Practical Parenting: Zuryna Unfiltered: One Mother’s Journey

Motherhood has a way of reshaping every part of life. In this episode, entrepreneur, podcast host, and mother Zuryna Livermore talks about pregnancy, postpartum recovery, weight loss surgery, entrepreneurship, childcare, and the lessons she's learned along the way. 

Zuryna describes motherhood as "one of the most rewarding, yet challenging projects I've ever been assigned to." As the founder of Live More Agency, she is accustomed to managing moving pieces, solving problems, and keeping everything organized. But becoming a mother challenged her in entirely new ways. 

Her pregnancy journey followed previous miscarriages, making the experience emotional. After giving birth, she faced the challenge of becoming a new mom alongside grieving her grandmother, who died during her third trimester. Looking back, she describes the postpartum period as "such a blur." 

During that season, she learned an important lesson: it is okay not to be okay. Rather than trying to power through every challenge, she relied on her medical team and her faith as her support system. 

This wasn't her first experience with a medical team supporting her. After years of trying various diets, Zuryna chose weight loss surgery in 2018 with GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program. What surprised her most was not just the procedure itself, but the level of community and support she received throughout the process. 

As many mothers do, Zuryna wrestled with pressure to "bounce back" after pregnancy. Comparing herself to friends who seemed to quickly return to their pre-pregnancy bodies created moments of frustration. Over time, however, she learned to extend herself more compassion and recognize every journey is different. 

"There is no timeline for getting back to whatever the bounce-back body is," she said. Instead of focusing on comparison, she learned to appreciate the stage of life she was in and adapt her expectations accordingly. 

One recurring theme throughout the discussion is intentionality. Whether it is scheduling self-care, protecting time for herself, or building a support system, Zuryna emphasizes the importance of being deliberate. As a working mother and entrepreneur, she knows firsthand that time is limited and priorities must be clear. 

She also encourages mothers to ask for help. From childcare resources to family support to simply leaning on a trusted friend, she believes many parents try to carry too much on their own. Her advice is straightforward: "Closed mouths don't get fed." 

Zuryna's story is every mom’s story. Every mom navigates the transition to motherhood differently, but we all wrestle with the same questions. Who am I with this additional identity? And how do I navigate the world? 

Through grief, postpartum challenges, health transformations, entrepreneurship, and parenting, Zuryna continues to move forward with a simple mindset that serves her well both in business and motherhood: "Everything is going to be okay."