Any vegetarian mamas out there who are pregnant and breasfeeding?

[CStone1]

I am breastfeeding my 21 month old and about 7 weeks along in my pregnancy. I have been vegetarian for many years including through out my first pregnancy and all through nursing. Had a great pregnancy, birth and healthy child. It seems that most sources recommend eating as if you were having twins when pregnant and breastfeeding all though I notice quite a variation in protein suggestions with some sources suggesting 80-100 grams a day and others as much as 120-140 - which seems high to me. Wondering what others are going by as far as protein consumption and would also like some meal/snack ideas for getting those extra calories and protein in. I am mostly vegan but not strict. Sometimes I eat cheese but rarely other dairy products or eggs. I posted this in the vegetarian and vegan living forum as well.

[BeatnikMama]

I'm not pregnant and Breastfeeding, but I can tell you the recent advice I was given regarding being veggie and Breastfeeding, as I wasn't aware that my son needed to take suppliments as my GP had told me we didn't need anything other than my milk post 6 months and to continue just taking my Pregnancy Vits.The facts are dependent on how much your 22month old nurses and how well he's eating he may need some vitimin suppliments, Vit A B12 D and Iron are the ones that are often in low levels post 6months breastfeeding even in non Veggie moms. Vitimin D does not pass through your breastmilk in sufficient quantities after 6months old and strict Veggies who do not consume eggs or dairy products are at risk of low levels of B12, there has been a number of cases of deficiency among young Veggie Children, Also you should take a vitimin D suppliment along with you folic acid if you don't take a multivit suppliment already.

Check out these

http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/infants

http://www.007b.com/vitamin-d-breast-milk.php

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/articles/vegetarian-pregnancy.php

http://www.vegetarianwomen.com/articles/catheolson.htm

http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/faq/04momnutrition.html

Hope the links are useful,I found my GPs advice was useless they were often confused or unaware of the benefits and the drawbacks to been a veggies mum and breastfeeding. My son has Eczema so he had limited sun exposure and had food intollerances so supplimentation during the weaning stages were crucial.

Goodluck with the pregnancy

[BeatnikMama]

I'm not pregnant and Breastfeeding, but I can tell you the recent advice I was given regarding being veggie and Breastfeeding, as I wasn't aware that my son needed to take suppliments as my GP had told me we didn't need anything other than my milk post 6 months and to continue just taking my Pregnancy Vits.The facts are dependent on how much your 22month old nurses and how well he's eating he may need some vitimin suppliments, Vit A B12 D and Iron are the ones that are often in low levels post 6months breastfeeding even in non Veggie moms. Vitimin D does not pass through your breastmilk in sufficient quantities after 6months old and strict Veggies who do not consume eggs or dairy products are at risk of low levels of B12, there has been a number of cases of deficiency among young Veggie Children, Also you should take a vitimin D suppliment along with you folic acid if you don't take a multivit suppliment already.

Check out these

http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/infants

http://www.007b.com/vitamin-d-breast-milk.php

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/articles/vegetarian-pregnancy.php

http://www.vegetarianwomen.com/articles/catheolson.htm

http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/faq/04momnutrition.html

Hope the links are useful,I found my GPs advice was useless they were often confused or unaware of the benefits and the drawbacks to been a veggies mum and breastfeeding. My son has Eczema so he had limited sun exposure and had food intollerances so supplimentation during the weaning stages were crucial.

Goodluck with the pregnancy

[phaedra13]

I just had my second child three weeks ago. My other nursling is two years old exactly. I am veg but do eat quite a lot of dairy and eggs. I didn't do anything special to count protein. I still ended up with a 10 pound baby and my toddler is a-okay, too. :-)

[She2dancer]

nak...

i've been vegan for almost 12 yrs and have had three vegan pregnancies, I nursed through two pregnancies and tandem nursed bothe the older two (still tandeming).  Two of my boys were 9lbers, my first was just about 8lbs.  I don't do anything special except try to eat a wide variety of whole foods. I do occassionally take a multi vit and vit d.  I don't ever count protien, I just eat til i am full :)

[parsley]

I'm in the don't worry about it camp.  I just had my babe 6 weeks ago.  I nursed through the pregnancy and am tandem nursing now.  I ate till I was full and tried to eat a good variety of foods.  I did find that I had strong aversions to tofu when I was pregnant but devoured eggs.  I also found myself craving higher fat foods and was happy to have an excuse to switch to whole milk for my coffee!  In general, I think Americans get far more protein then we need and it's not a big concern. 

Congrats on your pregnancy!