Calling all vegetarian mums-to-be

[SwissArmyWife]

Hi all, i'm a veggie and have been for 7 years now. I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my second and have no energy whatsoever! First pregnancy was fine, but this time i'm wondering if i'm missing something in my diet, protein perhaps as i've gone off eggs but still eat cheese like there's no tomorrow
Or maybe iron.
Generally my diet is fine, but just wanted to ask what you other vegetarian pg ladies eat/drink for energy, as I know I shouldn't be this tired all the time!

Hi Swiss I'm 21 weeks and veggie as well and feel exactly the same! I've been veggie for 12 years now. With DD1 4 years ago and DD2 last year I never was this tired...
I asked consultant about it last week and she said my booking in iron levels are fine, so it's not that causing it... She said it must just be the way the pregnancy is going.
But any tips for more energy are welcome here indeed too!

To be fair... I'm not a veggie and 19wks, and I'm absolutely shattered! I took a day off work this week to sleep. It might not be your diet, it might just be the pregnancy.

Hi Swiss and BlueTinkerbell, I'm 39+5 with my first and have been veggie for over 10 years.

I was struggling energy wise and feeling a bit dizzy until I was diagnosed with slightly low iorn at around 20 weeks so started I taking supplements which sorted me out. I also started taking the Pregnacare supplements around the same time. I'm not normally one for supplements as I think a veggie diet is a very healthy one (well mine is!!) but I think during pregnancy it can't hurt to be cautious. Vitamin B12 and D are especially worth topping up during pregnancy... theres's loads online about that...

I have also been really carefull to eat lots of protein as this is the building block of life and we're growing new people!!! I'd recommend:
Quinoa (has full complement of all amino acids required, so is especially good)
Baked beans on brown toast (quick and easy, full amino acids with the combination of beans and brown bread)
Dry toasting some sunflower seeds or pumkin seeds in a frying pan, then cool and add a splash of soya sauce, mix allow to cool again, great snack.
Parmesan is really high in protein. Make a nice veggie bolognaise with soya mince and kidney beans and top with loads of grated parmesan...

Good luck!

Blue My iron levels were fine too, although that could easily change. Sorry to hear you're feeling the same :(

Grand - You're right, it could just be the pregnancy, as I have my DD to run around after aswell, but I feel ridiculously tired and i'm getting plenty of sleep!

Banjo Thank you very much for the tips! Will definitely get some quinoa. I'm also taking pregnacare so didn't know if it would be safe to take extra supplements on top of that. I do try and organise a varied, healthy diet most of the time, I cook with a lot of quorn (quorn chilli is a favourite at the mo!) didn't realise parmesan was another good source of protein though, so will try that too :)

Hi i'm Vegan and 17+1.

I have been vegan for 2 years and veggie before that for ever. My energy levels definitely fluctuate. This week i'm fine but last week I couldn't keep my eyes open after 7pm!

WeeDot I admire the fact you've been vegan for so long!
I did try it a while ago but I like cheese too much

What do you normally eat for a good energy boost?

Hi all, i'm 34 wks with dc2 and veggie for 3 years.

For energy I have crumpets with cheese, veggie burger/avocado/omelette in pitta for lunch, chocolate, apricots and cereal bars/flapjacks. I find as ling as I have a good protein boost at lunch time i'm alright.

I was anaemic with 1st pregnancy but I eat cereal most days now so I think that's what's kept my levels up this time, I mix muesliwith a fortified cereal like branflakes.

Banjo parmesan's generally not vegetarian afaik...

poppy you've just reminded me of what i'm doing differently to the last time!
I had a bowl of cereal every morning with my first, but i've not been 'in the mood' for cereal this time so have been eating brown toast instead!
I was eating nestle clusters and they seemed to be packed full of good stuff, from what I can remember, so I think i'll try those again.

I had no idea parmesan isn't vegetarian, but then a lot of cheese isn't!

SwissArmyWife I usually eat miso soup, brown rice, nuts and cereal for energy (not all together )

Tofu for iron and fortified soya milk for calcium, I take a vegan supplement for B12 and D and midwife seems happy with everything. although I have to say I have been having proper cheese cravings recently

I was exactly the same, couldn't face cereal first time round.

I remember reading it increases the likelihood of having a boy and Lo and behold, we're having a boy this time, weird!

I've been a veggie most of my life. My iron levels were ok at my booking but borderline by 28 weeks. I think things do change over time and you need more. So mw suggested an iron supplement on top of the pregnacare tried some yucky tonic thing which was too sweet at first but now have a spatone every morning and it's ok. Haven't been tested again but did start feeling more energised as soon as I started it- I'm 33 weeks now.
Also if you don't fancy cereal I have muesli and Greek yogert - which adds protein to brekkie. Or as I've had just now a bagel with marmite- yum!
I've sometimes tried some of those bounce balls for protein boosts, choc covered brazils or peanut m&m's thank god they've changed the nut rules :-)

If you're not eating eggs, you do have to look at your protein sources to make sure you are getting a good range amino acids (much as banjogurl said).

With this pregnancy I had awful MS for the first 12 weeks and couldn't eat much at all, anything with liquid made me feel sick so cereal was definitely off the list!
I am however having a boy!

I think i'll look in to the iron supplements, I know it sounds silly but my baby brain just won't allow me to remember all the little things when it comes to eating - although I will try!

meditrina Yes I thought this would be the case, I pretty much have to force myself to eat eggs at the moment

Thanks all for your suggestions :)

I've been vegetarian all my life - my baby will be a 3rd generation vegetarian!

I'm only in very early days yet but I'm taking flaxseed oil for omega-3's and also using nutritional yeast flakes for added B vitamins, as well as taking a normal pregnancy multivitamin. For iron I take Floradix at the moment, have also been recommended Spatone by midwives. To be fair, I've never had an iron problem.

I try and make sure that I either have a good chunk of dairy/eggs for my meal or a pulse based meal to ensure I'm getting enough protein. I also tend to snack on mini Babybels or yogurts.

I make my own flapjacks with oats, seeds, nuts, and dried fruit which are also good.

Spatone is good for iron.

Echiomega is a plant based source of omegas (comes in capsules - dead easy)