The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - New Mom Check-Up with Lace Morris

Episode Date: March 22, 2024

Lace Morris from Ben’s season reunites with her Bachelor and Ashley only 5 days after becoming a mom!  She gets real about life as a new parent, and opens up about ending her relationship while she was pregnant.  Hear everything from Lace as she navigates co-parenting and being a single mom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts with IHartRadio. Hey, guys. Welcome to another episode of The Almost Famous Podcast. Today we're going a little bit in depth. with Lace Morris. We're so excited. She's a new mom, a new mom of five days. I can't believe we're getting her to join us now. It's so exciting. Thank you. And also, you know, you guys, if you don't know the name Lace Morris, I'm sure you actually do because she was a huge star on bed and season and she was a huge star in Bachelor in Paradise. We were there for two seasons together. And Lace, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. Wait, so you've been on Paradise.

How many times, Lace? Twice. Twice. She was with me when Jared and I came back for a little vacation. Oh, that's what you're referencing. I was like, how many times again? Lace, we've promised our listeners now for the last week that we're going to have you on. They're very excited because we did break down the headline that you are a new mother.

Five days ago. Five days. You gave birth. I don't know how to, like, not stop, so. Yeah. Well, I get that. I get it because when I would just had Dawson, they had me come on the podcast or even when. They had me.

They forced me to come back and interview some people the next day. I was like sitting around like a week or so later and I was like, well, I mean, I could do a podcast. Like I can get in the room and like talk on a mic and sit down, you know. um when he's napping like somebody else can hold him for an hour so i feel i feel you on that but there's a lot of things that i also could not do at this point like stand up can you stand up Ashley I've overdone it and you think I oh you think so and we have a lot of stairs in this house so that doesn't help so you've been going up and down the stairs a lot I mean I as I did you know you got to go to bed you got to do stuff got to go shower yeah but now I mean

I mean, I'm live from the bed, so we're good. Okay. So, Lace, catches up a little bit here. You're living where right now? I'm in Denver. You're in Denver, Colorado. I was asking, sorry. Yeah, you're out here in Denver.

You are, said you're super busy. So what exactly have you been doing in the last five days that you feel like you have overdone it? Like, how are you kind of, what is your time being used for right now other than, hey, do an exactly what you're doing right now. Yeah. Well, I mean, my parents were here. My mom's still here, but my dad left. So it's been really helpful having them.

Yeah. But you still got to like get up and get food and you got to change his diaper and you got to feed him. And my dad was here. So I had to come up to the nursery to feed him and, you know, just for some privacy. Yeah. And then I did get ready a couple days. You got makeup on now. You look fantastic.

thanks you like your hair's done you look so amazing it looks good to get ready though yes um i remember the getting up to change diapers was like i it's not make me get off the couch like i can't do it like jared did the majority of diapers for the first few weeks because it just hurt it really did it really does um okay well lace you're an open book can you talk to us about just finding out you're pregnant and all the beginning of all this yeah Um, it was a whirlwind because I had just gotten a new job, like a dream job where I'm the marketing manager for the Ritz Carlton. And I'm like, oh, my gosh, this is huge, you know, just got a new boyfriend. We were brand new. And, um, yeah, we basically hooked up the first week and made a baby. The first week of knowing him. Yeah. And, uh, wasn't very smart about it and found out four weeks later I was pregnant. So, I mean, is this, like, what was your initial reaction?

I was, I couldn't really believe it because I'm like, me, I'm pregnant. Like, no, there's no way. Like, I'm not that I've ever tried, but I just didn't think it was possible. So I thought I was tracking properly, but I guess I wasn't. And I was just kind of in shock, like, pure shock. I don't know if I could do it. What was the conversation with him like? I was scared, but he was really cool.

about it and we just sat on it for a couple days and was like what's the best option both both of us were like we got to do it you got to keep him and what's your relationship what was your relationship like throughout the nine months of pregnancy it's been a roller coaster yeah is he local to denver um he's not he's from mioming but uh he lives here now he has a job here yeah so just tell us if you feel comfortable talking or not talking talking about this. But I'm assuming he was he present at the birth? Yeah, he was there at the birth. He was present and he did great. Unfortunately, it was just not a very fun eight months. And, you know, you don't really know someone. So we had a rough time. We're still trying to

navigate, you know, how to co-parent and do everything. Excuse you. Is he somebody who wants to be like involved? He does. He wants to be in Liam's life. And he's, he's already a dad. He's already a good dad but um he he's trying to be as present as he can so that's good as long as he is a dad we're good do you feel like you have enough of a village around you right now i have an army behind me so i i honestly am so grateful what's the uh i really want to get into to i mean the emotions now that you're holding liam like you're sitting here and you're a mom five days again just is wild that you're here with us and then uh i can see a little bit of Liam's, you know, face, absolutely beautiful.

Like, what does this feel like? It's so weird. I mean, you know this, Ashley, but, like, it doesn't feel real sometimes. You're just trying to, are you really mine? Am I really about to take care of you the rest of my life? I know. I had a moment like that a couple days ago. I was like, you're half me.

Like, I'm hanging out with you. You're half of me. Yeah. I've been, it's been a really big emotional roller coaster with the emotion. motion so high, obviously, for us women. But it's, it's, it's really hard. Like, it's so amazing looking at him. And I'm like, wow, this is so cool.

But then you're like, I don't get my family. I don't get that perfect picture that I thought I had right in front of me. But, so it's just every day's different. And some days are harder than others. But when you look at him, you're just like so happy. Yeah. I mean, Ashley, you could probably speak. speak to this but um like what is it like as a mother as your son gets older and it does you know

you do take care of and you do care for but you're like you no longer have to hold him all the time every day like you're no longer like the only source to have how they can eat uh or clean themselves um like he can open the pantry door yeah and like do stuff so like what is that process like because Lace, I'll be, I'll be honest, like, I'm listening to you. I'm like, yes, this has got to be so hard. Like there, and there's no right, like, like, the obvious thing that's true is like, you're going to be great at this. Like, you're going to rock this.

Like, this is all good and you got to arm you behind you. The other side of that is like, this is going to be really hard. Like, this is really hard. This is probably like a shocking, confusing season. But I say all that to say also, like, what is it like, Ashley as the, like, as your child progresses and that like bond and relationship builds it's really gradual the way that it progresses like you'll just be sitting there one day and then you're like it's so weird that you are asking for something specific and like and you can sort of open the pantry door and all that is just like

how did we get here it hasn't even been two years like how what so that's mind boggling but for me the bond just grows every day. It's, you feel so much more connected to them every day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And the boys are obsessed with their moms as everybody kind of tells you when you're

pregnant. And then you believe it when they start because like six six monthsish. You're like, oh, okay. Like it's a mom. I think it's weird too because with the co-parenting right now, it's like, yeah, I'm realizing truly something I'm,

I was always aware of as a control freak. But now that I have him, I'm fully aware that, like, I'm a full-blown control freak. And it's just like even when, you know, he's holding him or he has his time with him, I'm just like being selfish. I'm like, I hate that time away from him. Yeah. You know, it's like, it's going to be really hard.

Yeah. How do you guys plan like, I mean, I'm sure you've had these conversations. Like, well, how is this going to look or kind of what's your ideal? In the midst of it, honestly, we're trying to figure that out. We're both, unfortunately, moving out of this beautiful house. but we're going to live separately and just try and be a team awkwardly. So you guys were living together and now you're not going to. Yeah, now we got the whole dream set up before he was born and got a nice house and

nook and nursery and everything and then just isn't working. So I'm currently looking on top of doing all this. I have to find a place to live as well. Where your parents live? And they live in Missouri. Would you ever move back to Missouri? I'm from here, but they just moved out there because they like, no, I would never move to Missouri. Okay.

Sorry. I'm not, we're not laughing at Missouri. I'm just, I am. Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condo? ascending finance bro. Tell you how to manage your money again. Welcome to Brown Ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem a year from now. When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I

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This season, we're going even deeper into the world of music and entertainment with raw and honest conversations with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't audition in like over 25 years. Oh, wow.

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So I was on my due date and no way. Yeah, I did this yoga thing I saw online and she's like, I went into labor after I did it. And sure I did it all day long. And I'm like, okay. all right, this hurts. And then the next, I couldn't sleep that night. I was in so much pain. And so I called the doctor's the next day. And they're like, ah, with your leaking and stuff, I think you should come in just so we don't risk it. So I come in at like 8 a.m. And we're there all day long. And I'm at four centimeters, but it's not moving the rest of the day. So then they have me on Potocin for like 10 hours. We go pretty high. They're like, okay, at 11 p.m., I think we need to break your water or nothing's

going to happen. When you were on the Patotone, did you were you contracting yeah i was having great contractions but i was having zero pain and just zero like you're having zero pain while having the contractions did you have the epidural at that point oh no no it's i'm girl i was on 18 that's what i didn't understand about your message when you dm me i was like wait a second telling me that you had the epidural but before i didn't contracting and not in any point what you never had it only on no i did no no you did eventually I was on Potocin, and it was weird. I just, I did not feel anything.

Interesting. And I was just like your contractions are great. And so I wasn't dilating anymore. So then finally they broke my water and instantly I felt the contractions. And oh my God, I never want to feel that pain again, Ashley. Time out. Time out. Can I pause you there?

So contractions hurt. Oh, God. It's the contractions that hurt. It's the contractions that hurt. I just, hey. You don't even feel the pushing. That's nothing. The pushing's not the problem.

It's the contraction. I didn't know this either, Ben. And I was in shock because as soon as they broke it, I couldn't even breathe. So I got like 30 minutes of that and the anesthesiologist came in. Yes. See, same here. It was about 30 minutes. 30 minutes of hell.

And then I didn't like that either because your legs are just like tingling and you're just, you're again, control freak. You can't do anything. And I'm just miserable because my legs are tingling. But they woke me up at 2 a.m. And they're like, hey, you're 10 centimeters plus. You need to get this baby out. His head's right there.

I was like, sweet. That sounds like an amazing birthday. I posted under an hour and it was great. So great. Okay. Wonderful. I'm glad that you had it as breezy as possible. It was nice.

Yeah. It was a lot. You should like hell just sitting there waiting in the room, though, for 10 hours. Yeah. Yeah. What did you watch? Nothing, really. Nothing worth mentioning.

No. I'm writing this down because I thought it was to pushing that hurt. I think a lot of people think that actually because I did too. Really? I'm so scared to push. That was what I was so scared of. Ashley, what are you talking about?

Why do you act surprise? I'm sorry. I don't know. Like, I'm like this like a. The idea that your body is going to expand to a level that a head can move out. To me sounds like the contract. The painful thing.

How it's getting to that point. So like every time that's like your muscle making the, the movement to like expand yeah and it is the worst pain I've ever felt you know what else though is after pushing like now it it hurts really bad like the after yeah yeah the after pain also I don't think it's talked about enough yeah it doesn't it doesn't hurt when you're lying down or sitting down no it didn't no it's just only when your whole body is up right and then like the pressure drops yeah yeah please I'm sorry I mean, I'm fine.

I'm good. Changing two neighbors here. I can't wait for Ben to tell his birth story. I know. Like, it's going to be so funny to hear Ben's reaction. It's going to be well. I mean, I hope I'm awake for it. I feel like I might just be on the floor.

There's a good possibility. I don't make it through it. That's okay. A lot of guys don't. At least, I, okay, I'll preface this. You're obviously very social. You have a great friend group here in Denver. um we do share uh common connections you've always been somebody out and about as you said you

had your dream job uh i'm sure there's a lot of things there building up but you are entering into a whole new chapter a beautiful chapter one that uh it is you know a lot of your friends are probably already in uh or entering into at some point here soon so it's not like you're you know alone in this but what about this next chapter excites you? What are you looking forward to the most? This is a great question because I don't know. I feel really motivated. Like I have a great job.

I'm, you know, having fun with Instagram with him and just all the fun stuff that comes with it. I think it's like the new challenge of like, can I do this? And I just think it's going to be, I'm going to give him the world, obviously, the best I can. but you know he has a good i have a support team which means he does but um i'm just excited to have this bond with him and see him grow and see how i can grow in the midst of this i just think good things are coming i really do oh you can do this yeah there's no question of my mind that's not even i don't know i'm just i'm excited for this next chapter to just see what's possible honestly yeah you have so many qualities that just make you a great mom thanks you're very nurturing you're

very supportive. You are like, I think the fact that you are so like open about things just makes me feel like, you know, that's just a quality of like a really great mom too. I don't think that you're ever going to have a hard time having a discussion with him. No, I'm excited to have some talks with him. Yeah. I want everything to be the biggest gentleman ever. He looks like it right now. What a stud. He's a really good baby. Lace, my final question for you is obviously

it's only been five days. But I'm always curious about this. How has your world changed in five days? Like, I didn't realize it. People are serious when they say it's around the clock. I can't

even go pee sometimes. I'm grateful for my mom being here, but if she wasn't, I don't know how anything would get done. This is, you're going to go through this for a few months. I know. And I'm just like, I didn't really, and then now, day five, day four, day five, I've changed a diaper like every hour. And I'm just like, I was really going through him.

He's just like five minutes ago. We're doing it again. And it's just, I don't know, you only have one hand. The poop comes down after about two months. It's a lot of, a lot of. I promise. I remember, too. I was like, how is it every time we look in there? There's something. That sounds amazing. I think something that's not talked about a lot, though, is what I'm coming to find out. What did you say? I said, that sounds amazing. Think about if that's just how

humans. Yeah, goodness gracious. I think something that's not talked about, though, is just like the breastfeeding aspect and how bad and it hurts and, like, how much time consuming that is as well. but the recovery the recovery downstairs and the breastfeeding just i don't think is talked about enough because i was not expecting it and he was on an early plusy night a couple nights ago and i just laid there and cried with him because i was like what am i doing like this is so hard yeah that's why i didn't bother breastfeeding one of the you know i see why i know oh we can have a total honesty how we love that my and then one last comment i just have to relate with you it's like I remember when we got back to Rhode Island because I gave birth in Virginia.

And it was like three and a half weeks. We stayed down there until we drove back. And Jared went to work and I was home alone for the first time with him. Oh, boy. Just you and me. So like, what do I do when I have to go and make myself something to eat? What do I do when I have to go to the bathroom? And it's just like, I guess, do you come with me and you sit on your lounger in the bathroom floor for 30 seconds?

I did that once. Yeah. And then when he's like a little bit bigger, you know, like, you know, five days is too small. But like in a couple weeks, you can put him in the chest carrier. And that is when you discover your life again that I was able to do like everything with him in my chest carrier because at about like one month, they're still sleeping so much throughout the day. But at least that way you like have them on you and you're able to go about. That's a little tip for you. All right. To close up here, Lace, I lied. I do have a more question. You're only five days into this, so it might be a little early. Do you ever see yourself going on television again?

No. Okay, deal. That's all I need. I don't know. I don't think so. No hesitation there, right? That was like a solid no. Yeah, it was just like thinking like probably not with a child now. Okay. That's fair. Lace, we wish you the best. in fact I'm sure you've gotten a ridiculous amount of stuff sent to you but the almost famous podcast would love to send you whatever it is on your wish list now that you have started to operate in this world and say hey you know it would be really nice a robot that could do all these

things with me just let us know we want to send you something so we'll uh yeah we'll have uh one of the we'll reach out to you but wishing the best um congratulations uh Seriously, this is a big deal, a beautiful baby. You're going to be a great mom. You're going to do this thing just really well. And I also just feel like I want to say, like, I wish you the best with this situation and co-parenting. That is a unique challenge and journey that I'm hoping works out to be good, you know, whatever good means there. Yeah.

And I ditto to that. And if you need anything, mom advice, I love talking about it. Okay, I'll be here for you. You do, Ashley? You like talking about this stuff? You think he's being sarcastic. This has been the almost famous podcast. We promised you an interview with Lace, again, five days after the birth of her son, Liam.

And, well, we gave it to you. We keep our commitments here. So until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley and Lace, you've been. What? Perfect. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on IHartRadio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land?

Jeopardy Truethers believe in? I guess they would be Ken. Conspiracy theorists. That's right. They gave you the answers, and you still blew it. The puzzler. Listen on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And here's Heather with the weather.

Well, it's beautiful out there, sunny and 75, almost a little chilly in the shade. Now, let's get a read on the inside of your car. It is hot. You've only been parked a short time, and it's already 99 degrees in there. Let's not leave children in the back seat while running errands. It only takes a few minutes for their body temperatures to rise, and that could be fatal. Cars get hot, fast, and can be deadly. Never leave a child in a car.

A message from Nitsley and the Ad Council. I'm Simone Boys, host of the Brightside podcast, and on this week's episode, I'm talking to Olympian, World Cup champion, and podcast host, Ashlyn Harris. My worth is not wrapped up in how many things I've won, because what I'm I came to realize is I valued winning so much that once it was over, I got the blues, and I was like, this is it. For me, it's the pursuit of greatness. It's the journey. It's the people. It's the failures. It's the heartache. Listen to the bright side on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck

in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman, and on she pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Whitmer, Jody Sweetie. Monica Patton. Elaine Welteroth. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on She Pivots. Now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Thank you.