is vegetarian diet a healthy option for pregnant women?

Question

if yes, how can i make sure i get enough nutrients and protein for my baby to stay healthy?

Answer 1

Good food guide

Eat regularly, depending on your hunger, and choose from a range of foods to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients.

Your daily diet should include:

* fresh fruit and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and dark green vegetables, which contain folic acid
* carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, grains, potatoes and cereals
* lean meat or fish, especially oily fish which has high levels of essential fatty acids - however, be aware that some types of fish should be avoided and others limited. See below for more information on this.
* milk and other dairy produce such as yoghurt, fromage frais and cheese - choose lower fat options where possible


Eggs, beans, pulses and lentils are also part of a healthy diet, but you don't have to eat these every day.

Research indicates that mothers who eat fish once a week are less likely to give birth prematurely. Oily fish eaten in pregnancy also helps with children's eyesight. However, when you’re pregnant have no more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, which does not count as oily fish), mackerel, sardines and trout.

Avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin and limit the amount of tuna to no more than two tuna steaks a week (weighing about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna a week (with a drained weight of about 140g per can). This is because of the levels of mercury in these fish. At high levels, mercury can harm a baby's developing nervous system.

Keep up fluid levels, with regular glasses of water or diluted fruit or vegetable juices through the day. This will help keep you well-hydrated, which can prevent tiredness and headaches, and helps bladder and kidney health by ensuring regular visits to the loo.
Can I follow a vegetarian or vegan diet during pregnancy?

If you eat a well balanced diet, all of the nutrients you need for good health during your pregnancy are available in foods other than meat. If, however, your diet isn't well balance you may need extra vitamins. For example, B12, that can be found in some manufactured goods, such as soya products, or in supplements. A vitamin D supplement may also be required. Make sure you get enough iron in your diet as well. We've included a list of iron-rich foods, below.

It's a good idea to discuss these issues with your doctor, midwife or a dietician.

Eating safely

Pregnancy can make you relatively 'immunosuppressed' which means minor infections can be more severe. To avoid such infections, follow these rules:

* Cook meat thoroughly and wash all fruit and vegetables before eating, to avoid infection with toxoplasmosis, an organism that can affect your baby.
* If you must change the cat litter tray or do any gardening, wear gloves as toxoplasmosis is also found in cat faeces. Keep cats away from food preparation areas.
* Avoid mould-ripened soft cheeses such as brie or camembert, blue-veined cheeses such as stilton. All are associated with listeria, which can lead to premature birth and miscarriage. You should also avoid mould-ripened goats' and sheep's milk cheeses, such as chèvre, although hard cheese made from these, for example halloumi and feta, should be safe
* Avoid pâté, for the same reason.
* Make sure all ready-made foods are piping hot throughout before eating, as they are also a listeria risk.
* Drink only pasteurised or UHT milk, which has had harmful germs destroyed.
* Only eat eggs if they're hard-boiled or scrambled, to avoid salmonella infection.
* Don't eat liver and liver products while pregnant, as they contain high levels of vitamin A, which can be harmful to your baby.
* Avoid peanuts and peanut products when pregnant or breastfeeding if you, the baby’s father, or the baby’s brother or sister, have a history of allergic diseases or conditions such as eczema, asthma and hayfever.


Is caffeine harmful?

There's some research to show that high intakes of caffeine may be linked to miscarriage. The Food Standards Agency suggests pregnant women limit their intake of coffee to no more than four cups a day. Remember cola drinks also contain caffeine. Switch to non-caffeine alternatives where possible.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with consuming meat in your diet. Its actually recommended because of the amount of iron in red meat and the amount of Omega fats in fish as well as iodine.

If u want to go vegan/vegetarian while pregnant consult your doctor/dietician who can give u a food plan + go on a vitamin/mineral supplement to make up for the loss of nutrients.

Answer 3

yes, but you must make sure you get enough calcium and protein from other sources, since you will not be eating meat and/or dairy. i would say if you are just skipping the meat, then yes! beans are an *excellent* source of protein for a growing baby! but also make sure to consume some "good fats" and a little of the "bad fats" in your diet, to make up for the loss of fat you normally get from meats. if you do your research and thoroughly plan your meals, then yes, you can successfully be a vegetarian during pregnancy AND during lactation.
:-)

Answer 4

Eat Healthy. All things in moderation.
Be sure to feed the baby good foods, No whole milks, try to breast feed, then skim only, no sugar, no salt.
But...but.... don't go crazy.you need to live a normal life without going crazy. Use common sense and spend a few more cents on diet rather then a doctor.

Answer 5

yes, but take prenatal vitamins if your not sure your getting all the nutrients. you might want to take extra iron vits too, the baby soaks up most of your iron and if your not eating meat, you need that nutrient from another source.

Answer 6

Avoid red meat at any cost, unless is organic. Fish is great and so are all fruits and vegetables. Eat fruits with proteins and get the prenatal vitamins and you're all set.

Answer 7

I think you better consult your doctor. As far as vegetarian diet is considered it is full of vitamins and irons and proteins needed for the body.
Best sources of proteins in vegetarian diet are green peas, nuts,beans, carrots, soya beans/soya milk, pulses.

Answer 8

no vegetables can fulfill the requirement , you have to take eggs, pulses, beans , meat that includes vitamin b6 and proteins, dry fruits , milk, all sort of diet which you have to take for healthy birth of your child. yes take lots of fruit juices. because vegetables donot contain all things which your baby require
best of luck

Answer 9

Your doctor would be able to help you with this one, but I would recommend that you didn't until after you've had your baby just to make sure. Congrats on the baby by the way :)

Answer 10

It certainly can be as long as you have complete protein source in your diet. Also should take your prenatal vitamins.