Janna,
When I was pregnant with my third baby in 1991, I developed PIH and was told
to lie on my left side for the duration. I did and that certainly seemed to
help. However, I also read Gail and Tom Brewer's books, and followed Tom
Brewer's recommendations re: protein intake,  taken from his work with
economically disenfranchised women in a clinic setting. My nurse-midwife gave
her blessing to this strategy.He felt that American women in general do not
take in enough protein in pregnancy because they are obsessed with weight
gain issues and equate high protein with fattening. They try not to gain more
than 20 pounds, and essentially are suffering from malnutrition. When he
improved the diets of mothers in his clinic by getting them access to high
protein foods, the rate of PIH and pre-eclampsia plummeted. He reported that
mothers in his clinic had significantly lower rates of these complications
than did affluent mothers in private medical settings. By following his Rx,
and lying on my left side for 6 weeks, I was able to keep my BP well within
the normal range, carrying my baby to 41 weeks.
I don't know if his work is still considered valid, and I understand the
dangers inherent in extrapolating the particular to the general, but it is at
least food for thought.

Beth Sargent, IBCLC

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