The following charts are from the work of Harvard researchers Bertha S. Burke and H.C. Stuart, which was first published in 1943 in Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 46:83. In this extensive study, Burke's findings corroborated another Harvard researcher's work, Morris B. Strauss, who published his findings in Am. J. Med. Sci. 190:811, 1935.  Despite these studies, and numerous studies since* these findings were ignored by the medical establishment, which believed that nutrition had no impact on the growth and health of the baby.  Dr. Tom Brewer, however, began applying Burke's findings in his OB practice, working largely with "high risk" patients, starting in the 1950s.  Now retired, but still active in consulting, Dr. Brewer had over 7,000 births in his practice, and he did not have a single case of toxemia among his patients.  He has become the recognized medical authority on nutrition in pregnancy, and has authored several books on pre-eclampsia (also known as metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy, or MTLP). 

The importance of good nutrition and adequate protein cannot be overstated.  Simply, well-nourished moms stay healthy and have healthy babies.  Still, old and outdated information is prevalent, and many doctors and medical texts even today say the cause of toxemia is unknown despite the clear findings indicated here and the extensive work of Dr. Brewer.

The evidence is clear and abundant. Your care and concern over your diet while you are pregnant is the single greatest thing you can do to remain healthy and low-risk during your pregnancy, and to ensure the good health of your baby at birth.