Vegetarian and pregnant - advised to eat fish/meat

[GuppieK]

I wonder if anyone can help. I've been vegetarian since the age of 10 and have always assumed I eat a pretty varied and healthy diet - lots of fruit, vegetables, pulses, seeds etc and tofu, 'Quorn' products, soya etc.

Recently me and my partner have been trying to get pregnant and I've had 2 early miscarriages and am now pregnant (7wks) for the third time. This has coincided with me seeing an osteopath (who is also a nutritionist) for a shoulder injury and he has started to look into my diet as he thinks I might be lacking in protein which could be the reason my shoulder isn't getting better quickly.

He seems to think my diet is pretty unhealthy, lacking in vital fats and protein, and that I should really at least eat fish and preferably meat. Today he has said that the reason for my miscarriages could be that my body isn't up to carrying a child so aborted the pregnancies. We've come to the compromise that I'll take a hemp protein supplement (I already take flaxseed oil and a multi-vitamin) and also reduce my soya and 'Quorn' consumption, as he says they're heavily processed foods and not good for us. But I'm super paranoid now, and I was already paranoid because of the miscarriages! I feel like it's possible to be a healthy vegetarian and provide a baby with everything it needs to grow, but after 24 years of being vegetarian my beliefs are being severely tested and I'm wondering whether I need to start at least eating fish.

Has anyone here had a healthy vegetarian pregnancy, and what types of food did you make sure you got lots of? Thanks :)

I'm vegetarian and I've had two big boys who where BFed until around 2 years. I'm one of the few mums i know who didn't have iron issues. I am also a triathlete and that requires a fair bit of energy.

If you want more protein go for grains like millet or quinoa, you can cook the grains or get the flaked versions and use the millet as porridge and the quinoa flakes can be used to thicken soups. I had millet porridge for breakfast for most of my pregnancies. Also chickpeas and other legumes, you can throw red split lentils into soups and pasta sauces, chick peas into salads. Oils are easy you can get 'Good oil' in supermarkets its a nice hemp oil that is lovely in salads.

Sadly lots of lovely ladies veggie or lose babies, for no apparent reason, improve your diet reduce processed foods by all means but don't beat yourself up, I know people who eat loads of junk food and crap who have gotten pregnant, your being vegetarian is a good thing girl.

GuppieK The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation are experts on these matters and have a qualified nutritionist - Dr Justine Butler. They have lots of fact sheets and I'm sure would answer individual questions if you ask them. There is another nutritionist who used to work with them and is now trustee of another vegetarian charity - if you need any more advice - and I know you have had lots of good advice on here already please contact me and I'll pass on your query.

Freelance that is very interesting.

WTF? He says you aren't eating enough protein & tells you to cut out two protein sources?

I've been veggie since I was 15 (sounds like a very similar diet to you) - had DD1, then 2 m/c - I asked my Dr for some tests & we discovered I had an underactive thyroid. Started meds & got pg with DD2 straight away

I'm sure it's probably all been said by now, but Im vegetarian, type 1 diabetic, and extremely healthy; i get pregnant easily and have had a very healthy veggie pregnancy. midwife actually commented that vegetarians tend to pay far more attention to their nutrional needs and do better with iron levels and so on. i certainly had no issues.

i think its pretty awful that a spuriously qualified person is suggesting mc is down to diet. one thing in my unqulaified opinion i would add though, is to take zinc supplements. there's an awful lot of research to suggest that zinc is incredibly influential in reporductive health.

Guppie, I am sorry to hear about your miscarriages, and wanted to say congratulations and wish you all the very best for this pregnancy.

I'm glad that you have been reassured by all the previous posters that your (healthy) vegetarian diet has not caused your miscarriages. I'm a doctor (although disclaimer, don't work in GP or O&G!) and have never been concerned about being vegetarian during any of my pregnancies.

My now 4 year old DD was 8lb 8oz at term, & my DTSs were 7lb 2oz & 6lb 15oz at 37 weeks. All three were breastfed until they were a year. I am now 37.5 weeks with DC3, and estimated weight (now) is 7.5lb. I did take iron in all pregnancies (might have been double dose with the twins), but no other supplements.

I think the advice to talk to your GP & dietician is good, and I hope you have a trouble and worry free pregnancy. Good luck!

I've been a vege for 27 years and have had 2 very healthy pregnancies. My NHS doctor thought it was very positive that I was a vegie and said it was a healthy way to live and thoroughly recommended.
I didn't have any problems. The only advice I was given by the midwife was to take Floradix for iron. I now have 2 healthy vege children,

Good luck and congratulations!

OP, sympathies on your miscarriages, and fingers crossed for your current pregnany - very best wishes.

Just adding my voice to the host of other vegetarian mothers - I've been vegetarian for almost 20 years, conceived (with my vegetarian partner) the first month we tried, aged 39, and now have a healthy, gorgeous two-month old wriggling in his Moses basket, born weighing just under 8.5 pounds.

Do keep an eye on your iron levels, is all I would say. I didn't need to supplement myself at all during pregnancy, but my midwife kept an eye.

Another veggie here with zero health problems for me or littlun in pregnancy. Too many nutritionists are unqualified quacks pushing their own personal prejudices - causing more harm than good by indiscriminately advising people to cut down on their pet-hate foods when there is no evidence that this advice is right for them. If you are worried then get a dietitican with proper qualifications to do some actual blood tests.

I did up my protien intake a bit in pregnancy but just by eating more veggie sources - quorn, soya, nuts, eggs, dairy. I also made sure I got plenty of omega 3 (from linseed mainly - there is no need to get it from fish - the research proving the benefits of omega 3 was all done using veggie sources!). - given the nutritionist's prejudice against processed foods he may be thinking you should get your omega three from a less-processed animal source rather than veggie oils. It is important to get enough essential fats, but find a supplement that works for you, rather than giving up your principles!

Why can people read ? He has said the protein sources she eats are inadequate & should eat better quality.

Please don't take the advice of most on here, especially the aspirin, eat the quorn & soya.

Op, please do your research, it's not difficult. There is good accredited info on livestrong website, to name but a few. Correct nutrition makes a massive difference to some people. Yes, there will be veggies/vegans that carry babies, there are also drug addicts/smokers too.

Keep a food diary yourself, look up the grams of protein you're eating & do the maths.

After I had my miscarriage I would have eaten a sheeps eye if I thought it'd make a difference.

Yes of course the guy is being helpful, he's got you looking at possibilities & options, which a great deal than most dr's.

"After I had my miscarriage I would have eaten a sheeps eye if I thought it'd make a difference."

Yes- so would I. But it would have made no difference at all. Which is why what this unqualified quack has said is completely outrageous.

Another that got through pregnancy on a vegetarian diet, without any problem at all -

actually, I take it back - my early pregnancy was a nightmare food wise as I couldn't stomach eating anything & got through the first 3/4 months eating little more than watercress & toasted seeds - still managed not to miscarry & gave birth to a very healthy, not underweight baby at 42

your Osteopath is is a Quack & he's fleecing you for more business to line his pockets - & nothing in your OP that he has told you makes any sense at all - as other point out, he contradicts himself massively - ignore him & carry on with your very healthy diet

Willowisp I did say I would recommend the OP should do her own research on aspirin and also the vitamins I mentioned rather than just taking my advice to take them. However I know countless people who have suffered from recurrent miscarriage and the addition of something so simple has appeared to make a difference, so please don't dismiss this completely either.

Here's an article about the potential benefits of low dose aspirin for supporting healthy pregnancy in the light of recurrent miscarriage:

miscarriage.about.com/od/treatment/f/baby_aspirin.htm

And another one here:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1160711.stm

As a non-meat eater myself (who also has a now-controlled thyroid problem) I do also eat some quorn and soy products but, as someone mentioned thyroid problems up thread, it's also good to be aware that there has been some research that might suggest too much processed soy can have a negative effect on thyroid hormone production. So maybe soy products in moderation is a good idea for those who suspect thyroid issues.

Here is a useful article about it from thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon:

thyroid.about.com/cs/soyinfo/a/soy.htm

My MW said that being a vegetarian is no problem and that he wouldn't have been worried if I'd said I was a vegan. It's the varied and balance diet that matters. A vegetarian who only eats crisps and sweets won't be healthy, that's obvious.

Guppie, I agree with all the previous posters who have said that your naturopath is an insensitive, irresponsible quack, and that a vegetarian diet can be perfectly healthy throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

However, I am adding my own experience just by way of balance - feel free to ignore it! I was vegetarian for most of my adult life, until I got pregnant aged 35. When I was 10 weeks pregnant, I started craving meat (although I'm sure that my diet was a healthy one). I'll never forget my husband's face when he saw me eat four sausages for breakfast but the urge to eat them was overwhelming.

My son is very allergic to dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, peas, beans, lentils and some seeds, so there is no way he will ever be able to eat a vegetarian diet. I'm sad about that, as I would much rather be able to cook and eat a vegetarian diet with him.

I guess what I am trying to say is: follow your insincts. If you are happy eating a healthy vegetarian diet, then carry on!

Good luck with this pregnancy

I eat eggs, dairy and fish (just no meat) so I assumed I'd have no problem in pregnancy.But in fact I realised at about 4/5 months that my wound healing capacity was really low. Mentioned it to gyn and she suggested it might be due to inadequate protein intake, so I started eating steak (!) Of course it might have been something else entirely, but the steak did seem to help. Useful to remember that people's physiology varies hugely, so you might react differently to other veggies.

p.s. also took iron supp from abouth halfway through.

"Yes, there will be veggies/vegans that carry babies, there are also drug addicts/smokers too."
Willowisp have you any idea how offensive that statement is?

Another (life) veggie mum of two healthy 9 lbs babies here. A balanced diet with good iron sources and multi-vits are what's important. I'm sure I can't add much to what's been said but I made a conscious effort to eat a bowl of lentil, bean or pea soup for lunch to maintain protein levels. Interestingly I lost 2.5 Ltrs of blood having DS2 and was one of the very few people who manage to avoid a transfusion with that level of blood loss, and I wouldn't say I eat as healthily as you. . Fundementally I don't think a veggie diet is sub-optimal health wise for me.

"Op, please do your research, it's not difficult. There is good accredited info on livestrong website, to name but a few. Correct nutrition makes a massive difference to some people. Yes, there will be veggies/vegans that carry babies, there are also drug addicts/smokers too. "

What a bizarre statement! And, I think needing an apology.

Hello there. I don't eat meat fish seafood mince or quorn or soya. I have two gorgeous healthy children on the gifted and talented register. I am not a twat,

I am a lifelong vegetarian like millions of very fertile Indians!! As are the DC who do very well in all aspects of life.

Your osteopath is a bigot.

You don't need to eat quorn or soya. Plenty of beans,pulses (lentils, peas, chickpeas) at least two well cooked portions a day, with plenty of veg, and fruit, also plain yoghurt daily. Use whole meal flour in cooking. Plenty of fresh fruit juice.
Eggs and cheese are optional extras.

Vitamins and minerals are optional extras. Remember folate supplements to prevent spina bifida if you are taking vitamin supplements. Marmite is a good source of B12 as it is yeast based.

Try these cookbooks, to which I would add Madhur Jaffrey, HareKrishna, and Claudia Roden
www.amazon.co.uk/Excellent-Vegetarian-Cookbooks/lm/R37D7D273VXMD6/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrssi0

I don't think your osteopath is all wrong. Soya protein like Quorn is processed rubbish and not worth eating. Tofu in moderation and Fermented soya like Miso, Tempeh and Natto are good for you as protein sources. Give soya milk a wide berth tho as it is processed in aluminium vats.

As a veggie eat nuts-not peanuts or salted. They are brill forms of protein and beans-chickpeas etc. if you are a veggie that eats eggs and dairy then eat boiled and scrambled eggs - excellent forms of complete protein. Drink full fat milk if trying to conceive and throw away margarine - over processed and eat butter - all above should be organic if poss.
Vegetarians should combine their protein sources to get a full amino acid profile in each meal (to match the quality of meat proteins). In other words just make sure your diet is varied.
Quinoa is an amazing grain with lots of protein, calcium, iron and B vits and delicious instead of rice.

You should look into taking a B12 supplement if veggie cos you may be deficient in it as the source is meat and it helps break down protein for energy- take it in a B vit supplement. Very important to have your iron levels checked too by your doctor, you may be low as a veggie-don't supplement without being tested first! Also have your vitamin D status checked by doc as v.important when trying to conceive and many people are deficient. If you need to supplement DON'T use the D2 version, use D3. Zinc is extremely important when trying to conceive -if you are eating lots of nuts and seeds then you should be fine there.

Fish oils are great. Make sure you are not taking fish liver oil tho-too much vit A when trying to conceive. Eskimo fish oil is amongst the cleanest type of fish oil out there.

Finally check your stress levels if trying to conceive-can be a big contributing factor to miscarriage as body doesn't want to bring a baby into a hostile environment.

You should check your Osteo's credentials as regards to his nutrition advice, but can I say as a nutrition student myself not all nutritionists are witch doctors -
I've been studying v hard for 3 years for my qualification and furthermore there are some v.bad state registered dieticians out there.

What an irresponsible and misinformed quack. Take no notice.

I'm vegetarian and had two healthy term pregnancies, both babies weighing nearly 8lb. Many millions of vegetarians worldwide manage to reproduce successfully without suddenly having to rush out and eat a dead cow. The idea that you "need" animal protein is utter bollocks.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Point of info: Quorn is not from soya, it is extracted from a variety of fungus.

Vitamin B12 is available in dairy products and eggs, not just meat. And also Marmite as well as fortified cereals etc.