A diet during pregnancy?
First of all: The Louwen diet is not a diet, but a change in diet or a specific type of diet (you definitely shouldn’t go on a diet during pregnancy that has the goal of losing weight!!).
It is named after Prof. Dr. med. Frank Louwen, he is head of the independent obstetrics and prenatal medicine department at the University of Frankfurt and vice president of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics. The Louwen diet is about avoiding simple carbohydrates and sugar and eating as many foods with a low glycemic index as possible in the last six to eight weeks before the birth. The principle is similar to the Glyx diet or the Logi method, if that means anything to you.
Low carbohydrates, hardly any sugar – this is how the Louwen diet works
Complex carbohydrates that do not cause blood sugar levels to rise so quickly are allowed. These foods can all be eaten on the Louwen Diet: Vegetables, legumes (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas), brown and wild rice, dairy products, fruit (e.g. apples, oranges, pears), quinoa, amaranth, nuts, seeds, eggs, meat, fish. There are also numerous Glyx tables on the Internet.
Why should you avoid simple carbohydrates and sugar? Foods with a high glycemic index, such as white flour products, sweets or sugary drinks, cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. This in turn causes the insulin level in the blood to rise sharply. In addition to the glycemic index, the glycemic load also plays an important role. It is the product of the glycemic index and the amount of carbohydrates consumed. And what does insulin have to do with birth?
Prostaglandin, insulin & Co.
In the weeks before birth, the body releases more of the hormone prostaglandin. Among other things, prostaglandins control the body’s reactions to pain and provide important signals about the onset of labor. They are also responsible for shortening the cervix and supporting the ripening of the cervix. In order for the hormone to work, it has to dock on certain receptors. However, insulin docks onto the same receptors. So if many of the receptors are already occupied by insulin, there are fewer left for the prostaglandins. Insulin therefore inhibits the effect of prostaglandins.
That’s why Dr. Louwen’s diet is based on a diet with a low glycemic index.
And does it keep what it promises?
There are many experiences from women who report enthusiastically about the Louwen diet and their birth. And many midwives also recommend this form of nutrition.
But you probably shouldn’t expect miracles. There are no studies yet that prove the effect.
The birth process also depends on so many different factors. And it’s probably like with many things: Some people swear by raspberry leaf tea, others by acupuncture, and for still others all of this seems to have had little effect on the birth. Or is it? Ultimately, you can’t answer that because you don’t know how things would have turned out without it. If a method works for you and perhaps makes you a little more confident – great! If you are healthy, have no previous illnesses or metabolic diseases or suffer from an eating disorder, the Louwen diet will definitely not do any harm. The only important thing is that you make sure that you eat a balanced diet with this form of nutrition. And you should discuss the change in diet with your midwife or gynecologist.
Do what’s good for you – eating is (also) self-care
If you thought “Wow no, that’s too strenuous for me” when listing the foods – it’s totally understandable. Food is an emotional topic and also important self-care. Because food is there to make us feel good. Physically AND mentally. So it’s totally okay if you don’t want to go without your favorite comfort food, especially in the last – perhaps very stressful weeks. If you want to change your diet a little without being completely strict, you can choose a gentler option: cut out refined sugar and white flour products. That’s always a good idea anyway!
Thank you, Alicia!
