Advice on going back to vegetarian whilst Breastfeeding?

[DeflatedAgain]

I am 4 months in BF DS.

During my pregnancy I started to eat meat again for his growth (I'm quite petite). Continued to eat meat (everyday basically) whilst I'm breastfeeding as didn't want to make any major changes that could affect him. I'm really wanting to make the switch back. Feeling a bit groggy from it all now.

I'm thinking of stopping BF at 6 months-ish. Not sure whether to hold off 2 more months or if anyone else has done it with no issues? Any advice welcome 🤗

Meat makes babies grow taller? Good job I stayed vegetarian then as he’s 6’ 2”.

Who's a what now?

Genetics is by a very long way the biggest indicator of height in children. Nutrition only comes in when it's very bad (in one direction) or artificial (in the other - hormones in milk etc.).

Vegetarianism (unless it's a restriction based on an eating disorder) has nothing to do with it.

Why I started eating it again is another story.

Just wondering if anyone else has made the switch back easily?

You didn’t have to eat meat during pregnancy and you can stop now. It won’t have any effect.

@Sleepygrumpyandnothappy awesome, thankyou.

I have some older family members trying to convince me to stay as I am but I really don't see any issue with going back.

They’re being ridiculous. I was seeing a consultant because of actual poor foetal growth and they were clear my diet was pretty much irrelevant.

The only advantage I can see of eating meat while breastfeeding is if the animal fat and protein helps fend off the hunger pangs.

Well my Mum has been veggie all my life, I'm veggie. My brother is 6 ft 2 and my ds2 6 ft....
You don't need meat; you didn't in pregnancy and you don't now. It's fine if you want to eat it, but 'baby's growth' is a non excuse from anyone!

Just eat more cheese if you think you need extra protein , or eggs, or milk...

Growth will be determined by your genetics and those of your partner.

@Sleepygrumpyandnothappy thanks for that I feel much more confident about it now.

We have some disabilities that run in my family and I felt a little desperate to make sure everything with baby's growth goes well. Gave in to the idea that it could help 🤷🏻‍♀️ Mostly just weight, spine formation and brain development whilst in the womb was my concerns.

I will start again tomorrow - finally! 🥬

A vegetarian diet is perfectly healthy for bf. I just made sure I had lots of dark leafy greens and stuff like nuts and lentils, so basically eating healthily.

I'm popping to Tesco tomorrow so I'll grab loads of eggs, leafy greens, nuts, cheese etc.

Got to get my brain back in the mindset (got so used to making different meals 🤪).

It will be interesting to see how my energy levels change as I'm feeling very lethargic now. Might be unrelated but only time will tell!

Why would switching back to being veggie be a problem?
Im 5ft3 so presumably thats petite?
Veggie for years prior to being pregnant, during pregnancy and ever since. My babies weighed 8lbs8 and 8lbs4. Ds is now 5ft10. Dd is 5ft6.
Both veggie until they were 18.

@Yfory to be honest, I think I've been listening to some family members concerns about how's it's beneficial for the baby etc and got a bit lost in it all.

Now I'm starting to wonder why I didn't just do it ages ago 🤣

Family members can be annoying. I'm so glad my son is a very tall 99th percentile baby, because it meant I got to turn their comments about my vegetarianism back in their face

God I could have never of eaten meat during pregnancy! I could never eat meat anyway as the thought makes me feel sick 😷

But you're fine.... been veggie for years and birthed two child and currently breastfeeding my 21 month old.. both perfectly healthy.

There are loads of vegetarians who bf. A good majority of many cultures in the world are vegetarian or eat limited meat. Just eat enough calories, especially healthy fats and protein, and continue taking a good quality vitamin.

Deflated - time to make a point of listening to your own judgement. Decide what your values are. What your goals/aims etc are in raising your child........ because you've got 20 years of this ahead. The first months and the first years especially.......... everyone in your family and your friends will offer (or worse - tell you!) what they think is best for your child.
You will be so much happier if you take the reins and lead from the front rather than allowing others to direct you/take charge. Listen to their advice if its offered......... but dont let them dictate to you how things will be done. xxx

No need to eat meat at all. Switch away - been vegetarian since i was 14. 3 kids currently still breastfeeding 3rd at 16m , oldest is 9 but average 12 year old height. I was told by older family baby needs meat - poppycock I ignored them and no harm done at all, all babies grew perfectly in and out of womb had and has no affect on bf ability.

This in spades. Motherhood is a great time t say, "actually, I will follow my own advice". You're a mum now, be a fierce one.

Ahhh thanks all!

You've all offered me some truly valuable advice. It's easy to get sucked into trying to people please and feeling like I'm letting DS down if something would have gone wrong. In hindsight I know that's very naive of me.

Had some fertility issues and mixed with family health history etc I cracked under the pressure. DS is all healthy and happy so I shouldn't have stressed so hard.

It's going to be so freeing doing my own thing again. 🎉

I’ve been pregnant and breastfed 2 children on a vegan diet. Shock, horror!

Both healthy and have grown well, teenager and adult.

Hope you feel better getting back to your vege diet.

If you are still tired after the switch, as in too tired even after enough sleep, go and get some blood tests to rule out thyroid and anaemia issues. Don’t be fobbed off by drs saying it’s normal to be too tired.
When you switch make sure you eat plenty of nutrient dense foods; it’s easy to fill up on carbs when you’re distracted by other things.
Being vegetarian won’t hurt your baby. You can do things differently to your family, your baby, your way.

If you’re tired, get your iron levels checked. I was anaemic towards the end of pregnancy and after giving birth.

But no, don’t eat meat if you don’t want to - just try to make your diet as iron rich as possible.