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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Small baby at risk because I am vegetarian?

29 replies

GeorgieJo · 17/09/2013 20:18

A scan at 35 weeks revealed that my baby's growth has slowed. He is still just within "normal" range, but until now he has been bang on average, so it means his growth has slowed significantly over the past few weeks.

My DH, parents, friends etc have all been quickly to tell me that vegetarianism is to blame (I haven't eaten meat or fish for 10 years). Which leaves me feeling absolutely awful.

I can't get over the fear that my baby is "hungry" and I have been depriving him. Plus now I am worried that because he is small he is at risk.

Up until now I have had a really easy, joyful pregnancy, and now I am just plagued with fear that I may have damaged him somehow and that something will go wrong.

It is true that I haven't gained as much weight as I expected, but I have eaten whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

I go back for another scan on Friday - but I am so scared and worried.

Has anyone else had a healthy small baby? Or stuck with vegetarianism though pregnancy?

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LeaningTowerOfGaffney · 17/09/2013 20:29

Don't feel awful! I'm sure after ten years of vegetarianism you've found the right balance and you're eating really well. As long as you're eating a wide range of other foods you and your baby will be fine.

It's not unusual for baby's growth to slow down at this point, either. And your baby is still in 'normal' range. Did anyone say there was a cause for concern because you don't mention it?

I'm a dedicated carnivore but I haven't been able to stomach meat for weeks so we're in the same position.

slightlysoupstained · 17/09/2013 20:31

I was vegetarian throughout pregnancy, and before that for about 25 years. DS stuck to that middle line like glue. Also know another vegetarian mother - actually vegan. Not that it mattered, as the only things she could keep down were mashed potato & cola (not mixed!) Her son was also a healthy weight.

Hope your next scan goes okay. It's not your fault. You haven't starved your baby.

Thurlow · 17/09/2013 20:32

I'm sure most vegetarians are actually eating a much better diet than some meat eaters, the vegetarians and pescetarians that I know are much more clued up about food. As long as you are eating a good range of foods, so iron and protein heavy food, you'll have a great diet.

Bear in mind that women with HG who barely manage to eat a thing all pg still have big healthy babies - I don't mean that in a 'stop moaning' way () just that I'm sure your diet has nothing to do with your baby not having put on much weight in the past few weeks.

Buswanker · 17/09/2013 20:34

My smallest baby was 8 pound 12 and I have been vegetarian for 20 years!

Original poster

GeorgieJo · 17/09/2013 20:36

Thank you so much for the reassurance!

So far blood flow to placenta and fluid looks normal. And my blood tests have always been fine.

I just find it really difficult to stop worrying.

I have been so relaxed through pregnancy (my first), and now I can't stop myself imagining all the worst case scenarios...

Just hoping that the next scan shows he is still growing - otherwise the consultant said we might need to induce, which I would like to avoid if at all possible.

OP posts:

bundaberg · 17/09/2013 20:37

i have been vegetarian through 2 pregnancies and vegan through 1.

my babies were 9lb 1, 9lb 5 and 9lb 11.

seriously, it's nothing to do with what you;re eating!

CreatureRetorts · 17/09/2013 20:39

What size are your family members?

I have one big ds and one little ds. Seriously, ds is overweight and dd underweight. I ate like a horse both times. A lot of it will be genes!

Catypillar · 17/09/2013 20:42

Absolute rubbish, no evidence to suggest that being vegetarian causes unborn babies to be small!

People will blame vegetarianism for everything... highlights from my pregnancy included my lack of weight gain in the first trimester (I had hyperemesis and hardly ate anything, not convinced it was specifically the lack of meat) and my being slightly anaemic 2 days after having DS (apparently 14 years of vegetarianism caused this, despite my normal haemoglobins up until then, and nothing to do with the fact that I lost 3 pints of blood)

kiwee · 17/09/2013 21:31

I'm in the same position at 36 weeks but without being vegetarian so don't think you can put it all down to that! As the baby and blood flows etc otherwise look normal and having plenty of fetal movement they've made me stop work and have to rest at home to try to encourage it to grow.

Also remember that a normal distribution means just that - to have a 10th centile then 10% of babies have to be below that (and most will be perfectly normal). Is the baby head down? Mine is still breech which they said can make it more difficult to get accurate measurements on the scan so if it was lying in a awkward position may not be as small as first thought.

Good luck for your repeat scan on Friday. Try not to worry too much and just make sure you're getting lots of rest, keeping hydrated and eating well to give the baby the best chance of growing some more.

Surya · 17/09/2013 21:49

Another one with a normal vegetarian pregnancy. What magic nutrients do people think are there in meat, especially since your blood tests have been fine? A couple of people assured me that I'd be anaemic, but my iron levels have been fine. Even if you were low in calories and nutrients, your body will prioritize the baby. So especially if you're feeling fine, its very unlikely that the baby isn't getting enough food. So try not too worry!

TarkaTheOtter · 17/09/2013 21:52

I am vegetarian and have lost over a stone in this pregnancy due to gestational diabetes diet and baby is growing fine. Ask them when they got their medical degrees (or just tell them to STFU). The baby takes what it needs. Your iron levels will have been checked during the pregnancy anyway and you would have been told if they were low.
Given how inaccurate these scans can be your baby may not even be small - they thought my dd was going to be huge and she was 7lbs.

MildDrPepperAddiction · 17/09/2013 21:56

Don't be worrying. I was veggie through two pregnancies and my babies were both perfectly healthy weights.

Your baby will be fine. Good luck!

Bunbaker · 17/09/2013 21:58

DD was small - under 6 pounds, and I'm not vegetarian. I just couldn't eat much during pregnancy because after a couple of mouthfuls I felt full. I don't think it is what you eat, but how much you eat.

lottiegarbanzo · 17/09/2013 22:03

Such rubbish, they're just wheeling out old prejudices in a really insensitive way.

Literally millions of people have been vegetarian through pregnancy (and the rest of their lives) if you consider the proportion of Indians and other people who are veggie.

Listen to the professionals, have they suggested any problem with your diet? Did your blood tests suggest any?

I was veggie through pg after many years as a vegan, totally healthy and the midwife didn't bat an eyelid.

LouiseD29 · 18/09/2013 06:32

OP, I'm a strict vegetarian and had a healthy 8lbs 12oz baby four weeks ago. Some babies are just small, it doesn't mean yours isn't perfectly healthy. Sorry, but your family don't know what they're talking about.

IrisWildthyme · 18/09/2013 06:45

It's nothing to do with vegetarianism, your body really doesn't care whether the nutrition you receive is from meet or vegetables so long as you are getting the right balance. I'm sorry to hear your baby is having some growth issues but I'm sure the health professionals looking after you will do whatever is needful to ensure he or she is absolutely fine. My sister, who is a meat-eater, had a small baby - the baby had grown pretty much bang on schedule for the first 25 weeks then the growth slowed right down, and she was born at about 38 weeks but the same size as if she'd been 30 weeks. The doctors explanation was to do with the amount of nutrition that was coming through the placenta, but this is something that can happen regardless of the mothers diet. My niece soon caught up with her growth after she was born and isn't particularly small for her age now. Humans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and being on the small side is hardly the worst that could happen, so as long as there aren't any other health issues. Ignore your insensitive family members, they are wrong.

CecyHall · 18/09/2013 08:32

My meat eating pregnancy baby 6lbs 12oz, my vegan pregnancy baby 9lbs 2oz.

I have no idea why people would want to make others feel guilty for things beyond their control, it's horrible.

As an aside, all my growth scans for that first baby estimated him at 2lbs different all the way along so they are not always incredibly accurate.

HairyPorter · 18/09/2013 08:34

Complete bollocks. Babies are like 'parasites'! They take what they need. Just be sure you're supplementing with vitamins especially vitamin D and eating a realty diet!

HairyPorter · 18/09/2013 08:35

Healthy!

RussiansOnTheSpree · 18/09/2013 08:37

I'm vegan. I've been vegan since I was 16. I had my first child at 30. I've had 3 children. All of my pregnancies were fine. All my children were born healthy and have continued to be so (touch wood). I too had to out up with ignorant idiots sucking their teeth and telling me that you couldn't 'grow' a baby if you were vegan, that the baby would be harmed etc. and then when the babies were all fine, they told me you couldn't bring up a child as a veggie or a vegan from birth.....they were wrong there too.

Please don't worry. And don't listen to people who have no idea what they are talking about. You and your baby will be fine.

BikeRunSki · 18/09/2013 08:44

Been veggie since I was 18. Could barely eat when I was pg (lost 2 stone both times). Had two totally average size babies. You' re not starving your baby.

CecyHall · 18/09/2013 08:45

Also how do your friends and family explain the fact that your measurements were average until now then? If they are so convinced its your diet then surely it'd have been a problem sooner, by their logic.

The more I read this the more cross I feel at the people around you.

onlysettleforbutterflies · 18/09/2013 08:48

I had a healthy 7lb 12oz ds on a veggie diet, that was actually pretty poor as I had severe sickness throughout so was just a case of eating whatever I could keep down mostly bread and cake.

I was sent for a couple of extra scans as I had lost so much weight and bump was small, they even asked me if I had an eating disorder .

I hope your next scan shows some growth, but please don't blame yourself, it is nothing to do with being a veggie.

mistlethrush · 18/09/2013 08:49

I had been vegetarian for 30 years prior to DS - and he was born a week early at 10lbs 5 oz. I think he was early as he ran out of room...

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 18/09/2013 08:53

It's bs. Meat doesnt make a meal instantly more nutritious. That's like saying you can eat crap but as long as its not vege it's better. Not better than a nice home made roasted vegetable lasagne with green salad.

Meat eaters get mal nourished too. Probably more often if they think adding a sausage to a plate makes a huge difference.

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