vegetarian...any advice on nutrition and omega 3?

[Monkeybrain10]

Hi, I'm about 4 weeks at the moment ...v pleased but also anxious and trying not to get too attached (as i miscarried in may this year at 10weeks)..
i have been a vegetarian for 32 years so just wondered if anyone had any nutrition advice as i want to give this one the best start possible.
I've recently heard (woman's hour) that omega 3 dha from fish oil is recommended. I'm not over the moon about taking this as a) i hate the taste & smell of fish and b) i doubt it can be guaranteed to be from a sustainable source.

I have just ordered some pregnacare with omega fish oil....mainly because i feel pressured to do everything possible to give this one a chance. But i do feel weird and guilty about taking this supplement. I heard that linseed can also provide some dha but how much should u have daily?

Any thoughts or suggestions gratefully received. Thanks.

I am vegetarian and I am sensitive to milk, so I have oat milk that is enriched with calcium and omega 3

Hi I'm vegetarian and had my DC3 2 weeks ago at the age of 42. All went fine and I just ate my normal diet plus spatone iron sachets. Just try and eat well and you should be fine :)

Hi Monkeybrain, I was vegan when I fell pregnant and had similar concerns but mainly about B12. Walnuts area a gooD source of Omega3 but flaxseed is best. Remember that to get any nutritional value from flax you need to grind it first- better to buy the seeds and grind them yourself rather than using the pre-ground ones you find in the supermarket. Try to aim for 1 or 2 tablespoons a day. I found it easiest to get it down sprinkled on toast and marmite or over cereal. I've actually now become a veggie again as started having cravings for cheese, eggs and milk around 6/7 weeks and just the smell of rice milk (which I used to love) made me vomit.so don't be surprised if your food choices change over the coming weeks.I can really relate to your fears as I've had 4 previous miscarriages and am terrified of losing this one too though I'm now at 16 weeks and things are looking good. I'll be keeping everything crossed for you.

Might be worth checking your local health food shop. I got some capsule containing linseed oil which are an ok size and they don't smell so won't set off the nausea!

How about these OP?

Good luck with the pregnancy

There is also echiomega

I'm not veggie but don't want to take fish oil, so have a tablespoon of linseed in my morning porridge and take flaxseed oil.

Just thought I'd recommend Healthspan for high quality supplements (bit biased as they are a Guernsey company, and that's my home town). I take their vegetarian multivitamin normally, although switched when pregnant because of vitamin A, and their 1000mg omega 3. Its not fishy and highly purified so no nasties that are often in cheaper products. Search for them online.

Also worth remember to keep on with the omega 3 when breastfeeding.

i was taking the higher nature omega 3 fish oil at the start of preg... then stopped as the taste was making me gag. but thanks for the reminder i will get back on it ladies.

I have heard great things too re quality of Healthspan from a very well respected nutritionist Lady. He has inspected many supplement production facilities and says theirs was excellent.

Boots do veggie Omega3 capsules - is there a difference if the Omega3 isn't from a fish?

Hey. There are 2 types of omega 3 - AHA and DHA. AHA is mainly from plants like flaxseed and is much more poorly absorbed than DHA as your body has to convert it into DHA to use it, which is not that efficient. Therefore DHA is a much better source of omega 3. Fish oil is high in DHA and the best veggie source is algae oil (algae is where the fish get their DHA from). I took a brand called Pure I think with my first and a brand called Mind and More from Holland and Barrett for my second pregnancy. Have a look at H and B online if you are in UK. There are various brands of algae oil you can buy online.

Just checked out the link out someone posted up thread and that's for algae oil which would be excellent too op. You don't need to take fish oil at all. The Mind and More I take is approved for use in pregnancy too.

Thanks everyone...what an amazing response! I really appreciate your advice :-)

I use these algae based omega 3:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076PVW2LV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_L-pTFbDJN5BTV?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Otherwise make sure you're getting enough iron and vitamin D. The NHS recommends a target of 60g of protein a day which should be easy on a vegetarian diet.

I've been using the nothing fishy omega 3

Hey, I've also been a vegetarian for 30 years and am taking the pregnancare with omega 3 tablet. The tablets just smell of lemon and I don't notice a funny taste.

I have never once slipped up or had any product with fish or animal included in the last 30 years but I think that it's important for the baby so I haven't really thought twice - try not to feel guilty!