Home » Parenting & Kids » Pregnancy » Pregnancy Complications

Please share your pre-eclampsia experience or worries here. Did you or someone you know follow Brewer's diet?

From the lens My Pre-eclampsia Story.

  • roy May 28, 2012 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    my name is Roy when I went to my 29week appointment I was told everything looked great just like all my other appointments. I went home to c family on the second day I woke up.with abdominal pain and I didnt feel my baby move very much the pain went away I soon fell back asleep when I woke up my entire body was swollen I couldnt bend my fingers elbows or knees because of the swelling I was taken to the hospital when they weighed me I had gained 40lbs of water weight literally overnight they had to put a catheter in to get urine out of me I had so much protein init they said they were surprise my kidneys worked ten minutes later I hit renal failure they had to put an iv in my neck becausr it was the only part of me not swollen the did an emergency c section my.daughter was 2lbs she stayed in the nicu for 2months but now she weighs 5lbs
  • Norma Mar 16, 2012 @ 4:58 am | delete
    Hi all, I really need your input. I have given birth to a baby girl at my 29th week of pregnancy while I was on a 2-days vacation with my husband in Amsterdam! Actually I reached "Eclampsia" and had 4 ecliptic seizures in my brain. My baby was born with a weight of 920 grams= 2.02825 lb and had to stay in the incubator for 1month and a half. I was really VERY VERY SICK!!!
    My doctor back home in Beirut who is a graduated of a very prestigeous University in the US never paid any attention to my enormous swelling. I gained 11 Kg in one month only and he never stopped at that!
    It was a very big misery to both me and my husband especially that this is our first baby that I gave birth by C-section in a foreign country where we confronted language barriers!!!!!!!! I will always be grateful to the medical services that we were sanctioned by people of the Netherlands. Very humanistic doctors and nurses who really supported us very well.
    My little girl is thx God now in good health and growing.
    I am afraid of any other pregnancy- Should I quit the idea and restrict myself to one baby anf that's it???? what do you suggest????
  • rainbowruffles Oct 14, 2011 @ 10:13 am | delete
    Thanks for posting a lens on this information. I am currently seven months pregnant and am experiencing these symptoms. The doctor told me to keep an eye on my bp, especially during the time I have a headache. Your lens has been most informative, but I must say that after reading through it I feel a little more worried. Very nice lens!
  • missing my son Sep 9, 2011 @ 5:08 am | delete
    I lost my son aug. 12, 2011...he was stillborn. I was 24 weeks and 5 days. I was admitted to the hospital a week before and I still remember everything happening so fast. My b/p was 150/sumthn...and protein was 1700 so the plan was wait until it got to 5000...the day he died, we planned to deliver him early..I went to get ultrasound and there was no heartrate. My heart broke. Im still crushed. I dnt knw if pre e came because I was eating so much salt or what but my story ends sad...I had to have a c sec...I am now laying here w/empty arms..I think about my baby every day. I guess hes in heaven watching over his parents..I miss him being inside my stomach..only God knows...and he know best. That's what I remind myself..
  • Lost my baby on 18th august 2011 Nov 1, 2011 @ 6:14 am | delete
    Sorry to hear about your son.I had preeclampsia and HELLP happened to me within a shortspan of one week and had to deliver my baby girl withIUGR.hours later we lost our angel.So I can feel the depth of your pain.Are you planning for another baby.
  • Laura Aug 23, 2011 @ 1:33 am | delete
    I survived Pre-eclamsia, but my precious son passed away from this horrific disease.

    I was watching my blood pressure slowly climb around 20 weeks and swelling started. My Doc's told me not to worry but to "keep an eye" on future visits. If i did not have medical training of my own and the sense to go out and buy my own blood pressure machine then who knows where i would be right now. I caught my blood pressure at 171/112 and drove myself to the hospital.
    my protein levels were at 5,400 and then over 7,000.

    I had my beautiful baby boy on Aug 1, 2011 after spending 8 traumatic days in the hospital with early-onset severe pre-eclampsia. he was 29 weeks 4 days and weighed 2 lbs.
    I had 3 days with my son in the NICU and then he passed suddenly. (still waiting for autopsy report)

    I ate wonderfully (balanced, organic) my entire pregnancy while following a diet given to be by a nutritionist, i exercised, I did not drink coffee, i laid on my left side, etc..... i did EVERYTHING right by my baby. and he still passed away because of this awful disease.

    There are no words to describe how awful this disease is.

    I miss my son every day. and i i do not understand how and why this happened to us.

    People say "everything happens for a reason".... but there will NEVER be a good enough reason to explain this away.
    I love my son and i did everything i could for him and i should be holding him right now.
  • Gina Jul 22, 2011 @ 8:15 am | delete
    Thank you for sharing your preeclampsia story. Great lens! I'll be sure to try this g
  • A grieving gramma Jul 7, 2011 @ 4:14 pm | delete
    My daughter-in-law just delivered a five pound baby girl a month early due to eclampsia. She had been following a vegetarian diet, with eggs and milk but not very much. She didn't count grams of protein. I don't know what the Brewer's diet is, but wish I did so I could understand the comments better. It doesn't matter, though. Whatever I find out and try to communicate gets ignored, angrily. Everyone else "supports" her (they are not!!!), including her obstetrician. The doctor said the eclampsia wasn't related to her sacred vegetarianism (her doctor hadn't told her, during the pregnancy, she should try to eat a certain amount of protein, and never asked her to write down exactly what she was eating), the hospital said the baby wasn't really a month premature, they'd changed the definition for full term (how convenient), her family thinks she is way too smart not to have eaten correctly during her pregnancy. So I don't have anyone to help her smarten up. She's continuing the vegetarian diet! And she's got a pediatrician who "supports" vegetarianism, although neither nor his own children are vegetarian, isn't that so good of him? She says, regarding nursing, that the doctor told her that if she didn't eat well, the milk would still be good, the deficit would come out of her own body. Like that was just fine. And anyway, the milk will stop eventually, and slow down pretty quick, so what do they mean, the milk would still be "good"? Then the baby goes on a soy based formula. They'd never make their own formula, because of their aversion to animal products, so they'll just love soy (the dad, my son, for example, says he's not a vegetarian--but he flips out eating any kind of meat anyway, because of what he read regarding the sanitary conditions in the meat industry). Soy milk and other food products (emphasis on product--it's all very processed) are said to have too much of a certain chemical that works like an estrogen and some people think it's use in formula is related to so much early menarche--I didn't know I knew that word, early menstruation--observed presently among girls.

    So I don't want that to happen.

    This is an old thread, I was looking for info, but hello to anyone still following the thread.
  • irbit Feb 22, 2011 @ 2:31 pm | delete
    Isha, what a nightmare! You are at a greater risk of developing preeclampsia/eclampsia again because you have history and also because of such severity of your case. Before you decide to get pregnant, you should get tested for any underlying disorders and conditions. I know you are anxious to hear of similar cases to yours but the truth is that you will never know 100% whether it will happen again or not.
    Please visit and get registered on Preeclampsia Foundation forum - it is full of women in the same shoes as well as experts, doctors, etc.
    Best wishes x
  • isha Feb 21, 2011 @ 6:26 pm | delete
    hiya i fell pregnant at the age of 14 (i know way to young) and had a very healthy pregnancy no sign whatsoever of pre eclampsia however when i went into labour i had headaches and was feeling sick ( wich is actually very normal for someone in labour), when the nurse said she would check me out down below at the hospital i turnt round and had a huge fit. my blood pressure went so high that my brain swelled and i stopped breathing. i also lost my memory for around 2 weeks. i carried on having fits for 4 days which is very rare. i had a fit for 26 minutes and they thought i had a stroke because my whole right side went numb. i didnt know i had even had a baby at this point other then my family keeping on telling me. the doctors diagnosed me with sever sudden onset eclampsia apparently its very rare to have it as severly as i had. i was 15 when i gave birth. im 17 now and my daughter is lovely i couldnt have wished for anything better, however i dont know enough about how rare my condition was i dont know if i only got it because i was so young or what and this makes me terrified incase i want more children in the future, obviously i dont know anyone who has ever had this severe problem so if any one out there reads this and had what i had i would love for you to email me about your situation and if youve had more kids or whatever it would be nice to know. thanks isha. ishaelliott@hotmail.co.uk xxx thanks xxx
  • irbit Feb 10, 2011 @ 2:29 pm | delete
    Rachel, I am sorry you are experiencing complications. You didn't say how many weeks you were. Was your proteinuria coupled with hypertension? PE is diagnosed when there are both symptoms present. Proteinuria alone might be a sign of some other illness.
    Now re Brewer diet - of course I understand that one would try anything possible! However, as I mention above not only there is no evidence that this diet works but also high protein diet is generally not recommended during pregnancy and might cause harm as your kidneys are struggling as it is. 650mg is high but not too scary (again, you don't say what your BP or labs are). Mine was around 5000mg when I delivered.
    Keep us updated and keep "cooking" that baby inside for as long as possible!
  • Rachael Feb 9, 2011 @ 4:20 pm | delete
    I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia one week ago with 630mg of protein in my urine. The entire 7 days they kept me in the hospital I followed Dr. Brewers diet. Yesterday I did another 24 hour urine screening, and my protein had dropped to 500mg, and they let me go home. I am not saying that it was diet that did it for me, but it was such a simple thing to do, and it obviously didn't hurt anything! I will continue to follow the diet, and hope for the best. Sometimes, you do anything that has even the smallest chance of helping
    !!
  • irbit Feb 4, 2011 @ 9:27 am | delete
    Audrey, it's wonderful that your sister's second pregnancy was a success story.

    Now regarding your last statement - I now too many women who followed this diet and kept track and still ended up with PE/HELLP/Eclampsia. And they tried very very hard. I will continue to condemn this diet because what it's followers and people like you effectively mean that this could have been avoided if only they (including your sister) ate better and kept diet sheets...
    Just recently I have met a lady who had severe preeclampsia in her first and second pregancies. She realised she was pregnant again 5 months into her 3rd pregnancy. She worked long hours in a very stressful job, drank littres of coffee and had a dodgy diet during those 5 months. Guess what - 4 months later she had a quick and easy home birth with no complications...
    Your friend, my friend... Where is the solid evidence after all these decades and why aren't the best medics in the world using this miracle diet???
  • audrey31p Feb 3, 2011 @ 9:03 pm | delete
    My sister had to be induced 4 weeks early with her first, still managed to have no pain meds, but still had a very difficult time, what with Mag sulfate and developed HELLP immediately after delivery. When it all started, her blood pressure had been creeping up over a few weeks and they'd kept an eye on it. She had somewhat followed Brewer's diet but WAS NOT tracking her nutrition every day, as she told me (and I know first hand that it's hard to make sure I'm eating right in pregnancy if I don't track it on my diet sheet each day).
    With her 2nd pregnancy this past year, she was sending me her diet sheets, tracking every day (I am an AAHCC childbirth educator) and at one checkup, there was trace protein in her urine and slightly elevated blood pressure. This was the same point it happened last time and she called me, worried. Both I and her OB urged her not to worry, but relax over the weekend, rest, drink plenty of water and I urged her to get at least 80 grams protein each day. She did that and went back a few days later to check it out with her doc and no more protein in urine, perfect blood pressure, and she went on for several more weeks to full term and had an uncomplicated 4 hr labor and totally unmedicated birth with a healthy 7.5 lb baby boy. So while there might not be studies showing the same kinds of results, there are some out there with first-hand experience and positive results from the Brewer diet. I agree that some conditions must contribute in ways that are not fully understood yet where the diet alone wouldn't fix the problem. The HUGE majority of students of Dr. Bradley's work never develop it and Dr. Brewer's many patients had no cases of pre-eclampsia, so please do not be so quick to condemn or discredit it.
  • WriterBuzz Nov 1, 2010 @ 2:47 am | delete
    Wow, your lens is cool. Just thought I'd leave a comment to let you know. I also gave you a thumbs-up and made you one of my favs. Thanks for sharing this information. If you have time, surf on by and check out my newest lens on Migraine Headaches. Leave me a comment on what you think.
  • B3r3 Mar 24, 2010 @ 9:21 pm | delete
    I am actually a Pre Eclampsia Survivor. I delivered my baby when I was 7 months pregnant. the expirence I had was the most terrifaying. I had to be hospitalized and then I had to have a emergency c-secion. I thought I was going to dye. I am very scared to get the thing in my second pregnancy. I Have a baby boy but wanting to get pregnant again this time wishing 2 be a baby girl.
  • Rwa Mar 24, 2010 @ 8:49 am | delete
    Thank you for sharing your stories on pre eclampsia. I also had it for my first pregnancy and am worrying about my second pregnancy cause the Doctor said it could come back. and my big worry is that we dont have enough capacity (developping country). for those who managed to deliver safely, is there anything else ur doctors did which helped apart from the extra Vit B6, Aspirin , i saw also some arguments on Dr Brewer's diet , etc, plz help???
  • Rwa Mar 24, 2010 @ 8:49 am | delete
    Thank you for sharing your stories on pre eclampsia. I also had it for my first pregnancy and am worrying about my second pregnancy cause the Doctor said it could come back. and my big worry is that we dont have enough capacity (developping country). for those who managed to deliver safely, is there anything else ur doctors did which helped apart from the extra Vit B6, Aspirin , i saw also some arguments on Dr Brewer's diet , etc, plz help???
  • ronibuni Jan 15, 2010 @ 1:45 pm | delete
    I had what was called Fulminating(exploding) pre eclampsia in 1976. My blood pressure was 220/180 (yes, it was...)My son was born full term weighing 5 pounds with low blood sugar and no soft spots(which I was told was unrelated to the pre eclampsia but did it matter?) He almost died before the nearby children's hospital came and got him. I was in there so long I had five room mates all of whom went home with healthy babies.

    Tony was in Neonatal for 25 days before they let us bring him home with normal blood sugar weighing 5 pounds. There was no breast feeding and the pediatrician who was responsible for nearly killing him told me:
    "Put him away and forget him. Try it again and have a normal baby this time. "

    (Nice, eh?)

    The gynecologist told me if I got pregnant again it would kill me...Knowing what I now know convinces me there were signs of my condition before the sky high blood pressure that were missed by the practice of seeing a different doctor every week so "anyone can deliver you."
    The doc who delivered me had started that day. Luckily he had specialized in high risk pregnancies...yep, lucky me...

    The good news is I have normal blood pressure w/o meds and Tony is fine...
  • prosperity66 Jan 15, 2010 @ 4:26 am | delete
    Congratulations on your LOTD for this personal experience!
    SquidAngel blessings to the Pre-Eclampsia Survivor!
  • WindyWinters Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:41 pm | delete
    Congrats on LOTD! :)
  • GonnaFly Jan 14, 2010 @ 7:31 pm | delete
    These stories moved me to tears. Thanks for sharing.
  • KimGiancaterino Jan 14, 2010 @ 6:07 pm | delete
    Congratulations on LOTD.
  • steveffeo Jan 14, 2010 @ 5:49 pm | delete
    My sister went through this with my twin Nephews 22 years ago they were born 8 weeks premature, I recall my Ma mentioning this and never knew what she was talking about. GREAT lens and I hope this helps many parents. Congrats on LOTD well deserved
  • Income4life Jan 14, 2010 @ 5:22 pm | delete
    congratulations on LOTD!
  • TheTranscriptionist Jan 14, 2010 @ 3:46 pm | delete
    Hi. I appreciate your efforts to educate people about pre-eclampsia. I had it years ago with my first baby. Back then it was called "toxemia." They told me it was because my diet was inferior, but I was really careful about eating healthily. I got huge, as you explained, and almost lost my ring finger because of the swelling (I had to have my wedding ring cut off). Back then the treatment was to put the mother on phenobarbital. I didn't even know what it was, that's how clueless I was. Thank God, my daughter was born alive in an emergency classical c-section. However, she was addicted to the phenobarb and had to be weaned off it. She had colic badly for three months after that. I read a book in recent years called "What Your Doctor Never Told You About Hypothyroidism." In that book, he states that pre-eclampsia can be a sign of hypothyroidism and the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. I had four pregnancies and had trouble either myself or with my babies each time. Every bad symptom points to me and my babies being hypothyroid. I would encourage anyone who is pregnant to have their thyroid tested (simple blood tests), as well as their baby after they're born, if they in any way suspect pre-eclampsia coming on. Thank you for your good lens!
  • Susan52 Jan 14, 2010 @ 1:40 pm | delete
    Knowledge is power. Thank you for sharing your story to empower other women, and congratulations on Lens of the Day!
  • Sylviane_Nuccio Jan 14, 2010 @ 1:37 pm | delete
    Great story that will probably help a lot of people.
  • Debbie - from Michigan Jan 14, 2010 @ 12:45 pm | delete
    I had pre-clampsia my first pregnancy. I was in and out of the hospital with spotty vision (high bp) and borderline gentatonal diabetes. 9 days before my due date, my body started to reject the baby and I looked like my whole body was sunburned. Labor was induced at that point, only 4 hours long thank goodness, baby was small but healthy. He was a noisy little cuttie, but healthy. He didn't like breast feeding - too much work I guess, but needed soy milk, everything else came back up. In his teens he was diagnosed with GERD, don't know if that has anything to do with it but maybe ??? My second pregnancy was perfect, only gained 15 lbs, no problems what so ever, 2 hour labor, she was beautiful. That's it I quite while I was ahead. No more babies.

    GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO HAD OR HAS THIS CONDITION AS IT CAN BE QUITE SERIOUS !!!
  • qpease Jan 14, 2010 @ 12:42 pm | delete
    I will be brief, my wife had twins for her first pregnancy. She developed pre-eclampsia in the third trimester and had to be induced. It was about this time that I was reading some European studies that pointed to vitamin B6 as a help in reducing pre-eclampsia. I told my wife that she should take some and she consulted the doc. The doctor said it would do nothing, she listened. The same thing happened in the next pregnancy, but thankfully she was convinced to take it and upped the dose each day to around 450mg. This worked for her and the doctor was amazed that her swelling disappeared and her blood pressure returned to normal. She continued this practice for seven more pregnancies without any symptoms of pre-eclampsia when taking extra B6 along with other B vitamins.

    At this time, we had a midwife that would heavily promote the Brewer diet book. I read the book and found that the case studies cited in the book seemed to point to one common factor in the women: poor diet. Yes, it seemed that these were women who were under some stress and had really deficient diets, so of course eating some extra protein from eggs and beef would have helped, but I don't believe it cured them of it.

    For more info on B6 supplementation and its effects on pre-eclampsia I refer you to this website that has cited sources to document the reason this and other nutrients are so important for women who are susceptible to this condition: http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/cam/hn-1250004.htm
  • ViolinStudent Jan 14, 2010 @ 12:29 pm | delete
    Important information, well presented. I wish more people knew about this. Thanks very much for sharing.
    Art Haule
  • Frankster Jan 14, 2010 @ 12:23 pm | delete
    Thank you for sharing your story on Squidoo. I have never heard of pre-eclampsia before. It is something any expectant mother should know about. Congrats on LOTD. Bear hugs, Frankster
  • NiceBlogger Jan 14, 2010 @ 12:13 pm | delete
    Very very interesting story...this is the lens of the day ! Good job...
  • rms Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:50 am | delete
    Congratulations on LotD!
  • Jewelsofawe Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:15 am | delete
    Congrats on LOTD!
  • eclecticeducation Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:15 am | delete
    Congratulations on your LOTD! Blessed by an Angel! :)
  • BusyQueen Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:09 am | delete
    Enjoyed reading this lens! "5 stars-favorited".
    Happy New 2010! Congrats LOTD
  • MysticTurtle Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:01 am | delete
    I'd heard of this condition, but didn't really know what it was. What a frightening and disappointing experience for you. I'm so glad you are all okay. Thank you for sharing.
  • Heather426 Jan 14, 2010 @ 10:48 am | delete
    I had severe pre-e with my first and the resulting squished in the womb syndrome. It was difficult. But he survived and I had 2 more with no complications.
    Congrats on LOTD!
  • Sylvestermouse Jan 14, 2010 @ 9:09 am | delete
    It has been over 20 years since I have personally had any fears about child birth or pregnancy. But I do have a daughter and someday, no doubt, I will have a daughter in law and I will be deeply concerned. Thank you for arming me with this information in advance. "Angel Blessed" and add to Squid Angel Mouse Tracks. Congratulations on Lens of the Day!
  • partybuzz Jan 14, 2010 @ 9:08 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing your story. Congratulations on Lens of the Day!
  • d-artist Jan 14, 2010 @ 8:45 am | delete
    congrats on LOTD....5*...very interesting subject, I never heard of this...sorry you had to go through all this and Pray all is well now with your family.
  • EverydayMiracles Jan 14, 2010 @ 8:26 am | delete
    Thank you for sharing your story. It was difficult for me to read. I have had three children naturally and one as a result of an induction: she was in serious trouble. I need to get my birth story on Squidoo, though I did it in my blog at one point.

    I've never been afraid of pre-e because I have abnormally low blood pressure during pregnancy. It actually *drops* below what is normal for me (which is slightly on the high side because I am overweight).

    It's odd that it wasn't caught until it was so late, though. Our next pregnancy I'm going to be checking my own urine at home, so I will hopefully know what is going on (for sure). Very scary! I'm sorry for your ordeal.
  • kiwisoutback Jan 14, 2010 @ 7:02 am | delete
    Very interesting. I've never heard of this before, but it sounds like an awful experience. On the positive side of things, congratulations on LOTD!
  • spirituality Jan 14, 2010 @ 1:51 am | delete
    Sounds like the ride from hell. Glad to hear both you and your girl are both alright though. Blessed by a squidangel :)
  • KathyMcGraw Jan 9, 2010 @ 12:10 pm | delete
    this is a heartwarming story- I hope everyone that needs this information finds it and doesn't have to go through what you did. Blessed by an Angel :)
  • Kate-Phizackerley Dec 14, 2009 @ 12:21 pm | delete
    Your comment of Nov 30 is also very good. Blessed.
  • Meg Dec 13, 2009 @ 11:40 am | delete
    "It is proven now that pre-eclampsia occurs when the placenta is not implanted properly" by whom has that been proven? It also begs the obvious question, what causes a placenta to not implant properly?
    Could you please answer if indeed *you* followed Brewer's?
    http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/253960-overview
    This is not a site in favor of Brewer's. I offer it because your information about rates in developing countries is incorrect. The rates in developing countries is as high as 8% and as low as 0.49% in developed countries. That is a huge difference and lends itself to supporting diet as a root cause.
  • irbit Dec 14, 2009 @ 11:31 am | delete
    Meg,

    Here is one of so so many.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19876819

    A small placental surface area at birth is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the offspring in later life. Preeclampsia is associated with impaired implantation and with increased blood pressure in the offspring. We hypothesized that preeclampsia would be associated with a small placental surface area. We studied placental size in 6410 deliveries at the Helsinki University Central Hospital during 1934-44. 284 of the pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia. 1855 were complicated by hypertension without proteinuria. The area of the placental surface was estimated from two diameters that were routinely recorded, a maximal diameter and a lesser one at right angles to it. Compared to normotensive pregnancies, the placentas from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia had a reduced surface area and the surface was more oval. The thickness, however, was increased. When the two diameters were analyzed together, preeclampsia was not associated with the length of the maximal diameter, but was strongly associated with a short lesser diameter (p<0.0001). This was a graded relation: the shorter the lesser diameter, the greater the risk for, and severity of, preeclampsia. Placentas from pregnancies complicated by hypertension without proteinuria had a reduced surface area, with short lesser and maximal diameters. Processes that underlie preeclampsia may be closely related to the amount of placental tissue on the minor axis of the placenta. We postulated that placental growth is polarized from the time of implantation, so that growth along the major and minor axes is qualitatively different.
  • Joy Dec 14, 2009 @ 2:38 pm | delete
    "We postulated that placental growth is polarized from the time of implantation, so that growth along the major and minor axes is qualitatively different.'

    Since you are postulating, I have another postulation for you. The postulation of those of us of the "Brewer" perspective (although about 6-8 other researchers could have lent their names to that perspective just as easily) is as follows....

    1) That research regarding the implantation being a "cause" of pre-eclampsia is actually an unfortunate mis-interpretation of the research. We would see it as just another symptom or result of the PE process, which includes uterine and placental hypoxia, which is caused by low blood volume (rather than the hypoxia being the primary cause of the PE process).

    2) That the primary development of the placenta occurs during the second trimester, when the blood volume expansion process is supposed to be at its most rapid rate, and when the mother's weight gain usually goes through its biggest growth spurt, an occurrence which we do not see as coincidental.

    3) There was no way that in 1934-44 they had the technology to determine at what point the placental deficiency was causing the end results (as were described at the birth, after the placenta was expelled). So it is equally as likely that the damage or malformation that was described occurred in the second trimester, during the bulk of the placental formation, and during the time when the mother's nutrition would have the greatest impact on whether the blood volume was able to increase at the proper rate.

    4) The earliest symptom of the PE process is a rising hgb/hct, a symptom that will be caught in time only if the care giver is testing for the hgb/hct levels at frequent times (every prenatal visit at least, and more often if the mother is considered to be at risk). The fact that the hgb/hct levels consistently rise before the other symptoms of the PE syndrome even begin to appear would be consistent with the perspective that a falling blood volume is the actual trigger of the PE process.

    Joy
  • djsnjones Nov 30, 2009 @ 9:06 am | delete
    Please do not twist my words. I did not refer to them as medical professionals. I referred to them as health care professionals. I do not believe that the medical branch of our health care system has all the answers to this issue.
    However, since you bring it up, there are NDs and ODs on my list, and I have a well-known MD from Australia waiting to be added to the list. There are also other MDs who use the Brewer principles but who haven't contacted me yet.
    There are also many RNs, CNMs, and MSNs on this list.
    I also have some nutritionists who are PhDs.
    There are birthing health care professionals from 14 countries and 49 states on this list.
    Joy
  • irbit Nov 30, 2009 @ 1:15 pm | delete
    Joy, I am tired of arguing the same point. It is proven now that pre-eclampsia occurs when the placenta is not implanted properly. Eventually it leads to multiple organ failure. women and their babies are dying and you tell them all this can be avoided or treated with extra eggs, meat or whatever. Wake up and smell the coffee!

    Since my ordeal and the death of my second baby (due to Trisomy 18) I have been seen by some amazing professionals in that field; Directors of Fetal Medicine, some of the best European professors, etc. All of them get almost angry when Brewer diet is mentioned. It is not because they are ignorant and heartless, it is because they are exceptionally good at what they do and they certainly know their stuff.

    For your information, Terri O'Neal, the doula on your list was also my doula. She is brilliant and I would recommend her to everyone. If you read my doula article, she used Brewer in her last pregnancy but had to stop as she was not putting enough weight. Her baby was born early. She mentioned Brewer diet to me in the beginning but also stressed that she is no medic or health care professional, and it is just her opinon and experience.

    Just a couple of days ago I spoke to a lady who had severe preeclampsia in her first pregnancy and followed Brewer diet religiously in her second. Guess what, she ended up with HELLP. Her baby nearly died. Turns out she had a kidney problem. No protein would have helped her, if anything she made matters worse for herself and is very bitter and angry now.

    You can carry on arguing till you are blue in the face. But the fact remains the same - there is no SCIENTIFIC proof and evidence that Brewer diet works. I wish it did. Things would be so much simpler.
  • djsnjones Nov 29, 2009 @ 10:33 pm | delete
    Here is a list health care professionals from around the world who do support the use of the Brewer Diet...

    http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id97.html

    Joy
  • irbit Nov 30, 2009 @ 7:38 am | delete
    Joy, you should know better than refer to doulas and the likes as medical professionals. I am talking about some of the best doctors out there. You know - GPS, obstetricians, etc.
    Look, we'd do anything to have healthy pregnancies and babies. We all know that BALANCED diet is vital. However, those who advocate an excessive protein diet to a pregnant woman who has underlying kidney disorder, for example, is dangerous and irresponsible. Only a registered doctor can prescribe such aggressive diet to a pregnant woman. So all those independant midwives, childbirth educators and doulas can get themselves in real trouble one day.
    If your theory was true, then I would expect to find more women presenting with preeclampsia in third world countries with malnutrition. Yet, the statistics for occurrence of the disease are about the same in the whole world. Obviously, the outcomes are more severe due to the luck of resources available.
  • Meg Nov 28, 2009 @ 2:29 pm | delete
    I'm sorry, but I didn't see mention of you following the Brewer's diet anywhere within this article. Assuming that you did, even though you didn't mention it, one would have to then ask how well did you follow it. Neither that nor statements about a link between a poor diet & pre-e should imply it's the fault of the mom. A perfectly healthy non-pregnancy diet is not the same as a healthy diet for pregnancy. It is not safe or ethical to conduct double blind, clinical studies on expecting moms to test Brewer's diet (or any other theory of pre-e) to 'prove' it's benefits. The only way to answer those questions is to explore detailed case studies & histories after the fact. In controlled settings, with high risk populations Brewers has been shown to greatly reduce the incidences of pre-eclampsia. Those outcomes should not be casually dismissed. Your experience (again I am assuming you did follow Brewer's) and any other woman who choose to follow Brewer's (or any other specific pregnancy diet) should be detailed so it can be added to the body of knowledge.
    Your swelling & headaches at 20wks should not have been casually dismissed, and I don't see how any provider could deem that you & your pregnancy were "perfect" if you were experiencing these.International travel 3wks before one's due date even in a perfect pregnancy is slightly risky behavior.
    The basic Brewer's diet is very precise and it is not a one size fits all plan. No one with sense would suggest that any diet is a one size fits all plan during pregnancy or any other time. But the evidence is absolutely there that for many women it is a valid & sound pregnancy diet. Whether it's best for any individual woman is a question that should be explored & answered between the mom, her care provider & a qualified nutritionist.
  • irbit Nov 28, 2009 @ 3:49 pm | delete
    Meg, where is this so called evidence? My argument is simple - NO competent doctor prescribes this diet. I live in London and here we have some of the best medical professionals in the world . They all must be idiots then according to you and the likes. Instead of just blabbing on, provide links to solid evidence. Explain why none of the healthcare systems advocate it. Otherwise just zip it. Simple as that, really.
  • EmmaReed Nov 15, 2009 @ 10:50 am | delete
    Firstly I just want to say I wish this Lens was around back in 2005. It is so hard to find good information on pre-eclampsia. I had pre-eclampsia with both my pregnancies. When I was 5 I had to have an operation on my Kidneys as they were not functioning correctly. I suffered from high blood pressure before I was pregnant and was closely monitored. Because my pre existing condition mirrored a lot of pre-eclampsia symptoms I was constantly being admitted to hospital. Eventually at 37 weeks I developed it and was induced. With my 2nd again I was really closely monitored but because I knew more about it I felt more relaxed and my blod pressure stayed down for ages. I got to 36 weeks and all was great, then at 37 weeks my BP shot through the roof and was induced right away. It is scary and does make me think do I want to go through it all again. We will see. eggsquid
  • herbie66 Nov 10, 2009 @ 4:51 pm | delete
    Welcome to the 'Pregnancy and Baby' Group
    ( http://www.squidoo.com/groups/pregnancy-baby ). This is a very personal and touching story! Thanks.
  • j_barnhart4 Nov 9, 2009 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    I never had pre-eclampsia but I did have cesareans with all three of my daughters...that's the little hips, big baby syndrome :) It's a great thing to tell about our pregnancy experiences. I wrote a lens on my experience with PUPPS rash (not fun). These personal stories really help other moms-to-be relax and feel informed. Good lens. Thanks for sharing your story. Blessed :)
  • irbit Nov 8, 2009 @ 4:50 pm | in reply to Carla | delete
    Thanks for sharing your story, Carla. Congratulations and enjoy your pregnancy!
  • Carla Nov 8, 2009 @ 2:24 pm | delete
    Thanks for the site, my experience was almost identical, only I had been in hospital with high blood pressure nearly every week in my last trimester & still they denied it was PE until it was nearly too late. It was only admitted when they finally dragged me (still attached to the wall with needles in my hands!) for an emergency C. Then I was left in hospital for so long, my liver started to play up, things were bad. Fortunately my son Arthur was fine, very skinny, though, he had no fat on him, and his little legs were like empty sacks of skin.
    That this diet should be put out there as an aid to this very serious disease makes my blood boil. Anything that gives somebody a false sense of security is dangerous. Eat healthily because it's good for you and your baby, and listen to your body. You're the only one that can pick up the signs, no diet will help with this.
    I am 6 weeks pregnant now, so fingers crossed this time.
    Thanks again.
  • djsnjones Nov 4, 2009 @ 12:01 pm | in reply to djsnjones | delete
    I would also like to apologize for wording my first sentence on this thread in such an inflammatory style. I definitely could have found a better way to say what I meant.
  • djsnjones Nov 3, 2009 @ 5:53 pm | in reply to irbit | delete
    No, the mods on the PEF did not allow me to present my point of view.
    I do respect that you are allowing me to post what I have written, however.
    My views are too expansive to post in this forum, so I will simply refer anyone who is interested to my website. There is much scientific evidence available there for anyone who would choose to see it.
    I will say however that I do object to the falsehood that many women who follow the Brewer principles end up developing the PE syndrome. I have answered that story on my "inaccuraces" page as well.
    Since I do not have access to the charts of the women who claim to have organ damage from their protein intake, I do not have a way to verify what their needs or diets were.
    Also, some of the doctors who've confirmed these principles were from Europe and Australia.
  • irbit Nov 3, 2009 @ 5:41 pm | in reply to djsnjones | delete
    Joy, and here you are again waffling on. I don't have to accept and publish your comments but I am, just like the moderators on PE forum. We are giving you a chance and yet again you cannot produce a single solid argument, scientific fact or proof.

    I think it says it all...

    So many women trusted your theory and followed it religiously and most of them still ended up with PE or HELLP. A lot of us, turns out, had serious underlying disorders and damaged our organs by excessive protein diet.

    I was lucky to be seen by some of the best obstetricians in Europe after my ordeal and all of them vigorously objected to this diet. Are they all fools? Is Dr Brewer the only man with his 1920s research who knows what to do?

    I trully hope that you or the people you REALLY care about never go through this nightmare as only then you could ever really understand and appreciate the seriousness of it all.
  • djsnjones Nov 3, 2009 @ 5:26 pm | in reply to irbit | delete
    I think that you have not really read my "Inaccuracies" page because that was the only place where I was really allowed to post the fully factual responses to what was being said to me in the PEF forum. I may have looked silly on the PEF forum because I was completely unallowed to post the factual responses to what was being argued against my point of view. I was completely muzzled in that situation.
    Joy
  • irbit Nov 3, 2009 @ 4:48 pm | in reply to Joy Jones | delete
    Joy, and I am sorry that you are still out there sticking to this ridiculous myth and misleading us unfortunate and vulnerable women. I've read all your posts and arguments on the Pre-eclampsia Foundation forum where you ended up looking rather silly.

    As far as the scientists and doctors all over the world are concerned, preeclampsia is driven by an immune system response to the foreign placenta, THERE IS NOTHING ONE CAN DO so stop going against every single healthcare system, every scientist and qualified doctor in this world.

    Here is what Preeclampsia Foundation EXPERTS have to say about the Brewer's Diet
    http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3919

    More links on Brewer's Diet:
    www.preeclampsia.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2274
    www.preeclampsia.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=788
    www.preeclampsia.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=287
    www.preeclampsia.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=839

    Stop this nonsense. we have enough on our plate!
  • Joy Jones Nov 3, 2009 @ 4:16 pm | delete
    I am sorry to see that you are helping to propagate the myth that the Brewer Principles do not help to prevent or reverse the pre-eclampsia syndrome. If you would like to read some factual responses to the misinformation that is often printed regarding the Brewer point of view, please see the following link...

    http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id79.html

    Sincerely,
    Joy
  • Jewelsofawe Nov 1, 2009 @ 12:08 am | delete
    What a story! I did not have pre eclampsia but I did have an emergency C section with my third daughter to save mine and her life. We had an ecoli infection and I had a very high fever by the time I went to the hospital. I was out of it for 3 days after they got my baby out. She almost did not make it and I still think it is a miracle she did make it. I did not breast feed in the hospital as I was too tired, but I did breastfeed once I took her home and did for another 18 months afterwards. Although my first daughter I did not breast feed because I could not get her to do it.
  • eclecticeducation Oct 19, 2009 @ 5:32 pm | delete
    Wonderful lens! Your baby is precious. I started going into pre- eclampsia during my first son's pregnancy. They induced right away since I was only a week from the due date. Luckily, everything turned out fine, but it was pretty scary there for awhile.
  • hayleylou Oct 19, 2009 @ 4:09 pm | delete
    Lots of useful information here. I have 2 children and we are now trying for our 3rd so this information is good for me. 5 stars
  • mysticmama Oct 19, 2009 @ 2:58 pm | delete
    Thanks for sharing your story
  • irbit Oct 19, 2009 @ 1:32 pm | in reply to sarah pizane | delete
    Sarah, I am so sorry you are having it tough this time. From what you are saying it does sound like pre-eclampsia or at least pregnancy-induced hypertension. My daughter had IUGR (growth restriction) due to pe and was born tiny (5 lbs).

    I know you want to cook your baby for as long as you can and have a "normal" birth but perhaps it is right to induce especially that you have now made it past 37 week mark.

    Induction labour can be quite tough and might result in a C-section but you need to do what's best for your baby.

    Hang in there, mama! Soon the nightmare will be over and your little one will be in your arms. Best of luck, and please keep us updated.
  • sarah pizane Oct 19, 2009 @ 1:22 pm | delete
    imm on my thied pregnancy age 37 no previous problems but this one has been horrid from 27 weeks,i started swelling up my blood opressure that is usually very low started to change i had stayed at 90 over 60 until 29 weeks where i have ranged from a steady 140 over 70 to 150 over 86 my proyein is steady now or it was 2 days ago at just over plus 2 i have bad heads visual probs lack of breath etc ,and my baby isnt growing properly,but for 6 weeks now i have had so many different opions and midwives i am 37 weeks now and was told id be induced as i only have 1 functioning kidney and with the symptoms was gradually getting worse but i dont fir truely into text book pre eclampsia apparantly?my poor legs are so painfull and pitted so is my face,imm so confused with all the opions,i wish medical people would converse more and treat us as individuals,i am trying to do what i can for myself ,i eat low salt foods,celery.beetroot,pomigranites etc as these all help the blood pressure and fluid
  • Terri O'Neale Aug 3, 2009 @ 2:30 pm | delete
    While I have never used the Brewer Diet for pre-eclampsia, the book was called...for normal and high-risk pregnancy. I used it quite successfully with my second pregnancy. I had gained over 50 pounds about 25 kilos with my first baby. My midwife recommended it as a way of tracking nutrient in my second pregnancy. I gained exactly the recommended 25 pounds that time. I went back on it with my last pregnancy at around 30 weeks but this time because I was not gaining enough weight. Because it encourages you to track what you eat it can be a good tool for mums-to-be. But it is not the only one; both the UK food plate and the US food pyramid are alternatives. Which ever one you choose, remember what you eat is important to your health and your babies.

by

irbit

Here I would like to share all I NOW know about pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia risks, symptoms, recurrence rates and many more.

I am very passionate... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags