Baby Countdown and the Brewer Diet

3 weeks until our due date!

Last week I probably gave out too much info. for a blog post on preparing for labor and delivery using the Bradley Method. That really only skimmed the surface.

This week I wanted to post a little (maybe :) ) on the diet recommended by Dr. Bradley and also my midwife, the Brewer's Diet. I was first introduced to this diet when we were expecting our 7th baby, Maleah, by our midwife. It really was not that different than how I normally ate, except the increase in dairy and protein.

I am sure there are some of you out there who cannot tolerate dairy, and so you would have to tweak this some.  I knew that if I had to increase dairy then I needed to try and find the best products out there. We, after some research, decided to go to raw milk.  We also tried to buy raw cheese or atleast organic as much as possible.

Good nutrition is advised by most, I know. But, the emphasis of good nutrition, I fear, is not pushed near like it should be in a normal prenatal care setting. Our midwife knew that proper nutrition could and would prevent many complications that so many women face during their pregnancy and also during labor. It also makes for a healthier baby!

A good diet can prevent toxemia, anemia, abruption of the placenta, severe infections of the lungs, kidneys, and liver, miscarriage, etc...

So, what does Dr. Brewer, an OB who practiced for 40 years, recommend as a good, nutritious, balanced diet?

Every day of the week the expecting mother and baby needs:

1 quart (4 cups!) of milk. If concerned with calories, you can drink skim or 1 percent (yuck!). (I drink whole milk) You could also substitute cheese and yogurt.

2 eggs

1-2 servings of fish, chicken, turkey, lean beef, veal, lamb, pork, liver, or kidney.
alternatives include: Rice with beans, cheese or milk/cornmeal with beans, cheese, tofu or milk/beans with rice, bulgur, cornmeal, whole wheat noodles, sesame seeds or milk/peanuts with sunflower seeds and milk/whole wheat bread or noodles with beans, cheese, peanut butter, milk or tofu.
Cheese- 6 oz. cottage cheese, 3 oz. cheddar, 3 oz, swiss, 4 oz. monterey jack.

5 servings of whole grain breads, rolls, cereals or pancakes, 100 percent bran flakes, granola, shredded wheat, wheat germ, oatmeal, buckwheat or whole wheat pancakes, corn bread, tortillas, corn, bran or whole wheat muffins, waffles, brown rice.

One or two servings of fresh, green leafy vegetables; mustard, beet, collard, dandelion or turnip greens, spinach, leafy lettuce (not iceberg), cabbage, broccoli, kale, swiss chard.

2 choices from these that supply Vit. C; 1 whole potato, large green or red bell pepper, grapefruit, lemon, lime, papaya, tomato, kiwi, strawberries.

3 pats of real butter

In addition, include in your diet:
A yellow or orange colored vegetable or fruit 5x a week.

Liver once a week (if you like it!)

Table salt (Real Salt) to taste

Water: drink to thirst (don't get dehydrated)

It is important for the mother and baby not to go even 24 hours without good food!

Whew, that is a lot of food. I really thought that I would get as big as a cow eating like this. I gained around 25 pounds with the last baby and looks like it will be close to that this time. I feel good and Maleah was and is still a very healthy little girl.

I do happen to be a firm believer that good nutrition would cut out a lot of health problems that we see in our nation. From little ones to the older generation. We will not ever be perfect, but let's try to do what we can to make the quality of our life better by eating foods as close as possible to the way God created them.

Thankful that all of these foods are within reach when so many struggle to find enough food to stay alive,

Nichole