I am almost 23 weeks pregnant and feeling great. And from where I came from, this is a great accomplishment.

I used to suffer from an eating disorder. Before I was ever pregnant I used to think that I would eat what I was supposed to, but that I would choose the low calorie versions so that I would be able to stay as thin as possible while still giving my baby the nutrition he needs. But God is a healer and a restorer in my life and I have been fully healed from the eating disorder. And now more than ever I am living in that promise.

Instead of focusing on calories and my weight, I focus on nutrients. As a result, my weight gain is steady and right on the mark for a healthy mom and healthy baby. I don’t weigh myself at home. I only get weighed at my prenatal visits. I trust my midwife to tell me if I need to gain or lose. And otherwise, I follow what feels to be the best pregnancy diet for me.

I mentioned that I am following a modified version of the Brewer Pregnancy Diet, but I never really got into explaining it, and I wanted to give you the scoop. I found the Brewer Pregnancy Diet when I was researching natural birthing options and support. This pregnancy diet is recommended by those who follow the Bradley method for childbirth.

I said that I am following a modified version, The diet’s main focus is that it is high in protein and high in natural food sources for vitamins and minerals, but there’s just too much food to eat {at least for me.} So I made some modifications.

The Basic Brewer Diet

Milk & Milk Products- 4 servings

Eggs- 2

Protein- 6 oz.

Dark Green Leafy Veggies- 2 servings

Whole Grains- 5 servings

Vitamin C- 2 servings

Vitamin A- 1 serving

My modifications

My main goal in my pregnancy diet is that I focus on the nutrients in my food rather than just trying to eat fruits & vegetables, protein, calcium foods and whole grains, which I’ve found is the typical recommendation in pregnancy. Everyday, I make sure that I get my dark green leafies, my vitamin C servings and my Vitamin A servings. Getting milk and milk product servings is never hard for me since I love cheese and put it on everything.

The diet calls for six ounces of protein a day {which is much more than most pregnancy recommendations} plus two eggs daily. My modification to this is that I eat protien at every meal, I snack on almonds throughout the day, and sometimes hummus and carrots. I eat two eggs scrambled with spinach every day. But I count the eggs as one of my proteins. The official Brewer diet says not to cross over and count something for more than one category.

Other Vitamins

Morning: prenatal vitamin, fish oil capsule

Evening: calcium magnesium supplement

Night: blood builder

I take a food source prenatal as I believe that the body will have an easier time assimilating vitamins that are taken from food sources rather than those made in a lab. I take a fish oil capsule because it was recommended to me to stay away from most fish now as there is too much mercury in the water these days and fish is too contaminated. I take my fish oil capsule to get omega 3s and I also eat eggs that are high in omega3s as well which continues to supplement my need for these nutrients.

I shared last week what happened when I don’t take my calcium & magnesium supplement- so now I make sure to take this right before bed. And I drink orange juice fortified with calcium, in addition to all the dairy products I eat.

I have also been taking a food source blood builder tablet which is high in iron in the middle of the night {I wake up anyway each night for a little trip to the bathroom.}  I take it then because it needs to be on an empty stomach and I am often snacking on small meals so this is the easiest time for me to guarantee that my tummy is empty. My traditional Western doctor recommended the iron, but the form he suggested is barely metabolized by the body, so I got this one at my local health food store. I don’t know why he recommended it, but my father-in-law recently shared a newspaper article with me about the possibility of decreasing the chances of autism in the child when a pregnant woman takes an iron supplement. Either way, I’m glad I’m taking the iron.

That’s my basic pregnancy diet. I feel the benefits. I have tons of energy. I feel strong, healthy and happy.  And more than anything I am so grateful to God that I have been healed from my eating disorder and that I am able to thrive as a healthy and strong woman.

Yay God!

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