What is the Louwen diet?
The Louwen diet is a change in diet for pregnant women about six weeks before the expected date of delivery. In this diet, the expectant mother avoids various carbohydrates. This change in diet is supposed to have a positive effect on the natural birth process and the pain during delivery.
The founder of the Louwen diet is the gynecologist Prof. Dr. Frank Louwen, head of obstetrics and prenatal medicine at Frankfurt University Hospital.
What does science say about the Louwen diet? So far, the effect has not been investigated in any study. However, there is a meta-analysis on the low glycemic index diet, in which about 2000 pregnant women participated. The result: a low-carbohydrate diet can have a beneficial effect on childbearing without harming the newborn. However, more studies are needed.
What foods are allowed on the Louwen diet?
Dr. Louwen’s diet calls for the diet to be as low in sugar and carbohydrates as possible during the last weeks of pregnancy. The following foods are still allowed:
- Vegetables: lettuce, zucchini, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, cucumber, raw carrots, peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic
- Fruits: apples, kiwis, plums, apricots, peaches, berries, cherries, oranges, tangerines and lemon
- Others: meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, tofu, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and herbs
These foods are off limits on the Louwen diet.
Basically, pregnant women should avoid carbohydrates on the Louwen diet. You should also avoid sugar of any kind. An exception is fructose in small quantities. So go for fruits that naturally have a low fructose content – such as rhubarb, blackberry or damson. Snacking on dates is also allowed: although they contain a lot of fructose, they have a positive effect on mother and child.
A Louwen diet table gives expectant mothers an overview of what they should eliminate from the menu. We have summarized it for you:
- Grains: pasta or bread made from white flour, rice, millet, sweets and cakes.
- Vegetables: potatoes, cooked carrots, corn, pumpkin and peas.
- Fruits: dried fruits, pineapple, melon, bananas, mango, grapes and papaya.
The effect of the change in diet before birth is based on the interaction of various hormones: In the last weeks of pregnancy, the body produces more of the hormone prostaglandin. It is involved, for example, in various inflammatory and pain reactions and plays an important role in triggering labor. It also causes the cervix to soften and the cervix to mature.
If the mother’s diet is high in sugar and carbohydrates, blood sugar levels rise – insulin is secreted more. The hormone attaches to the same receptors as the prostaglandin and thus inhibits its effect. As a result, the natural birth process can be delayed and birth pains increased.
The low-sugar, low-carbohydrate diet of the Louwen diet does not allow insulin to spike, giving prostaglandins a chance to work their magic. It can therefore provide the following benefits:
- birth on the delivery date
- easier and faster delivery
- less pain during delivery
At what point is the Louwen diet useful?
Louwen diet: You should pay attention to this!
Giving up certain foods shortly before giving birth can become a stress factor for the mother-to-be. Therefore, don’t be too strict with yourself: if you get a craving for a piece of chocolate or a fresh mango, grab it.
The important thing is to make sure you eat a balanced diet and get all the nutrients you need for you and your baby. If you are unsure, talk to your doctor or midwife.
When you should abstain from the Louwen diet!
Healthy pregnant women may follow the Louwen diet. However, be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife before doing so.
You should abstain from the diet in the following cases:
- Pre-existing conditions, especially metabolic diseases such as type 1 diabetes
- High-risk pregnancy and complications
- Eating disorders
