© 2010, Carol Peterson, ICCE, CD(DONA) Erie, PA
Birth Journeys
Carol Peterson, ICCE, HCHI, CD(DONA)
Instilling Confidence in Birth Since 2004
814-899-7722 * cbecarol@yahoo.com * Erie, PA
Healthy and Low-Risk: Feed Your Body! Written by Carol Peterson, HCHI, ICCE, CD(DONA)
Ten years ago when I attended a Bradley class with my first pregnancy, I learned
about the many benefits of The Brewer Diet. I was excited to find out this exact
nutritional plan is part of the Hypnobabies curriculum as one of the ways to help
stay low-risk.
The one area that seems to be woefully lacking in maternity care, or
health care period, is information on how to live healthfully. In a climate where
there is a pill for everything that ails you, the remedy for the ailment seems to
be easier than prevention. Rather than teach a woman how to care for her blossoming
body, let's just put her on meds or induce her if her blood pressure gets too high.
Before I go much further, an important note to you moms out there that had premature babies, or high blood pressure, or pre-eclampsia: You are not to feel guilty after reading this. How can you know what was not explained to you? Maybe you heard to eat well, but unless there is a case of gestational diabetes, chances are no one ever presented you with a sound nutritional plan for pregnancy.
And, I know that some of you did everything text book perfect: followed a good eating plan, exercised, and slept well… and still ended up with complications. If this happened to you, rest assured that you did all you could. Sometimes stuff happens.
Now on to our featured presentation…
The Brewer Diet is named after obstetrician Tom
Brewer who spent most of his career studying nutrition and pregnancy. The plan’s
main components are a 2,600 calorie a day diet, 80-120 grams of protein daily, unrestricted
weight gain and salt to taste. To be sure, this eating plan is anything but restrictive.
If after eating a day’s worth of veg, grains, fruit, proteins, eggs and water to
thirst you still have room for that bowl of Chunky Monkey, go for it and be guilt
free. Hey, ice cream is protein right?
Dr. Brewer’s research found that a lot of complications of pregnancy come from a lack of protein, including pregnancy-inducted high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, premature birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and more. He used this eating plan with his own patients, and rarely saw these complications.