Pregnancy Nutrition Journal

An essential part of a positive birth experience is eating a balanced diet (getting all your food groups), including 80-100 grams of protein per day. To help you keep track of your nutritional goals, The Bradley Method® has developed a Pregnancy Nutritional Journal. Using your Pregnancy Nutritional Journal will help you to know which areas you are doing well in, and which ones need extra attention.

• How to use your Pregnancy Nutritional Journal
• Printable Pregnancy Nutritional Journal
• Tables: Simple Protein Counters
• Comprehensive protein counter is available here and at the USDA Nutrient Database

© 2008 AAHCC

Educated parents have the responsibility to make these choices themselves, and to hire the personnel who will support their choices. This takes considerable effort and sometimes requires seeding special personnel or traveling great distances to achieve the safest possible birth.

A Well Balanced Diet Consists of...

Every day of the week you and your baby should have:

• One quart (4 glasses) or more of milk. Any kind will do: whole milk, low fat, skim, buttermilk, or cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc....
  
• Two eggs, (hard boiled, in french toast, or added to other foods).
  
• One or two servings of fish or seafood, liver, chicken, lean beef, lamb, pork, beans or any kind of cheese.
  
• One or two good servings of fresh green leafy vegetables: mustard, collard, turnip greens, spinach, lettuce, or cabbage.
  
• Two or three slices of whole wheat bread, cornmeal, cornbread, or tortillas.
  
• A piece of citrus fruit or glass of juice of lemon, lime, orange, tomato, or grapefruit.
  
• Three pats of butter.
  
• Other fruits and vegetables.

Also include in your diet:

• A serving of whole grain cereal such as oatmeal or granola.
  
• A yellow or orange-colored fruit or vegetable five times a week.
  
• Liver once a week. (if you like it)
  
• Whole baked potato three times a week.
  
• Plenty of fluids, water, juice etc.
  
• Salt food to taste for a safe increase in blood volume.

You may substitute proteins if you wish, being sure your proteins are complete, and that you get approximately 100 grams per day, If you substitute, also be sure all the elements necessary for a well balanced diet are available every day.

A Foundation

Good nutrition is the foundation of a healthy pregnancy, to protect the health of the mother and the healthy growth and development of the baby. Proper nutrition is more important to the outcome of the pregnancy than preparing for the delivery, more than a good physician, even more than avoiding medications during labor.

Why is good nutrition so important? Women who are well-nourished are much lower risk because their bodies have been given all the tools they need to safeguard against many complications. Probably the 3 most dangerous complications which can occur during pregnancy and childbirth can either be greatly decreased or completely eliminated through good nutrition.

Toxemia: Through the use of good nutrition in pregnancy, including salting food to taste, Dr. Tom Brewer has been able to all but eliminate the occurrence of the life-threatening condition metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy.

Hypovolemia (low blood volume): Women who have been well nourished throughout their pregnancies, and have consumed adequate liquids and adequate salt will experience a drastic increase in blood volume. This provides that by the time she goes into labor she has 25-50% more blood volume, reducing the chance she will go into shock from loss of blood.

PROM: Premature rupture of membranes is another potentially dangerous complication which can be much less a threat if you are well-nourished. Well-nourished women can grow much stronger and healthier membranes which are less likely to rupture prematurely. It also may be important for women to avoid mercury (from shallow water fishes), aluminum (from cans, cookware, antiperspirants, etc.), and pesticides, as they are all suspected to weaken the bag of waters.

Avoid Harmful Substances: The safest medication during pregnancy for mom and baby is no medication! If at all possible, avoid any and all drugs before and during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, it is a great idea to avoid drugs post-partum as well. Drugs are at the top of the list of things to avoid. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on drugs, there is no drug, whether over the counter, prescription, or food additive, which has ever been proven safe for an unborn baby. Smoking: Be aware that being around residual smoke is also dangerous. Alcohol; aluminum; mercury; chemicals, including some household cleaners, pesticides, and environ-mental pollutants; caffeine; artificial sweeteners, including nutrasweet; additives and preservatives. Junk foods and processed foods often contain potentially dangerous substances like monosodium glutimate and they also fill you up so that you no longer feel hungry and can't eat a full day's pregnancy food requirements.