections (00:17:27)  

Emotional Rollercoaster (00:18:10)  

Anxiety and Insomnia (00:19:35)  

The Journey of Uncertainty (00:20:36)  

The Challenge of Morning Sickness (00:21:24)  

Parenthood and Anxiety (00:22:22)  

Postpartum Adjustments (00:22:27)  

Conflicting Medical Advice (00:23:24)  

The Importance of Rest (00:24:25)  

Seeking Help from Neighbors (00:25:18)  

The Return of Pain (00:26:19)  

Emergency Room Visit (00:27:22)  

Breastfeeding Challenges (00:28:25)  

The Search for Answers (00:29:23)  

Moving to New York (00:36:11)  

Improving Health and Quality of Life (00:37:18)  

Resilience and Problem-Solving (00:39:06)  

Self-Discovery (00:41:23)  

The Power of Motherhood (00:41:40)  

Pushing Limits (00:42:28)  

The Journey of Motherhood (00:43:12)  

Finding Joy in Parenting (00:44:48)  

Learning from Children (00:45:43)  

New Experiences (00:47:53)  

Silver Linings in Challenges (00:48:47)  

The Power of Storytelling (00:50:45)  

Shared Experiences of Parenthood (00:53:05)  

Dispelling Myths of Motherhood (00:56:08)  

Future Hiking Plans (00:59:04)  

Links & Mentions

1. Aimee's blog article: My Daughter Drank My Bones

2. PLO  

3. Aimee’s books

Connect with Ashley on IG (@ashleybcoach) or LinkedIn
Cover Art: Abigail Murphy Photography