A veggie pregnancy

[SassehMonsta]

I've yet to attend my first midwife appointment, but I'm assuming they will ask about my diet. I'm vegan and have been for 8-9 years now, and have a relatively healthy diet (despite a grave dislike of salad!), but I'm worried about what the midwife will say about it. The only vitamins I've taken since going vegan have been conception multi vits on and off since the new year.

Anyone know if it's possible to get bloodwork done for things like anaemia beforehand, so I can show her at that first appointment?

I also got distracted while shopping last week by the smell of roasting chicken, which was weird as I've not thought of it as "tasty" for some time. Any other veggies/vegans have cravings for meat etc?

[weebigmamma]

I had awful nausea for the first 4 months and decided to take a break from being vegetarian for the duration of this pregnancy as a result. It was still a while after that before I felt able to eat all the foods I would normally have eaten and I decided it would be easier for me to get a wide range of food if I allowed myself as much as possible. That has worked for me personally but everyone is different. Do speak to a medical professional and let them advise you it. Good luck and congratulations! xxx

[Polkadotscarf]

I'm not vegetarian but my husband is so I don't eat a lot of meat. Midwife ok with this and just gave me a lot of advice on how else to get enough protein, zinc and iron. If you're eating a healthy vegan diet it should be ok.

[Boofuls]

I have been vegetarian for 17 years and am 14 weeks with DC2. As long as you eat a healthy balanced diet then I don't see the problem. I took multivits during first pregnancy and am with this one too and midwife was impressed with my iron levels, better than most meat eaters apparently! I would just have an honest chat with the midwife about it and you should be fine.

Also, wouldn't say I've been craving meat but the smell of it does seem more appealing :)

[Foxeym]

I've been vegetarian for nearly 40 years and have had three healthy DC's the last one being 5 months ago at age 42. I was slightly anaemic towards the end with DC3 but this is quite common with anybody vegetarian or not so I just carried on taking my pregnancy vitamins

[JollyMarie79]

I was vegan before I became pregnant then had really bad cravings for all things animal and succumbed for which I felt really bad about as it goes against everything I believe in but I actually felt my body respond well and haven't been ill like I expected I would be. I'm almost term now and fully expect to go back to a plant based diet once baby is born and have started to wean myself back to the diet I was used to. A great book is vegan pregnancy which has lots of advice.

Don't beat yourself up, go with the flow and enjoy your pregnancy

[Linguini]

I haven't changed my veggie (not vegan) diet since becoming pg, I take the daily pregnancy diet supplement pills, and haven't had any problems.

I might worry about a vegan diet because of the missing dairy products which are a good source of protein and calcium which are essential, but you can get these nutrients through other vegan sources (and supplements)....

There was one time a while ago where I started to eat meat again, and I got such horrendous flatulence, I immediately reverted again! I don't recommend a drastic change in diet as that can cause unwanted havoc.

[alita7]

I wouldn't worry, I'm not normally a vegetarian but I seem to not be able to stomach meat or even the idea of it. I can just about do chicken some days and I can sometimes eat sausage rolls. I'm taking pregnacare so it will just have to do!

[Kels13]

I'm veggie and my midwife was fine with that. Said veggies are generally more healthy and as long as you take your multivitamins should be fine!

[Trenzalor]

I had a vegan diet throughout pregnancy and beyond and have a healthy nine month old who is still being BF. Don't tell them as they don't ask about specific diets. Make sure you take supplements and eat lots of fruit and veg. Congratulations!

[theborrower]

I was veggie during my last pregnancy, the midwife didn't really say anything about it. She asked about multiple vitamins I think, but that was more to do with folic acid and vitamin D. I was never anaemic throughout my pregnancy, but had to take iron tablets for a week or so immediately after birth (CS). I imagine that's not uncommon though.

I'm not veggie any more - after 20 years it went out the window when weaning DD

I'm pregnant with DC 2 and while I eat meat, it's not all the time and I actually avoid dairy for other reasons (IBS). Again, it's not been an issue. Was just told about folic acid etc again and eating a balanced diet.

[RaRa1988]

I'm 25, 31 weeks pg, and have been a strict vegetarian for most of my life. My midwife has never commented on it beyond checking that I eat enough protein. Your bloods will be checked for iron levels anyway and, assuming you eat a good diet, I would've thought you'd probably be ok. Pregnancy multivits will help with this too. If it reassures you at all, my iron levels are normally (ie not pregnant!) pretty low, and I stopped taking the pregnancy multivits at around 20 weeks, but my 28-week iron levels were still perfectly normal. The only problems I've had have been low BP and low blood sugar, neither anything to do with being vegetarian.