One of my most commented-upon blog posts of all time is one I wrote almost two years ago, entitled Why I Quit DoTerra (And What I’m Doing Instead). I still get comments at least weekly on that post. People have got opinions on essential oils!

(And why wouldn’t they? There is a lot of money to be made in essential oils these days! And absolutely anyone can sell them. So there are regular women all over the continent who have stakes in what I think about DoTerra or other MLM essential oil companies.*)

Anyway, in that post I explained why I was using Eden’s Garden essential oils instead of any big-name MLM brand. Eden’s Garden had no idea I was writing the post. I just wanted to share my experiences with them so far.

But I guess they took notice a few months ago, because Eden’s Garden emailed me and asked me if I’d like to review their newest line of Synergy blends.

I said, Heck yes I would! Free essential oils, and all I have to do in return is tell you folks about them? I was all in.

So now I’ve had them for a couple of months, and it’s time I told you what I think of them!

(Again, I’m not getting paid to talk about them. I just got some free products in exchange for an honest review. This is not the case for most people telling you about essential oils.)

A Note on How I Use Essential Oils

I use essential oils primarily in a diffuser as aromatherapy. However, I have no training whatsoever in aromatherapy, so I am not an expert. I use oils primarily to promote feelings like calm and peace, or to uplift and energize. I have not been diagnosed with any mental illnesses, but I feel sad and worried almost all the time, and have been using essential oils as one of the tools to manage these feelings. (I tried therapy but that is e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e.)

I also use essential oils in things like deodorant and as insect repellent, and for making household products smell nice (since we buy absolutely everything unscented). I like them. They make me happy.

I do not claim that essential oils can cure any diseases or illnesses. I have not tried them in that capacity. As of now, I have no idea whether they are capable of doing such things.

For that reason, I don’t have any super-duper strong feelings about which essential oil company has the *absolute most therapeutic* properties. There has been much debate about this matter in the comments of my previous post. In my experience, and from my understanding, Eden’s Garden sells excellent-quality, 100% pure essential oils that meet the highest measurable standards (…along with plenty of other companies). It helps that they are not paying me or anyone else to tell you that they are. That really boosts their credibility, in my opinion.

Why I Love Eden’s Garden

In addition to offering pure, high-quality oils, Eden’s Garden happens to have lots of other great things going for them, including:

• affordable prices (generally 40-60% less than DoTerra)
• a super-simple retail model: just buy what you want directly from the website
• tons of selection: currently, they sell 135 single oils and 58 synergy blends
• a variety of sizes to choose from, making them more affordable
• excellent customer service

All of these qualities have made me a happy customer in the past. (I explore these qualities more deeply in my other post.)

Review of Eden’s Garden’s 18 New Synergy Blends

I want to start by saying that I have been loooooooving these new synergy blends. I’ve been using them almost every day — mostly in my diffuser — and they delight my heart.

When I first opened up each bottle and took my first sniff, I was struck by how absolutely gorgeous each one smelled. Well, except maybe Repel, their insect repellent, but you can only make that smell so good.

I didn’t realize this at first, but all of EG’s 18 new synergy blends correspond with DoTerra blends. Eden’s Garden actually has a handy comparison chart to help you out if you’re looking for something specific. Super handy if you already know you want a particular DoTerra blend, but would like to try EG’s version!

(I have personally bought and loved a few DoTerra blends — namely, Serenity and Elevation — and the corresponding EG oils — Tranquility and Shine — smell identical to me. Completely indistinguishable. So I know where I will be getting my replacements from in the future!)

Another thing I want to note is that with all of these blends, it only takes 1-3 drops in my diffuser to fill my whole first floor with their scent. They are as potent as they are lovely.

Anyway.

Since I think it would be tedious to describe every single oil, I will just focus on my absolute favourites.

For Cleansing:

Aroma Fresh. This is possibly my very favourite blend. It gets used the most often. Delightfully fresh and clean, this one is a great deodorizer and purifier. It’s basically all the clean smells you love in one, including citrus and pine. After one particularly bad diaper catastrophe with the toddler, I diffused this blend, and the stink was gone in minutes. The scent that replaced it was so fresh, sweet, and invigorating, I have been in love ever since.

For Calm and Relaxation:

These three blends are the ones I reach for when I am seeking peace and calm. They are all great for meditation and yoga. I diffuse them when I’m feeling anxious or jittery.

Fearless. Calming and woodsy, this one is particularly soothing.

Worry Less. I especially like this one before bed, to help calm anxious thoughts.

Be Still. The most gorgeous, ethereal smell. This is what I imagine heaven smells like.

Awake and Aware. I think this one is inaccurately named. It’s more soothing than energizing. It’s floral, earthy, and wonderful. I consider this my “chill out” blend. Great for promoting focus and concentration.

For Energy and Vitality:

These are two of my favourites when I need to re-energize. I tend to reach for them during the afternoon slump, when I need to get my butt out of the chair and get moving. They are usually accompanied by a homemade iced coffee.

Shine. DoTerra’s Elevation has always been a favourite, and this blend is pretty much its twin. Floral, citrusy, and sweet, it always makes me happy.

Good Morning. Minty, sweet, invigorating, and fresh. A great way to start the day when you’re feeling sluggish.

A Few Others:

Gal Pal is a dumb name for an lovely blend that offers hormonal support. It contains several oils known to help balance hormones, like clary sage and vitex. Plus it smells amazing. I diffuse this one when I’m PMS-ing, and I think it helps. It at least helps me feel less murderous.

Allure is wonderfully feminine and delightful-smelling. Makes a great perfume.

Deep Breath really helped us all sleep at night when we all caught a weird summer cold and got all congested.

Repel – I added a few drops to my homemade insect repellant, along with citronella, peppermint, and eucalyptus, and it worked amazingly well while we were hiking in mosquito-infested forests.

___

So these were my favourites, but honestly, I love them all. As my life changes, I’m sure my needs will change, and I might find myself reaching for some of the others more often. For example, I haven’t had much use for Guardian, the germ-fighting blend, at this time of year. And I’ve never been much into massages, but maybe I’ll make more use of Circu-Touch in the future. (<–another dumb name, by the way. They should have run the names by me before selling them.)

*Again, I want to reiterate that I have no problem with DoTerra or MLM companies. I just tend to be suspicious of some of the salespeople’s claims, since they have a financial interest. And I’d rather shop in the more straightforward fashion that Eden’s Garden offers.

How about you? Are you already a die-hard fan of a certain essential oil supplier?

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A couple of years ago, the makers of Earth Runners contacted me and asked if I’d like to try a pair of their minimalist sandals for review. I said Yes, please! I’m embarrassed that it has taken me this long to finally share my review, only because my blog took a back seat in my life due to my son’s high needs. But on the positive side, I’ve had two full years to try them out. I know these sandals and I know that I love them!

Note: I received a free pair, but otherwise, I get nothing if you buy from them. I just think Earth Runners are an awesome product and I want to tell you about them! P.S. I chose the Circadian style, which has the thinnest sole.

Minimalist Sandals: The Second Best Option to Barefoot

As longtime readers know, I’m a passionate barefooter. As soon as the temperatures here in Canada are above freezing, you can see me traipsing about without shoes. I believe shoes are (for the most part) unnecessary at best, and harmful at worst. (I’ve written before about why I don’t wear shoes. Wellness Mama has a pretty great article on the benefits of going barefoot, too.)

But occasionally it’s good to wear shoes.

And at those times, I typically reach for my Earth Runners.

Honestly, my primary reasons for wearing shoes are (1) protection from the cold in winter, and (2) to keep people out of my business when I’m in stores and restaurants. (I used to enter public buildings barefoot all the time but got tired of being asked to leave just because I wasn’t wearing shoes.)

Granted, the sandals can’t really help with the first. I have to wear waterproof, insulated boots during our Canadian winters. (In these situations, I look for boots with the flattest soles. Even a one-inch heel can negatively affect your gait.)

But they’re fabulous the rest of the year, especially when I’m in public places.

Why I Love My Earth Runners

• They look awesome. Their appearance is unobtrusive and mainstream enough that they don’t draw attention (No one’s like, “WHAT ARE THOSE? Those aren’t regular sandals!”), but they’re stylish and unique enough that I get compliments from my friends. And they go with everything. Casual or semi-dressy. I’m equally comfortable wearing them to the grocery store, on a hike, to church, or on date night.

• They’re durable. They’re not your cheapo flip-flops made by slaves overseas that only last one season. They’re handmade in the USA. They are well-made and sturdy. You can hardly see any wear on mine after two years. All of the parts are strong and well-assembled.

• They’re so comfortable. The design of the straps keeps them so secure that they never chafe. The piece that goes between your toes is flat and smooth. Unlike flip-flops, they don’t require an adjustment period in the spring when I first start wearing them. I just slip them on and go. No weird rubbing. No awkward change in my gait pattern to keep them on.
• They’re as close to going barefoot as I can get. The thin, flexible sole allows my feet to experience the terrain and still move all my foot bones (unlike regular shoes, which immobilize your feet, essentially casting them). The wide toe area allows for proper toe spread. They even contain copper discs in the sole which allow your feet to “ground” with the earth, if that’s something that matters to you.
• Easy Sizing: If you’re reluctant to buy shoes online because you’re worried about sizing, Earth Runners has an awesome system for finding you the perfect size. They nailed my size exactly.

I still go barefoot more often than not, of course.

If you’re a fellow barefooter, here are the times when I’ve found it helpful to own a pair of minimalist sandals:

• In the early spring, when transitioning from winter footwear to going shoeless. My feet naturally get more sensitive over the winter when I spend most of my time indoors. It takes a few weeks to adjust to rough outdoor surfaces and colder temperatures in the spring. My Earth Runners are perfect for this.

• On trips, when I’ll be going in and out of a lot of stores/restaurants/museums. (Normally, if I’m just going into one store, I carry a pair of flip-flops I’ll slip on just before entering, but that’s a pain if I’m going in and out a lot. Better to just keep my pair of Earth Runners on.)

• When doing yard work. They’re helpful when I need to use a shovel, which are not barefoot-friendly, or when I mow the lawn and I don’t want my soles to be stained green.

So there you go. Whether you’re a full-time barefooter or you just want a healthier alternative to shoes, I love and highly recommend Earth Runners!

P.S. If you want to learn more about the health benefits of going barefoot from an actual expert, and would like information on how to safely transition to minimal footwear, I highly recommend the book Whole Body Barefoot by Katy Bowman. If you’ve been wearing conventional shoes your whole life you may need to transition carefully in order to avoid injury.

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I’ve discovered one benefit of not conceiving as planned: you have the opportunity to get to know your body really well.

Other couples decide they want a baby, go off the Pill, and BLAM: within a few months they’re pregnant. Without ever having really had a chance to learn about their bodies, or really understand how the whole process happened. Which is great, and I envy them; but it also means a bit of a missed opportunity.

Things are different when it takes you almost two years to conceive a much-desired baby — TWICE — and you’re a pathological researcher.

After three and a half combined years of reading, researching, charting, and making lifestyle changes in attempts to get pregnant, I’ve had the chance to learn a LOT. About the female body in general, and also about my body in particular.

I am currently pregnant with my second baby after 19 months of trying (and lots of reading in the meantime). I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve learned along the way.

Over the last five years, I’ve learned all about the reproductive system and how different hormones interact within the female body. I learned how to track my fertility signs via the fertility awareness method, so that I was familiar with my body’s monthly rhythms. I knew when I ovulated and when I hadn’t. I learned about how environment and food can play a part in all of it. I also learned about my body’s very specific strengths and difficulties.

And through gradual lifestyle changes, both times I was able to conceive naturally, without the help of drugs, surgery, or hormones.

I thought I’d share some of the steps I took, in case there are other women suffering from similar fertility issues, and could benefit from some of my research and experiences.

Please note that I am NOT a qualified expert, and that I have absolutely no scientific proof that any of these steps actually helped me get pregnant. It may have been none of them; it may have been all of them combined. It may have been luck or a miracle from God. I have no way of knowing. I just thought I’d share a few of the things I learned and tried. I hope it might act as a jumping-off place for your own research.

Also note that I was dealing with a very specific problem, which I identified through practicing fertility awareness. If you’re having trouble conceiving, it is very important that you learn the cause of the problem (if possible). This may require the help of a medical doctor or other fertility expert. Your problems could be completely different from my own, and so the steps I took might not be helpful for your situation. (The first step I would recommend, if you haven’t already been doing this, is learning fertility awareness.)

Image courtesy of Hey Paul

My Specific Problem: Short Luteal Phase

After several months of reading and charting, I began to recognize that my problem was that I had a luteal phase deficiency. In other words, I could see that I was ovulating every month, but my post-ovulatory phase — i.e. the luteal phase — was too short. This didn’t give the fertilized egg enough time to make it to the uterus before my uterine lining began to shed (i.e. before I got my period). (It usually takes the egg at least 10 days to travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus; my body was only giving it 6-8 days before initiating menstruation.) It was like a super-early miscarriage every month.

So I began to dig deeper into this very specific problem. I began to focus on the interaction between estrogen and progesterone, the two key hormones involved in the luteal phase.

Here’s a basic breakdown of the process: during the luteal phase, the ovarian follicle that released the egg — now the “corpus luteum” — starts releasing progesterone, which causes the uterine lining (endometrium) to thicken and sustain itself — to prepare for the implantation of the fertilized egg — until the corpus luteum disintegrates. But if it doesn’t release enough progesterone, the lining will start to shed prematurely, preventing implantation of the fertilized egg. Which means pregnancy can’t happen.

So in other words, a short luteal phase — which makes pregnancy impossible — is associated with low levels of progesterone. Fertility doctors frequently treat the condition with progesterone supplementation. I tend to be wary of medical intervention unless absolutely necessary, so I went searching for ways to increase progesterone levels naturally.

I learned from Marilyn Shannon’s Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition that low progesterone levels are usually associated with high estrogen (known as “estrogen dominance”). So part of increasing progesterone levels involves lowering estrogen levels. Many of the steps I list below have this in mind.

B vitamins and diet play a role in regulating estrogen and progesterone levels. As Shannon explains, “If B vitamins are lacking, the liver cannot effectively inactivate estrogen, and estrogen rises” (p. 69). Vitamin B6 in particular can elevate progesterone levels, which works synergistically with magnesium and zinc, among other nutrients.

SO. Having all that in mind, here are some of the things I did to help naturally balance my hormones to lengthen my luteal phase and encourage a natural conception.

Steps I Took To Help Conceive Naturally

Complete Weaning

I was still nursing my firstborn past her second birthday, when I started to get really anxious about having another baby. I really wanted her to have a sibling, but it just wasn’t happening.

Of course, LOTS of women get pregnant while breastfeeding, especially if breast milk is not the child’s primary source of sustenance (which, at two, it definitely wasn’t). But since I already struggled with low progesterone levels,  I guessed that continued nursing wasn’t doing me any favours. Lactating inhibits the development of the corpus luteum, which can lead to low progesterone levels and short luteal phases.

So I decided to completely wean my daughter as a step towards being able to conceive again.

Put on Some Weight

I am a naturally skinny lady. It’s just the way I was built, despite the fact that I love to eat. Extended breastfeeding (see above) also prevented me from gaining weight. And body fat is essential to a healthy pregnancy.

Plenty of slender women have no trouble getting pregnant, but my charts seemed to indicate that perhaps a low BMI was partly responsible for my low progesterone levels. According to Marilyn Shannon, if you have a low BMI, delayed ovulation (i.e. you don’t ovulate until Day 20 or later), along with a short luteal phase, you may be slightly underweight and could benefit from gaining a couple of pounds (p. 108).

Obviously, this was the most enjoyable step as it meant homemade ice cream or buttery stovetop popcorn every night, with the justification that is was “so Lydia can have a sibling.” I also began to put on more weight once I stopped nursing. I knew I was on the right track when my thighs started touching.

Supplementation: Optivite PMT and Vitex Agnus (Chasteberry)

As I mentioned, Vitamin B6, along with magnesium and a host of other vitamins and minerals, are essential to healthy progesterone levels.

I could have tried taking all these vitamins separately, but I discovered a multivitamin (again, via the great Marylin Shannon) that emphasizes these vitamins and is specifically designed balance estrogen and progesterone: Optivite PMT. I took it for several months both times I tried to conceive. It’s not ideal in that it’s a tablet, but it’s reasonably inexpensive and contains all the vitamins in the proportions I was looking for. I got mine directly from the manufacturer, here. (Don’t be weirded out by the format of the site. They delivered directly to my home for a low shipping rate.)

I also took Vitex Agnus (Chasteberry) in capsule form, an herb that is believed to affect many hormones that regulate women’s reproductive cycles. It is gentle, slow-working, and considered extremely safe. Some studies have suggested that it can increase progesterone (Shannon, p. 74). It is also fairly inexpensive and easy to find at your local health food store.

Supplementation: Transdermal Magnesium

I’d read that magnesium is essential in the production of progesterone; however, oral magnesium is very difficult for the body to assimilate. Many health gurus recommend taking magnesium transdermally — i.e. through the skin. It’s much more effective that way.

So I started using magnesium oil. I made my own, using magnesium flakes, and began applying it after showers and before bed. I would toss some Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) into my bath or the floor of the shower to soak some in.

Reducing All Phytoesterogens and Xenoestrogens in my Environment

As I mentioned, low progesterone levels are associated with elevated estrogen levels. And our environments today are incredibly high in phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens — that is, estrogen-mimicking chemicals that can build up in our bodies. These estrogen-like chemicals are found in plastics; body products like shampoo, makeup, deodorant, lotions, etc; and soy products. And they can wreak havoc on our hormones. So I got rid of all of them.  I worked to reduce the number of estrogens I was exposed to on a daily basis.

I ditched shampoo in favour of the no-poo method. I started making my own deodorant and lotion. I bought all-natural soaps and ditched all fragrances. I started storing my food in glass instead of plastic. And I cooked from scratch, since soy has a habit of hiding in the most surprising places in pre-packaged food.

I had already done these things with my first pregnancy, but when I found myself unable to get pregnant a second time, I tried to see if there were any more changes I could make. I switched out my homemade laundry detergent, which used Borax (and might contain estrogen-like properties), and started using soap nuts.

Progesterone Cream

When none of the above steps seemed to do enough, I finally gave in and started using over-the-counter progesterone cream. I went with Progestelle Progesterone Oil, since it only contains bioidentical progesterone and coconut oil. (Ironically, many progesterone creams contain xenoestrogens!). I applied it to my skin every cycle during my luteal phase, and continued to use it throughout my first trimester when I finally got pregnant.

Iodine Supplementation

My progesterone oil came with a booklet from the Women’s Therapaeutic Institute. In it, the authors suggest that iodine deficiency is often implicated in estrogen dominance. They recommend supplementing iodine. The cheapest and most effective way to take iodine, they suggest, is by applying it to your skin.

I bought a bottle of Lugol’s iodine from my local pharmacy and began applying one drop to my skin a day. I slowly increased this over the next 3 months to 15 drops a day. It stained my skin yellow wherever I applied it and made my laundry smell like iodine; but this is a small price to pay if it did indeed help me to conceive.

Further Reading

Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition – Marilyn M. Shannon. An invaluable resource for learning how to correct menstrual and fertility issues through diet and lifestyle.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility – Toni Weschler. My absolute favourite book on fertility awareness.

It was the spring of 2009. I sat down in my doctor’s office with trembling hands. Ben and I had decided we were ready to become parents. I’d stopped taking the Pill. I wanted to know what I should be doing to prepare my body for pregnancy.

My doctor listened to me as I explained my situation. She was silent for a few moments after I’d finished.

“Well,” she said. “You can start taking Materna.”

She thought a little more. It seemed like no one had ever asked that question before.

“I can test your blood to see if you need to renew your rubella vaccination.”

I agreed to it. I was just so relieved she wasn’t requiring a pap smear.

She took a vial of blood. I walked out. The next time I visited the grocery store, I picked up a bottle of those hard, pink tablets.

A year later, I still wasn’t pregnant.

By the grace of God, around that time I stumbled upon Natural Family Planning through my fellow marriage bloggers (I was writing for Project M at the time). I came across Naturally Knocked Up, which introduced me to the world of Nourishing Traditions and the Weston A Price Foundation – an upside-down world where saturated fats were good for you, whole grains were harmful unless soaked, fruits were overrated, and the best foods were alive with bacteria.

Through vigorous research, I learned and learned about my body. I got to know my cycles and learned to identify hormone problems just by observing cervical fluid. I discovered whole foods and herbal supplements and ancient wisdom about fertility and food.

I was becoming well-steeped in the knowledge of traditional foods when I finally, almost two years after that doctor’s appointment – to my heart’s exuberant joy — became pregnant and carried to term an extraordinarily healthy little girl.

* * *

Now that that little girl is running and jumping into toddlerhood, and my body is starting to return to its old rhythms, my mind is wandering to thoughts of Baby Number Two. This time, though, I’m in a whole new place.

I know how I want to prepare my body for pregnancy.

I am not, by ANY stretch, and expert on the matter. But a friend asked, and I thought I’d offer an overview of how I’m prepping my body for a second pregnancy. (For the record, that’s how little provocation it usually takes to get me to write about something. Just ask. Even if only one person cares, I probably will.)

I have no idea whether or not God will bless me with a second pregnancy. If he does, it might take years. His timing is not my timing, I have discovered.* But in the meantime, I want my body to be as ready as possible. I’m taking steps to make sure, in the event of a pregnancy, that my body is well-nourished and ready to support another life.

Here’s what I’m doing, and why.

(If you’re interested, you can follow my Future Babies pinboard, too.)

Step One: Re-Acquainting Myself with my Rhythms

Those who knew me when I was writing for Project M will remember all my posts about natural family planning or, as I prefer to call it, fertility awareness.

Fertility awareness helped me to identify low progesterone levels, which helped me to pinpoint what kind of supplements I needed to naturally improve my fertility.

Now that my cycles have been coming back, post-partum, I’m getting to know my body again — both to help me identify any problems and to help me and Ben to determine when would be the best time to conceive.

I will admit, I haven’t been all that vigilant with my observations and charting thus far. I’ve only been casually tracking – mostly because I’m not all that anxious to either conceive or postpone a pregnancy at this point (I’m fine either way), and also because I can tell my cycles aren’t quite back to normal yet. My little girl still nurses a LOT. And I used to rely on my basal body temperature quite a bit to identify my fertility peak, which is pretty much impossible when you co-sleep with a toddler who still wakes up a couple of times at night. But I’m becoming vaguely aware of what’s going on.

I’ll get more serious about charting when I get more serious about conceiving.

Step Two: Supplements

I’ve been doing some research about what supplements to take in preparation for a second pregnancy. Most of my decisions have been based on this post from Wellness Mama (as well as this one about morning sickness).

My two main concerns at this point are (a) making sure my baby would have enough of the right nutrients, and (b) preventing morning sickness.

(For the record, I didn’t have terrible morning sickness with my first pregnancy. It was bearable. I only vomited once. But so many friends had it way worse the second time around; I want to be prepared, if at all possible.)

The supplements I’ve started:

Folate

We all know how folic acid is important before and during the first trimester to prevent neural tube defects. Only, folic acid is very difficult for the body to assimilate. That’s why I’m taking folate, which, according to the bottle, is “body-ready.”

Magnesium

A number of articles (Wellness Mama, Mommypotamus, Modern Alternative Mama) suggest that morning sickness may be (among other things) the consequence of a magnesium deficit. Apparently most people are low on magnesium and could benefit from supplementation anyway.

It seems that magnesium can be hard to absorb when taken orally, though.  (Most of it passes through, which can cause diarrhea). So the best way to absorb magnesium is through your skin.

That’s why I bought Magnesium Oil and have been taking it transdermally for the last couple of weeks – in other words, I’ve been spraying it onto my skin. (Apparently, you can make your own magnesium oil, which is a lot cheaper.)

Just yesterday, I got my magnesium in liquid ionic formin the mail, so I can begin adding it to my food as well in tiny amounts (to avoid the whole diarrhea thing), and working up from there.

One thing that is supposed to make magnesium easier to absorb is Vitamin D. Which leads me to my next supplement . . .

Fermented Cod Liver Oil

I’d been reading about this stuff since I first got into the whole Nourishing Traditions thing. But I was reluctant to buy it because

(a) it’s dang expensive, and

(b) it sounds disgusting. I didn’t want to sink a bunch of money into something I’d never actually take.

But I’ve been SO CURIOUS for SO LONG, and I finally felt there was a little room in our budget, so I ordered a bottle.

I’d read it was amazing for boosting your immune system, so I wanted it in the house for the cold and flu season. It helped that I wanted to start prepping my body for pregnancy as well, because I knew that The Weston A. Price Foundation recommends it as a superfood during pregnancy for proper development of baby’s brain, bone structure and more.

Fermented cod liver oil is a great source of Vitamins, D & A and Omega-3s, which are all important to a growing baby’s development. And, like I said, Vitamin D is essential for proper absorption and use of magnesium in the body, which I’m also taking.

I got the butter oil/cod liver oil blend, in the flavoured gel form — cinnamon tingle. Dr. Price is quoted as having said that high-vitamin butter oil and fermented cod liver oil together “work like magic” to boost your immunity and help improve your overall health.

(I got most of my information from here, if you want to read more).

So you’re wondering how bad it tastes? Not bad at all! It tastes like slightly funky cinnamon hearts.

The trouble is the texture. Swallowing down a glob of gelatinous fat — cinnamon-flavoured or not — is inevitably going to be a little tricky. But I don’t have an overly-sensitive gag reflex, so as long as I chase it with a bit of coconut oil/cocoa/honey fudge, I’m OK. (The fudge doesn’t mask it or anything; it just acts as an incentive.)

* * *

OK, this post is getting ridiculously long. I’ll just say that I’m still interested in some kind of natural, whole-food multivitamin, in case I’m missing anything. But I feel like I’ve got the essentials nailed. I’m considering this homemade herbal multivitamin tincture. But I might still go with some kind of commercial capsule, if I can find a good one. (Nothing with synthetic vitamin A, though.) Any recommendations?

I haven’t even gotten started on diet — how I’m eating lots of healthy fats (mmmmm, butter) and protein, plenty of vegetables, cultured foods, raw milk and homemade bone broth. But I’m not changing anything in my diet — this is the way I always try to eat now.

What are your thoughts? Have you done, or are you doing, anything to prepare for pregnancy? Anything you’d like to learn more about?

*See the comments for an interesting discussion of whether God blesses us with pregnancies.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. 
If you buy anything, I get a teensy commission.