Avoiding Preeclampsia

The Bradley Method® encourages pregnant moms to follow the Brewer Pregnancy Diet, for MANY reasons, one of which is avoiding preeclampsia, as we learn in class. When you have to pee in a cup at essentially every appointment, one of the things they are looking for is protein in your urine (a symptom involving malnutrition and/or preeclampsia).


Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. It can lead to eclampsia, which can cause convulsions and is potentially fatal (2% of cases).


Although it is not a well-understood disease, it is very serious and incurable, generally needing to induce or deliver the baby to avoid further complications. Amazingly, Dr. Brewer discovered a well-balance and high protein diet essentially eradicated this previously unknown disease from a susceptible population of women, repeated through many years. Unfortunately, possibly because it was not a randomized, double-blind trial which would have included the purposeful malnourishment of pregnant mothers to show the non-placebo effect of the diet, the Brewer Pregnancy Diet has not been as widely taught to OB/GYN and therefore as many pregnant moms as you might think.


Remember that eating well for your baby is the single most important thing you can do while he/she is growing inside of you. You might ask your doctor or midwife about their knowledge/recommendation about the Brewer Pregnancy diet and see what they say... let me know!