vegetarian and pregnant...?

Question

i'm not pregnant yet but i really want to know what it's like to be vegetarian and pregnant. do you change your diet? do you feel the need to eat meat? will the baby get all the stuff it needs to be healthy?

thanks!

i've been a vegetarian for more than a year and i intend to stay this way

Answer 1

Change my diet: not really. It was healthy enough in the first place. I'm eating more raw veg and fruit, but that's more out of concern over gaining too much weight too quickly -- I _like_ to eat, and pregnancy's great for that.

Feel the need to eat meat: heavens, no. But I'm a bad person to ask; I've never tasted it, so can't exactly crave it. It wouldn't surprise me at all for a relatively recent vegetarian to end up craving fried chicken or something, though, given how appealing some fast-food junk has suddenly become.

Will the baby get what it needs: heavens, yes. There's actually quite a lot written nowadays about vegetarians and pregnancy; none of it, and nobody who knows what they're talking about, will tell you it's at all unhealthy. The books and articles are pretty basic (honestly, I'm not sure how they wring entire books out of topics like this) -- not much different from any basic guide on getting a balanced vegetarian diet.

As usual, vegans have more to worry about, but it's still eminently do-able.

The _only_ hassle has been finding a vegetarian omega 3-6-9 supplement. There's a fair whack written about its beneficial effects on developing brains, but a non-fish-oil capsule is hard to find, and expensive. Still, not impossible.

My mother was vegetarian, and it has struck me to wonder just how lacking in the required enzymes the kid'll be if s/he ever wants to try meat.

I imagine you'd get some interesting answers, including 'Why on earth is this a question?,' if Yahoo! Answers had a greater population of Hindus.

Answer 2

I was a vegetarian when pregnant with my 1st, and I did crave meat, specifically Arby's roast beef sandwiches. After he was born, I did start eating meat again.

Although I believe you can have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy, you must work extra hard to get enough protein. You need 80 - 100 grams a day. Not as difficult if you eat eggs, though. Check out the Brewer Diet:
http://www.blueribbonbaby.org

Answer 3

If you're craving it, there might be something in it that your body needs at the moment. A friend of mine is vegan, and both times that she was pregnant, her doctors told her she had to eat some meat. She continued eating meat while she was breastfeeding, I think, but then she gradually cut it out again and is still vegetarian.

Answer 4

You and your baby will be perfectly fine. Just eat a variety of vegetarian foods, not junk food. You do no need to worry about a lack of protein as long as you keep a varied vegetarian diet, according to the American Dietetic Association. It'll be especially easy to obtain protein if you eat milk, cheese, eggs, etc, but even then, you are perfectly fine.


Take Care!

Answer 5

Hi, i'm a vegetarian too for about 7 years. So far i don't crave for meat even if i did i won't do it. I think it's just about how much self control you have over yourself. If you do happen to crave it just don't do it. And just take vitamins so subsistute for the meat and you and your baby be healthy. GoodLuck

Answer 6

Talk to a nutritionist for the best advice, it can be completely safe to stay vegetarian & even vegan but you will need to follow some rules so you & future baby can stay healthy

Answer 7

Talk with your Dr. to get the facts. I won't lie, I actually craved a steak. I think your body let's you know when you lack something. I am not sure but I think this why we have cravings. that does not mean you have to give up being a vegetarian. Check out this site: http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/articles/pregdanica.shtml
Hope that helps and good luck when your ready.

Answer 8

Vegitarians can go without eating meat during pregnancy. Soy meat and Tofu and beans have all the nessissary protein. You can even flavor it with bullion cubes for chicken or beef when you cook it if you crave the meaty taste; it REALLY helps!

Answer 9

well if your healthy then your baby will be fine. but you may have craveing to eat meat whatever you do just eat the meat cause thats what your baby needs. so dont make your baby have to suffer from you not furfilling your cravings ok. you may not crave meat you never know

Answer 10

it's not the best thing when your pregnant. I wanted meat so bad when prego with my twins. I gave in and did what my body said.