Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Any veggie mum to bes out there?

55 replies

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 16:00

Discovered I was pregnant today :o) and saw the doctor. She said that it would be worth me trying to eat fish, so I tried a salmon sandwich today and it made me feel really rough. Willing to battle on for baby's sake but would welcome any advice.

Ta!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Bideyin · 14/04/2011 16:01

You totally don't need to eat fish if you don't want to. There are millions of vegetarian mothers throughout the world who get along just fine.

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 16:07

True- I'm just a bit worried because I'm deficient in b12 and was on tablets but doc told me to stop them now that I'm pregnant. Anyhoo, am probably freaking out for no good reason!

OP posts:

d0gFace · 14/04/2011 16:08

Salmon in a sandwich sounds manky to me and I like meat. :)

As the poster said above, many women dont bother and have healthy babies.

If you want to give it another go maybe look up a few recipes?

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 16:10

Might do! It did taste pretty nasty and I only managed a quarter of it. Might try some battered fish...

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 14/04/2011 16:10

I was so rough in previous pg I counted myself lucky if I could eat anything. Same now. I have stepped up the Quorn though. In previous pg, after I stopped being sick, I had a real craving for tuna sandwhiches though. Must have had a couple a week. I think tuna is something you're not meant to eat much of though, but I figured eating anything was a bonus.

nickelbaalamb · 14/04/2011 16:11

me me me!

I would never eat fish just because the doctor told me to!

Seriously, you do not need to.
You can get all the vitamins you need from other soucres - and if you're worried, get a pack of pregancy vitamins and minerals (important to get preganancy ones because they have no vitamin A in - which can be bad for your liver)
The pregnancy tablets have vitamin B12 in - your doctor is talking a crock of shit, by the way, to tell you not to take yours , because all the pregnancy books i've read suggest you do take them.
(even the NHS one)
Plus, lots of cereals have B12 in - such as rice Krispies and Special K.

Leilababyno1 · 14/04/2011 16:12

I am a veggie mum-to-be, due in 2 wks!!!

Doc shouldn't really have told you to start eating fish (unless your a bit of a pescatarian like me and have come to terms with the idea...)

I used to be fully veggie, but then slowly started eating fish/seafood again. It's a personal choice though...

You can still have a very healthy pregnancy on a fully vegetarian diet, as long as you eat well/responsibly- why not take a veggie omega 3 oil supplement (check with the MW first though) but that should be absolutely fine to take while pregnant and will give you what you may be lacking in from not eating fish.

Just make sure you are taking time to eat all your beans and pulses, and make sure you keep your iron levels up- as vegetarians are much more likely to be iron deficient. The MW/nurse should take your bloods at your booking appointment, so don't worry about that yet- they will let you know if you need an iron supplement.

Other than that CONGRATULATIONS and don't force yourself to eat fish- there really isn't any need to, unless you fancy it!

Bideyin · 14/04/2011 16:14

Well it's totally up to you what you do. If you feel that you need the extra nutrients that fish provide then eat it.

I was vegetarian in my first pregnancy (9llb healthy baby) and veg + fish in my second (also 9llb). Breastfed them both on veg diet no problem.

Are you generally healthy? have healthy diet? of reasonable weight? or does the doctor have genuine reason to be concerned?

TheVisitor · 14/04/2011 16:14

I had a triplet pregnancy and am fully vegetarian. Marmite is a very good source of V6 and V12. Use it in cooking if you don't like it on its own (I don't).

nickelbaalamb · 14/04/2011 16:14

the pregnancy vitamin tablets have iron in too - cos that was the thing I was worried about.

Leilababyno1 · 14/04/2011 16:16

Also- LOADS of spinach and green leafy veg, my iron levels have been very high- think it's because I eat my body weight in spinach...

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 16:17

Cheers for the advice girls! Will definitely stock up on good cereals and supplements.

OP posts:

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 16:22

You guys are great! I would say that I am normally a very healthy vegetarian , weight is fine and have never had any health problems in the past, but just recently, I got pneumonia and was v poorly and spent a week in hospital and have taken a long time to recover. That's how my b12 deficiency showed up and is also why I'm keen to get this right. Doctor was surprised to see me back so soon with the good news :)

OP posts:

nickelbaalamb · 14/04/2011 16:35

:) I would say, don't worry.
As long as you are eating something out of all the food groups, you'll be fine.
Also, eating little and often is good - not only does it stop you from getting hungry, I've found it helps me with sickness - it keeps it at a sub-level (although, I might be lucky anyway)

Chaotica · 14/04/2011 16:41

Wiwa - don't worry (as the others have said). I had two as a veggie (always swore I would eat meat in pg if I had cravings but I didn't. Both babies were over 9lb and bf. No problem. (DD was born addicted to marmite though... )

Keep an eye on B12 etc (I found I needed B6 in pg and it helped with morning sickness, but it's not recommended by all.)

Congratulations

LilQueenie · 14/04/2011 16:45

Im veggie too. I was told not to change my diet at all by the ivf team at ninewells because my body was used to what I was already eating. I was recommended to use pregnacare tablets and even though I barely ate at all for 10 weeks I put on 2 stone by 5 months! (apparantly the healhty weight to put on by full term) Obvioulsy I was told not to eat liver etc. not that I would lol. Lots of barley and seeds and grains added to soups and casseroles would help if you are concerned you might not be getting nutrients.

From what I was told you know when your not eating well because you start feeling sick as the baby takes the nutrients away from you. Its you who would feel ill not the child.

nobodyimportant · 14/04/2011 16:48

I'm veggie and I've never been told to eat fish! I do eat marmite, and plenty of green leafy veg and take pregnancy vitamins every day. I've had to previous healthy babies without eating fish!

jamama · 14/04/2011 17:15

If you're not used to eating meat or fish, there's a good chance it will make you feel ill when you try at first. Cheese and eggs have a decent dose of B12 as well, so unless you're vegan I think you can get a good amount from your diet and supplements. I've been vegetarian for almost 20 years, and always said that if I wanted meat during pregnancy, I would put my baby's health and wellbeing ahead of my feelings on the subject. So far (at 9+4) I haven't wanted any, but it is up to you what you want to eat and what you don't. My GP and mw have both said my diet and health are great and that I should eat as normal.

nickelbaalamb · 14/04/2011 17:20

see, jamama, I have given it thought too, and i knwo that you crave what nutrients you arr missing - so, if i craved meat, I would assume it was because I was gettign enough iron, protein or fat.
there are enough veggie foods that would cover that.

and like LilQueenie said, the cravings are for you, not the baby

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 17:23

Thanks guys. Your advice has been really helpful. If you can get b12 from dairy products, is it fair to say that I need to increase my chocolate intake for medical purposes...? I think so! x

OP posts:

nickelbaalamb · 14/04/2011 17:24

sounds good to me!

slovenlydotcom · 14/04/2011 17:28

I have been a vegetarian since the age of 16 and at the ages of 36 and 39 had two easy pregnancies and produced two 9lb plus babies; I think your doctor is wrong, sorry.

Not because I am some sort of militant veggie (my DC eat meat and fish)- I think he is wrong-although I am not medically qualified.

H007 · 14/04/2011 17:33

I'm a veggie and doing a masters in Nutrition, I cannot believe what your doctor said I would have been so offended by that suggestion.... I take a pregnacare vits and minerals just in case and also ensure I have quorn fishfingers once a week... Sorted :)

Original poster

Wiwa · 14/04/2011 17:39

Feel like I need to defend my doc here! I did ask her if I should try to eat fish and she said it would be worth trying, so it didn't come totally out of the blue. Quorn fish fingers sound lush though -where can you get those?

OP posts:

bilblio · 14/04/2011 18:12

I'm not the healthiest vegetarian (Mum calls me a Sandwicharian :) )

I don't eat any meat or fish but I do eat plenty of dairy and eggs, cereals, bread, veg and through last pregnancy and this I've craved fruit... even though I'm allergic to it!

I didn't take any extra vitamins with DD (except folic acid) and had no problems. I was concerned about my iron levels, but MW said they were that good the first time around that they needn't bother checking them again. I'm pregnant again now and was concerned about my iron due to a lot of palpitations and dizzyness, but again they're fine.

I'd not bother about eating fish or meat (unless you start craving them.) Just stick with your normal healthy varied diet, and as others have said keep an eye on the B12, which sounds like it was related to your illness rather than your diet.

And Congratulations! :o

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread