Who else is on the Brewer Diet?

[Rikki Jean]

I'm going to guess that a lot of us here are following the Brewer Diet, but, hey, you never know!

I've found that I'm having a much harder time keeping up with it this time than I did the first time around. When I was pg with DS, I was so good about keeping track of every little thing that I ate, and I ALWAYS made sure to get in a good 90g of protein every day, as well as all of the required foods for the week. This time, it's more of an eat what I can, when I can/need to, and hope that I get everything in.

I'm on a mission to change that though. Yesterday I realized that I was experiencing a salt deficiency, and it was really a wake up call to get my butt in gear and take care of myslef and this baby!

So, who else is Brewer-ing? What are you doing to make it easy to get everything in? Are you using the pink sheet Bradley teachers give out, or the interactive spreadsheet that you can now download on the Bradley website? Or, are you keeping track at all? What are your favorite healthy protein foods that you seem to be getting a lot of?

[yogachick79]

I'd love to know more about the Brewer Diet. I read a bit about it when I was preg with DS but remember it seeming hard with being vegetarian. Does that sound right to you?

I need to watch my weight a bit just because I have a history of high weight gain with the past two. So I am working hard 90% of the time

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by yogachick79

I'd love to know more about the Brewer Diet. I read a bit about it when I was preg with DS but remember it seeming hard with being vegetarian. Does that sound right to you?

I need to watch my weight a bit just because I have a history of high weight gain with the past two. So I am working hard 90% of the time

Here is their website address, although it seems to be having some issues on a lot of the links (it's said "under construction" for MONTHS ): www.blueribbonbaby.org. Here's a page I couldn't seem to get to on the website, but I found through a google search: www.blueribbonbaby.org/brewerdiet.shtml. It mentions vegitarian eating.

The Bradley site has some good info on it too: http://bradleybirth.com/PD.aspx


What does high weight gain mean for you, if you don't mind sharing? I'm only wondering because some people think or are told by their doctors that 40lbs is huge, but Dr. Brewer talks a lot about it being so different for every woman, and that a healthy diet is more important than any number of pounds.

I followed the diet pretty strictly with my first pregnancy. I gained about 35lbs. I had a pattern of borderline high bp throughout the entire pg, but it was never just high enough to risk out of my mw's practice. I truly believe with the circumstances that this diet saved me from pre-eclamsia or toxemia.

I can definitely see how it can be more work for a vegitarian, but it's soooo healthy for you and your baby. And, there are a lot of protein choices that you can make to make up for the lack of meat. Nuts are full of protein, dark leafy greens are great, and dairy is a pretty easy protein source too. It seems like a lot of work when you first read about it and think about eating this way, but it becomes pretty routine and you get used to it, so then it's no biggie. And, you feel so great and healthy (well, I did anyway! ).

[Monkeybutt]

I followed it with my first. I had a really hard time getting 90 of protein a day. That is a lot of food! But thats back when I thought a cheese burger was a good form of protein!

I am trying to follow it this time but like you, I am having a hard time with it!

Plus, who can drink 8(?) glasses of milk a day? Ewwww! LOL

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by Monkeybutt

I followed it with my first. I had a really hard time getting 90 of protein a day. That is a lot of food! But thats back when I thought a cheese burger was a good form of protein!

I am trying to follow it this time but like you, I am having a hard time with it!

Plus, who can drink 8(?) glasses of milk a day? Ewwww! LOL

You don't have to have eight glasses of milk...just four servings of it, which can be substituted with other forms of dairy too. And 80 is enough; the diet's guidelines say 80-100g/day.

Today's my first day back on the horse with this, and so far so good. It's only 3:20 though, so who knows... Seriously though, I need to follow my own advice in the previous post, about just sticking to it and it eventually easing up. I know that last time, it quickly became very easy to get it all in, and I didn't have to even try hard anymore.

[Rikki Jean]

yogachick79, I found this link for you: http://www.mamashealth.com/veggie/protein.asp.

I also wanted to add that as far as grains go, sprouted grain products are packed with protein. I eat a lot of Food for Life's Ezekiel 4:9 cereals and breads; one slice of bread has 9g of protein in it!

HTH!

[myjulybabes]

Just a couple links for your perusal:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=14583907

http://www.mothering.com/sections/ex...l#preeclampsia

I'm not trying to start any kind of debate here, I know that we're all just wanting what is best for our babies. But if you're trying to prevent pre-eclampsia via this diet, it's worth taking a look at other information.

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

Just a couple links for your perusal:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=14583907

http://www.mothering.com/sections/ex...l#preeclampsia

I'm not trying to start any kind of debate here, I know that we're all just wanting what is best for our babies. But if you're trying to prevent pre-eclampsia via this diet, it's worth taking a look at other information.

Thanks for the links!

As far as I can tell, the evidence in the first link is supporting a high protein diet....it's very obnoxiously formatted, so maybe I'm just jumbling things up, but that's what I'm taking from that. I do agree with what it says about protein alone not being able to make or break your pregnancy. Phisical activity is extremely important too; I just hadn't mentioned anything about that because I was referring specifically to the Brewer diet here, and not just a healthy pg in general.

I will say that I don't think it gives enough credit to the role that nutrition plays in development. This statement really bothers me:

Dietary advice appears effective in increasing pregnant women's energy and protein intakes but is unlikely to confer major benefits on infant or maternal health.

: I think that's a far cry from the truth.

As far as the second link goes, I did/am doing cal/mag, fish oil, and a buch of other stuff to this time and last. So far, my bp is low, but it's still early...I was on a bunch of other herbs for my bp last time too, and it always managed to stay just below the radar. I'm also not only on this diet for my bp, but just for the overall health of the babe, period.

Also, as far as I understand, the Brewer Diet has a 100% success rate for prevention of toxemia and pre-eclampsia. The reference to the women in Africa who failed on a high protein diet is not really solid, imo, since we don't really know the control factors or what was going on with the rest of their health.

[myjulybabes]

That first link, the stuff all does run together, doesn't it? Sorry I couldn't find a better format This is specifically what I was referring to though: (SGA meaning "small for gestational age")

In two trials involving 1076 women, high-protein supplementation was associated with a small, nonsignificant increase in maternal weight gain but a nonsignificant reduction in mean birthweight, a significantly increased risk of SGA birth, and a nonsignificantly increased risk of neonatal death

What I got from the article as a whole was that slightly increased protein as part of an overall balanced diet had some positive effects, but strictly high protein supplementation did not.

Also, as far as I understand, the Brewer Diet has a 100% success rate for prevention of toxemia and pre-eclampsia

His own case studies indicate that, but to the best of my knowledge, noone else has been able to repeat those results. Nutritional research is hard, because it relies primarily on self-reporting, which isn't always the most accurate. But still, the fact that it's never been repeated makes me a bit skeptical.

I don't doubt that a healthy, balanced diet is quite important in pregnancy. I just have doubts about high protein diets.

I should probably bow out though. As someone who's had pre-e twice, this gets to be an overly emotional topic for me.

[welldone]

I'm Brewering here, too. I keep track with a little spreadsheet on my fridge, and I use cut up old magnets to track my servings and such. I was supposed to post a picture of the setup on an older thread, but forgot...I'll see if I can't get a pic for you all this time.

[StacieM]

I did want to Brewer, but didn't really keep up with it. I think I need to print out the information again and maybe get back on it a bit more.

Thanks for posting this.

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

That first link, the stuff all does run together, doesn't it? Sorry I couldn't find a better format This is specifically what I was referring to though: (SGA meaning "small for gestational age")

I just wish that they would list how significant that was, kwim? IMO, significant can be a relative word, and can be manipulated to fit any situation.

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

What I got from the article as a whole was that slightly increased protein as part of an overall balanced diet had some positive effects, but strictly high protein supplementation did not.

Oh, and I definitely agree! I think the high-protein diet is really important, but it needs to be balanced with other aspects of nutrition and also good phisical activity. The Brewer Diet also emphasizes fruits and veggies and carbs, so it's not like it's on the Atkins level of high-protein diets. There is balance.

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

His own case studies indicate that, but to the best of my knowledge, noone else has been able to repeat those results. Nutritional research is hard, because it relies primarily on self-reporting, which isn't always the most accurate. But still, the fact that it's never been repeated makes me a bit skeptical.

I can understand your skepticism on that one.

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

I should probably bow out though. As someone who's had pre-e twice, this gets to be an overly emotional topic for me.

Josie, I hope I didn't make you feel like you needed to be on the defense or anything like that. I was replying in a hurry earlier, so I'm sorry if I sounded like I was being short with you. Isn't there a "good vibes" smiley around here somewhere? I can't seem to find it...

Anyway, to you for having to go through pre-e twice. I'm sending prayers your way to not get it a third time!

Originally Posted by welldone

I'm Brewering here, too. I keep track with a little spreadsheet on my fridge, and I use cut up old magnets to track my servings and such. I was supposed to post a picture of the setup on an older thread, but forgot...I'll see if I can't get a pic for you all this time.

So, is that like a DIY MOTH organizer for the Brewer Diet?

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by StacieM

I did want to Brewer, but didn't really keep up with it. I think I need to print out the information again and maybe get back on it a bit more.

Thanks for posting this.

NP!

[Heather Marie]

My midwife would really like me to follow the Brewer's diet. I am a lacto ovo vegetarian and she gave me several pages that outline how to follow the Brewer's Diet as a vegetarian. I haven'r really kept up with it as of yet, it seems a little overwhelming to me. Please share how you all keep track daily?

[maisiedotes]

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean

yogachick79, I found this link for you: http://www.mamashealth.com/veggie/protein.asp.

I also wanted to add that as far as grains go, sprouted grain products are packed with protein. I eat a lot of Food for Life's Ezekiel 4:9 cereals and breads; one slice of bread has 9g of protein in it!

HTH!

Thanks for posting this. I am veg too and have been a bit worried about protein. I am headed to the health food store today and will definitely grab some Ezekiel bread... I love the pecan one.

ETA: I have an appointment today with the Dr- my printer is not working so I am hoping she will give me some written info. I am notorious for writing stuff down and losing it.....

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean

Josie, I hope I didn't make you feel like you needed to be on the defense or anything like that. I was replying in a hurry earlier, so I'm sorry if I sounded like I was being short with you. Isn't there a "good vibes" smiley around here somewhere? I can't seem to find it...

Anyway, to you for having to go through pre-e twice. I'm sending prayers your way to not get it a third time!

It's all good. The only thing I really don't like about the diet is that it claims to be a miracle cure for pre-e, which can make some women blame themselves, when all the other research out there shows that we just simply don't know what causes it...yet.

But a healthful diet does effect a lot more than just this one condition, so there's very likely to be some benefit to this, or any other balanced healthy program, just maybe not the exact ones it's trying to claim. If that makes sense.

Anyway, I just wanted to stick my 2 cents in. Back to your regularly scheduled support for following the plan! (fyi, I find having a kind of chart helps me remember my medications and supplements, perhaps that would be helpful for marking off servings of each particular food group you're going for?)

[maisiedotes]

I found this link- it is in a slideshow format and has lots of good sounding stuff:

http://nutrition.birthingnaturally.n...iles/frame.htm

[sorteep]

I am doing it but had to modify (nut allergy and slight dairy allergy, gluten sensitive) so I have to use other than heavy dairy for protein, I am a big proponent of hunter gatherer paleodiet omnivorous eating for many folks (but healthy diet is person specific and should be personalized.. many variables) I am not a big grain based diet fan, for many reasons.. this works for me (and many of my nutrition patients) but is certainly not for everyone.. any eating style can be adapted to include higher percentages of protein if you want to.. it *just* takes planning.. (yeah,, in all our spare time and with all our spare energy!! yikes!!) I must say, though, no matter the eating style, healthy nutrition is very important, PG or not... Bon Apetit!

[Rikki Jean]

Originally Posted by Heather Marie

Please share how you all keep track daily?

The Bradley website has a great interactive spreadsheet that you can download. Here's the link: http://bradleybirth.com/PD.aspx. I just started using it, but it's been waaaay helpful. And, it's adds everything up for you; a big plus for my preggo brain!

[MamaHippo]

My midwife recommends the Brewer diet, but I just cant do the liver thing. Youre supposed to eat at least one serving of liver a week, but I've never been able to stomach any kind of organ meat. We've been doing the 2 eggs a day thing as much as possible, but by now at 18 weeks if i eat another fried egg for breakfast I think I'll turn into one.
I've been really bad about.....the vegetables part :
My appetite has come and gone, and due to a lot of stress lately I'm just not all that hungry and i feel ill after eating, so that usually means meals are yogurt or peanut butter toast. I've GOT to get better about getting in all the colors of veggies, not just steamed broccoli.

I gained 55 lbs with DS and just ate myself silly on cheeseburgers and Slurpees, so I've got to really watch it this time. But at 18 weeks I am only 5 lbs heavier than my pre-preg weight, and my midwife says thats just fine. Her thinking is, better to pack the weight on in the late 2nd and 3rd trimesters. By now with DS I had already gained 20 lbs :