Meat in pregnancy

[Firsttimemum27weeks]

Do you have to eat meat everyday in pregnancy? I’ve never been a HUGE fan but I feel guilty sometimes if I’m not getting enough protein etc..
my usual diet is
cereal, jacket potato beans & cheese and either a steak or pasta dish every week and the occasional roast on a Sunday! Plus my snacks which are fruit, crispsc yogurts etc
worried baby isn’t getting enough

The baby will take what it needs from you, but if you're worried about protein intake add eggs at breakfast, or protein shakes!

No you don't need to eat meat at all, cheese, eggs and pulses are great protein sources as well as fish.
Green leafy veg and apricots are great for iron

vegetarians have babies too…

you just need a balanced diet; it doesn’t need to come from meat!

I’m aware of veggies having babies too, I was more concerned on the lack of meat I do consume after having problems with my iron before… I was going to make a cottage pie tonight but things went wrong and I’ve ended up with a pasta bake instead but all I’m saying is my lunch is always a jacket potato and I seem to not be consuming much veg than other than a Sunday where I have a roast dinner which is making me worried

I've become completely intolerant to meat since I've been pregnant this time around it's been really weird. I did become very anaemic so now take iron everyday, just supplement your diet.

I ate dreadfully in all 3 pregnancies. Huge issues with vomiting, meat aversions, loss of appetite, terrible heartburn. I mainly ate vegetables, cottage cheese and plain biscuits. I had 3 healthy babies! No one was ever bothered by diet - the only thing that ever raised concerns was dehydration when I had HG and being careful with carbs and sugars when I had gestational diabetes (but I controlled that quite easily as I didn't really fancy eating much food in general!). Don't worry!

I eat very little meat and have had low iron during this pregnancy, on supplements now. I do find when I eat a bit of meat I feel more energetic - perhaps iron in meat is easier to metabolise. I think baby will be fine, because it takes what it needs from you, but you might feel run down if your diet is a bit lacking. Make sure you take your vitamins!

Err..... no!

I've had two vegetarian pregnancies. In fact, two hyperemisis pregnancies, where I actually ate very little indeed for 16 weeks, and definitely meat or fish.

Thank you all - I think my main concern is my diet is lacking my midwife said to just keep doing what I’m doing but I get stressed by food after having ED before pregnancy and now I’m trying to make sure little one has everything. But I’ve been told people eat worse than me and have healthy babies but it doesn’t stop the worrying on if what I’m having is sufficient for the baby!

I really wouldn’t bother with protein shakes tbh

Meat aversion during my pregnancy here too. I'm currently 20weeks with a a healthy baby boy and up until about 15weeks was living of crisps, biscuits and toast due to constant nausea. Try not to worry.
I had a previous ED I actually found my first pregnancy really helped me with this as I saw my body in a completely different way afterwards. If your midwife is concerned and any blood/urine samples come back low they can prescribe supplements if necessary.

Yep definitely.

It’s widely known that vegetarians and vegans never give birth

It depends a lot of your own body type I think. I have spent a lot of my life vegetarian and would prefer to be now but my skin just sort of glows and I look much healthier after starting eating meat again. I also have more loads more energy, but I know some people

I don't really eat red meat and nothing than needs much chewing but when pregnant I was obsessed with steak. It actually tasted like magic. Tried one bite of one after I'd had my baby and couldn't even swallow it. (Didn't have this at all in subsequent pregnancy.)

I would say definitely eat some meat in pregnancy but don't obsess about it. Your body will tell you what you need.

Eat what is comfortable and non stressful. If you're deficient in iron they'll give you supplements. Take a pregnancy multivitamin. Try not to worry.

Please don’t worry too much about your diet. Think of it over one or two weeks rather than on a daily basis. You certainly don’t have to eat meat at all. If you’re worried about your iron levels, increase your eating of lentils, leafy vegetables and eggs. Eat lentils in a vegetarian cottage pie or Dahl with rice. Lots of recipes on the internet. Cereals and bread are usually fortified with vitamins and iron so are good.

A pasta bake is fine, as are jacket potatoes. Think about adding some spinach to the pasta bake. It will wilt and mix in so hardly be visible but it adds good nutrition. With either of these, have salad or vegetables such as grated carrot, broccoli or coleslaw. Have whatever fruit you like for pudding with Greek yogurt.

If you like peanut butter, it’s very nutritious on toast and is a good snack, light lunch or supper.

I’m sure your baby will be fine with such a conscientious mother.

I could not stomach any meat until 20 weeks. I actually lost weight due to that and morning sickness. Even when that was by, meat was a minimum. And I ate pretty much what you’re describing you eat. Anyways I ended up on 3 iron tablets a day at 28 weeks and my appetite sky rocketed. Still didn’t eat a lot of meat. My girl was 8lb 9 when she was born.
This was pretty much my diet - whole meal toast and toppings and cereal too (I’d essentially have like 3 breakfasts and fruit) Then Scotch pancakes / blueberry muffins, fruit, yogurt, cereal bars for snacks. Baked potatoes, pasta, some meat as long as I didn’t cook. If you like eggs, try eggs / avacado / crispy bacon?? Or other ways to get some protein in. Oh I also tried to drink a pint of whole milk each night as the amount of calories!

Your body will tell you what it wants. I had a very strong craving for jelly when pregnant - someone suggested maybe I needed the gelatin?!??? Never before or since! Eat what your body tells you (within reason) and take a good vitamin supplement that includes iron. You'll be absolutely fine!

Cheese and beans are both sources of protein

Yoghurt is also a source of protein especially Greek yoghurt.