My animal-based pregnancy (21 weeks so far!)

Hey Heart & Soil Tribe,

Today we're talking with Melanie, our social media manager here at Heart & Soil, about her experiences eating an animal-based diet while pregnant.

Melanie is married to Dillon, our Chief Research Officer, and is 21 weeks pregnant with their first child. They don’t know if they are having a boy or a girl!

Why did you decide to do animal-based during your pregnancy?

Melanie: Well probably about five years ago I was eating a standard American diet and felt like garbage.\xa0

I was slightly overweight, had brittle hair, bad gut issues and really bad skin.

But all of that changed once I started an animal-based diet, and so for me, it was a no brainer to continue eating this way while pregnant.\xa0

Because an animal based diet is the diet where I have always felt my best.

How have your friends and family responded to your decision to eat animal-based during your pregnancy?

So when I first started eating an animal-based diet, before I was pregnant, a few of them did have some concerns and questions.

But I think it's important to lead by example, and the fact is that throughout my animal-based journey, I've been the healthiest I've ever been!

So when it came to my pregnancy, everybody was on board because they could see that I've been thriving for so long.

How was your first trimester?

Oh gosh in the first trimester, I was in survival mode!

I was extremely nauseous and everything made me want to puke.

But I knew I had to get some nutrients in and I figured out the foods I was able to tolerate.

Which was basically limited to fruit smoothies, and I sprinkled our organ supplements into them to get some extra nutrition.

I also had a really hard time tolerating mushy foods, including ground beef, so instead I ate crispier steak, which was a texture I could tolerate.

I also survived on fermented sourdough bread with a lot of grass-fed butter.

Did you crave any particular foods?

Yeah so everyone has pregnancy cravings, and for me it’s been ice cream.

But I am lucky enough to own an ice cream maker, so I am starting to make my own ice cream with all animal-based friendly ingredients like raw milk, raw cream, honey and fruit and eggs.

There was also a time when I was so, so so sick and all I wanted was a slice of pizza. Instead of beating myself up, I just made an effort to find the highest quality pizza possible.

The first trimester can be really hard, so I think it’s really important to give yourself grace and do the best you can.

What about fatigue?

Oh yeah I definitely was SO tired during the first trimester. And honestly I just focused on getting lots of rest.

And I know getting outside and moving your body is super important,\xa0but I really took a step back in my first trimester and rested.

Because I noticed on the days I did work out I was the most fatigued. And sometimes the days I went to the gym were the days I was sickest!

So scaling back my gym routine and listening to my body really helped.

And diet related, I would say drinking milk kind of saved me when I wasn't feeling very good. It’s so nutrient dense and delicious that it always helps give me a boost of energy!

What does your animal-based diet look like now?

Now that I'm in my second trimester I have my appetite back and I'm hungrier than ever!

Something I've also noticed is the more protein I eat, the less nauseous I am, so packing in protein in the morning has been a huge help for me.

So now my breakfasts are mostly eggs with cheese and butter.

Then for lunchI'll either make a half pound of burger meat or a whole steak with fruit and honey.

And then for dinner I've been adding in more carbs so I'll do rice with butter and maybe more steak or more burgers or fish.

Throughout my entire pregnancy I’ve also been taking our\xa0Prenatal Stack. I’ll split the servings up throughout the day, taking ⅓ with breakfast, ⅓ with lunch, and then ⅓ with my dinner.

Honestly, I think the animal-based diet has set me up for success. Because now that the first trimester is over I just feel so good! And I have no doubts as far as the health of my baby and my stomach is growing and the baby's kicking and I have no worries in the world. It’s a really reassuring feeling!

What advice would you give to any ladies reading who are planning to get pregnant?

So my number one advice is to definitely work on your health way before pregnancy.

So if you're thinking about having a baby, either tomorrow or in five years, start today on your health because fertility is such an issue in today's world.

And I strongly believe that eating a nutrient dense animal-based diet and taking our organ supplements really set me up for success because I got pregnant right away without even really putting any effort into it.

On that note, if you are trying to conceive then I would strongly suggest you take a look at ourHer Package supplement, and in particularly read some of the reviews. Because it has helped so many women with fertility issues!

And beyond that I would say to not be too hard on yourself. It can be really stressful trying to get pregnant, and it can also be stressful being pregnant!

So give yourself grace, do the best you can, trust your instincts and listen to your body.

Thank you Melanie!

Whether you’re navigating the challenges of pregnancy, contemplating motherhood, or simply striving for optimal health, we hope this glimpse into Melanie’s pregnancy journey reminds you of just how powerful and transformative the food we eat can be.

And embracing an animal-based diet and our organ supplements is more than just a choice—it’s a step towards radical health and a radical life. Let Melanie's story inspire you to make nourishing choices that support not just your health, but the thriving future of your family.

The Heart & Soil Team