Pregnant and want to go vegetarian

[Cygnet09]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question - but I didn't see much about major dietary changes in the I'm Pregnant forum. Just move me if you have to!

Dh has been veggie in the past, but I have not. DD (2 years) would live on fruits, veggies and grains if she could, despite my heavy meat consumption while PG. I am having few meat cravings this PGcy (I'm 3 months), in fact many make me feel ill.

I have _Diet For a Small Planet_ which says that PG women should be more vigilant about protein complementarity and also recommends a book for babies/children. I'm not really worried about DD since she still nurses and if most meals have a high complementarity, I'm sure she'll be fine.

But I read a older thread here that said there are some aa's that you absolutely cannot get except from meat. Is this true despite mixing grains/seeds/dairy in order to make up for deficiencies?

And does anyone have any links or books they would recommend for a vegetarian PGcy and babies/kids?

Thanks!

[boobykinmamma]

We're going to start ttc next month (yay!), and I'm planning to be very careful of nutrition this time. Ds was full term and very tiny--don't know if this was related to nutrition, but I am going to follow the Brewer diet just to be sure. Are you familiar with it. I believe the website is [url]www.blueribbonbaby.org. Dr. Tom Brewer found that this diet, which is very high in protein, prevents precampsia, low birth weight, and other complications. I ordered the book recently, and haven't received it yet, but I know that it includes info on vegetarian pregnancy and getting the right combinations with a veg diet. I'm not a vegetarian, but was last pregnancy, and I don't think I ate as well as I could have, particularly protein. Maybe you'll get some replies from other vegetarian moms who have followed the Brewer diet. You also might want to post on the I'm Pregant forum.

[Erin Pavlina]

Alis,

It's not true that you have to combine protein. Diet for a Small Planet was revised and the author even stated that she had been incorrect to suggest that proteins needed to be combined.

The truth is that proteins will stay in your body until complementary proteins appear, then they will combine and form whole proteins.

You can absolutely get enough of all your vitamins, minerals, and nutrients by being vegetarain and vegan.

All foods contain protein, including vegetables, nuts, legumes, seeds, and grains. Even fruit.

Please visit my website at www.vegfamily.com as we cover vegan pregnancy and parenting issues. You can also visit www.pcrm.org, and www.vrg.org for some more info on pregnancy and vegetarianism.

Good luck and if you have any questions at all, please contact me and I will help you.

[owensmom]

I am vegetarian and gave birth to a nine pounder, so it can be done! I was really worried when I started about getting enough protein (my midwives were really big on eating enough protein (not just for veg people but for everyone) - ending up with eating at least 80 g per day by mid 2nd trimester.

Anyway, I found out it wasn't that hard at all, and I beleive it kept extra pounds off.

Here are some of the things I ate: grape nuts (highest protein but lowest fat I found in cereals), fortified soymilk, morningstar farms sausage patties, fat free yogurt, string cheese, eggs (I have chickens...) and I even found some brands of bagels have up to 9 g each!

Anyway, I just took veg pre natals and tried to eat right, and it was easy!

Good luck!

[Mama Lori]

Just a warning, I was vegetarian through my pregnancy and ended up badly hypoglycemic and had a tremendously difficult labor. I now eat meat and feel much better.

[funnybunny]

Alis-

A little about my experience...
At the age of 20 I had been a lacto- ovo vegetarian for 7 years and became pregnant. I was very worried about protein consumption and had a hard time putting on weight initially. I was told by my midwife to bulk up on protein and ended up gaining 55 lbs!! (Ice cream was the recommended supplement). DS was born weighing in at over 10 pounds. With my second son, I trusted my body, ate more protein (although not the nightly ice cream) and gained a respectable 35 lbs and gave birth to a 9lb. 12oz. baby.

The second time around some of my favorites were: Morningstar Farms products (sausage, burgers, corn dogs, buffalo wings etc.), Yoplait custard yogurt, nuts, energy bars with soy, and milk with ovaltine.

If going vegetarian is something you want to do, it can be done healthfully - there is no need to go overboard as I did with baby #1.

Best of luck with your pregnancy!

[Mama Lori]

I just wanted to add, my baby was not underweight by any means, he was 8.5 lbs. There were just a lot of complications, though he was born at home.

[solmama]

just wanted to say that if you are craving meat, why not try some smart ground or smart strips (chicken or steak)? its a meat substitute (soy), and i found that when i was craving things when i was pregnant, it wasn't actually the "meat" but the meal that i thought i couldn't have. they are also really easy to make and don't have gmos or eggs/milk like morningstar.

[tara]

I'm vegetarian and had a healthy pregnancy and a big, fat baby boy. I didn't have trouble getting enough protein at all - I ate lots of soy stuff, tons of peanutbutter, quinoa, and since I'm not vegan, eggs & dairy.

I did crave meat during my first trimester. It was strange after ten years of vegetarianism, but I was really wanting meat! My naturopath friend put me on B12 injections and iron supplementation, and the cravings disappeared!

[rainsmom]

Veggie Mom

I was veggie while pregnant (now I eat fish occasionally). I had no problems during my pregnancy and baby was healthy. I did crave protein though in the form of mayonaise and avocados! So weird. Im still nursing and still eat both, and I hated mayo before! anyways, as long as you have a good prenatal that includes b12 (only found in animal products)you should be fine. Also, most nutritional yeast does have b12, so sprinkle that on your food. and if you crave meat, eat organic from a health food market. I do believe some people dont do well on a vegetarian diet, pregnant or not. But if that is your diet prepregnancy, than you should be fine. I did include yogurt in my diet and have continued that now. That is the only dairy I eat, besides an occasional cheese pizza.

There are also alot of books out there on vegetarian pregnancy diets. Check amazon.com or local library/bookstore.

above all, listen to your cravings. Your body will tell you what you need!

[rubym]

rainsmom
veggies dont eat fish.

[rainsmom]

Yea, I know

I was strickley vegetarian while pregnant. now because I live in a small town where food options are few, I eat fish once a month.

[catnip]

One terrific vegetarian (though not vegan) protien supplement is powdered non fat milk added to baking, smoothies, shakes, casseroles, whatever. The stuff is almost pure protein and is cheaper and tastes better than the fancy protien powders.
Here's my favorite recipie:

High Protein smoothie:
1 frozen banana
6 strawberries
1/2 cup other frozen or fresh fruit, or more strawberries
3/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 cup milk or juice
2 heaping tbs wheat germ
2 heaping tbs powdered milk
1 folic acid tablet
1/4 tsp vitamin c crystals

Mix on high in a blender until smooth. Can be frozen as an ice pop, or refrigerated for later, though it is best fresh. Makes about 20 oz.

A diabetic or someone who is concerned with high blood sugar should opt for milk and plain yogurt, and maybe eliminate the extra fruit.

[Mama Lori]

I think if you crave meat when you are pregnant, eat meat. Good quality organic meat is available. When I was pregnant I didn't eat any despite my cravings. This just made it turn into sugar cravings (common symptom of protein deficiency) and I ate way too much sugar, causing hypoglycemia and yeast infections. Wish I would've just ate some meat.

[tara]

Well, in my case the meat cravings were more about iron and B12 than protein - I get lots of protein. Plus, I'm a vegetarian for a variety of reasons and really don't want to eat meat no matter how much I craved it, even good organic meat. So, just eating meat wasn't an option for me. Figuring out the reason for the craving and addressing that worked really well and made my cravings disappear.

No judgement intended for those who eat meat or would choose to when pregnant!

[snailmama]

vegetarian...

I started out vegan until I was 4 months then I flipped out and told dh I wanted to eat cheese and yougurt, I couldn't take it anymore! I always thought about cheese.
I got my protein from seitan and energy drinks like Spiruteen, I took rainbow light prenatals.
My son weighed 7 pounds 14 oz.
I had a terrible labor 52 hours !!!!!
Today is his 1st bithday!
The day before he was born they estimated a weight of only 6lbs. I am tall 5 foot 6 but have a petite build.
My midwife was totally shocked that he was 7 pounds 14 oz.
If you do crave something I say eat it!
Cravings are your body's way of telling you , you need nutrients.

[rainsmom]

AGREE SNAILMAMMA!!!

[Cygnet09]

Thanks for your replies!

I've been eating primarily vegetarian meals for the past week or so and feel great. I have few to no meat cravings - and it's usually not meat per se, but rather something hideous like a Subway sandwich. Ugh.

I'm taking a prenatal, so I think that should help with any minor deficiencies that could lead to cravings. I also have a few books that give great ideas about adding stuff to meals to increase the complementary protein.

However, DH and I like fish, so we will probably not end up vegetarian. Thanks for the smoothie recipe, catnip - sometimes that's the only thing I crave! All I really want these days are fruits and veggies. I guess it's a good thing I got PG in time for the summer.

Thanks again!

[Simply Nurtured]

Info on nutrition in pregnancy

In the world of doulas, this is one of the premier sources of nutrition information that we use. Dr. Brewer has nutritional information for ALL, those who eat meat, those who are ovo-lacto veg and those who are veg.

http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/ifyoua...oduction.shtml
Start here and click NEXT to read all the pages.

This page lists the basic information and you will see protein alternative equivalent to meat.
http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/brewerdiet.shtml

http://nutrition.birthingnaturally.n...iles/frame.htm
interactive

I highly recommend the book. I have a copy on CD-rom that lists out the specific nutritional plans.

I am not pregnant at this time, but as to myself, I personally do not eat red meat. I use soy milk, but do eat other dairy products. Eat lots of other "alternative" foods, too.

Wanda