Small baby at risk because I am vegetarian?

[GeorgieJo]

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?

I've been veggie all my life including 2 (and a bit) pregnancies. Both dd's were born 'normal' size despite being a week early. People (not medical staff) told me I was starving them (in one case whilst suggesting I was being ott for not drinking or smoking!). They are both v healthy and almost grown up now and I'm currently expecting dc3 and still no problems with iron levels.

It's a prejudice that is deemed acceptable in our society but doesn't actually have any basis. Those around you should be supporting you not using your worry about your child to make you feel bad. Seriously, how is that acceptable behaviour? The recommendations for pregnancy are long and detailed but have not, as long as I've been having kids (almost 16 years) included a recommendation to stop being veggie.
They are being mean and your diet is not responsible for a slow down in growth (if indeed this has happened, growth scans are notoriously variable).

Whenever I worry about stuff like this I remember a talk I heard, given by the daughter of a holocaust survivor.
The mother was pregnant whilst in a camp and thought her baby had been saved by a kind stranger who gave her some fresh milk while they were waiting by one of the transport trains.
She was near starvation and still managed to have a baby.

Not that I'm saying we shouldn't be concerned about our diets - just, perhaps the fearmongering from certain doctors is unhelpful.

I've grown four 9lb-10lb babies on a vegetarian diet! As long as you're eating a balanced diet that's fine.
Good luck with your scan.

Rubbish. Even if you were living on coke and chips the baby would be absolutely fine. You would suffer all kinds nutritional deficiencies but babies are parasites and they get what they need no matter what. This goes breastfeeding too.

ignore the ignorant.