Vegetarian Pregnancy?

Question

I have been a vegetarian since I was 3 years old, it has been 17 years, I am now 20. I have tried to eat meat throughout my life but I can never do it. My family eats meat, and it doesn't bother me whatsoever. When people ask me why I'm a vegetarian I don't have an answer for them, I think its psychological but I really don't have an explaination. I'm not a vegan, I do drink milk, eat cheese, eggs, etc. And I do get plenty of protein and iron from other foods and supplements.

My husband eats meat, and is a huge health/nutrition guy. He wants me to make myself start eating meat now so eventually when I'm pregnant it won't be a shock for me to eat meat... Meaning he wants me to eat meat when I'm pregnant for the baby's and my sake.

I don't know how I feel about it. I can't say no, it'll be his baby, too. I do want to eat meat when I'm pregnant, if thats the healthiest thing for the baby, but I don't know if I'll be able to do it.

Is this wrong of me? What should I do?

Answer 1

Utter nonsense - there is no reason at all why you should eat meat to have a healthy baby. If you haven't eaten meat for 17 years then it is quite likely that you will be ill after eating it as your digestive system will not be used to it. Meat is only one form of protein. If you are eating plenty of pulses such as lentils, soybeans, chickpeas etc, and especially if you eat them with carboydrates then you are getting very good quality protein. The most important thing you can do before you consider pregnancy is to start taking a Folic Acid supplement. Do not change your life habits and ethics just because a misguided meat eater thinks you should. I understand your predicament - I am a vegetarian of 20 years married to a steak freak. Its hard and they always think they are right! I have a vegetarian friend who has three healthy kids, all being raised as vegetarians, and another vegan friend who gave birth to an 8lb 1oz baby girl recently - all are perfectly healthy and both mothers are university educated intelligent individuals - the mum of three has a doctorate. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

well i know that being a vegetarian with a balanced diet will be great for the baby, i even know vegan moms who have had incredibly easy pregnancies and healthy babies, so vegetarianism is definately a good option. i have never heard of or known a vegan mom to give up her lifestyle during pregnancy either. if a doctor clears it, which i have no doubt he/she will considering that its done all the time and u have been veggie ur whole life, then i dont see why u wouldnt continue down the path thats been right for you. although it is your husbands baby too, its your body. if meat eating is not what u want and it doesnt affect the baby, then there is no reason to change. it might just make u more stressed out or even eat less to avoid eating meat. stick with what feels right for you, no matter what anyone else tells u.

Answer 3

It's entirely possible to be a vegetarian parent, even while you're pregnant. However, as your body has greater needs (growing another body inside you), it's entirely possible that you'll need to kick everything up a notch. Calcium is a big one there.

Repeat after me: I don't need meat to be healthy, just mindfulness. I can be a good mother without eating meat.

Both statements are true.

I would go to a doctor to talk about what your nutritional needs are and what they will be. Start preparing for a baby now (take folic acid, etc) and find out what your RDAs will be and how you can get them.

If you are avoiding meat for ethical reasons of any kind (as opposed to strictly taste preference), you could try to strike a deal with your husband. Agree to eat meat while you are pregnant if he agrees to give it up. Yes, I swiped the idea from Friends. Buy from the best sources you can (game, pasture-raised, certified organic, certified ethically-raised, etc) and start slowly.

I don't think it is an ideal arrangement, especially if you don't like the idea of animals dying for food, but it does offer a compromise. You both get, at least to a degree, what you want while accomodating each other's wishes. Give and take.

But go to a nutritionist first, and an OB-GYN, to find out where you can get the nutrients you'll need. Bring your husband along. Maybe he'll be reassured.

Answer 4

I would do research on this to make sure that it actually would be healthier to eat meat or not during pregnancy. I can't imagine why it would be healthier to eat meat. You've been a vegetarian most of your life and I'm assuming you've been healthy. I don't see why you would have to change your diet. I would do some research and find information that you can share with your husband to show him that you will actually be doing what is best for you AND your baby.

Answer 5

If it is a psychological aversion, that will be difficult to overcome. On the other hand, many veg*ns give up their diet restrictions during pregnancy.

Since you likely have a psychological aversion and since the health of both you and the child are critical, I would look to your ob/gyn for advice.

When you mention "meat", what are you referring to? All "meat"? What about fish, seafood, poultry? There may be certain meats or certain meats prepared in certain ways that overcome any psychological barriers. Is that possible? Something to check into.

Also, recent research suggests that pregnant women eat at least 12oz of fish per week because of the benefits of the Omega-3 complex.

The bottom line is for you and your husband to be guided by your health care professionals . .

Answer 6

If you really want to continue as a vegetarian:

Figure out where you can get more protein and iron in your diet. Focus on the protein especially since you get your iron in your prenatals.

If you eat meat now after not eating meat since you were 3, seriously -- you're going to get sick. And when you're sick the baby's sick too.

When the baby's born and ready for baby food, bring out all the Gerber turkey and beef dad wants to feed baby. But right now, you don't want to make ANY changes to your diet, especially ones that could make you sick.

I would suggest you and hubby talk to a nutritionist in addition to your OBGYN.

Answer 7

I have been vegetarian for 2 pregnancies and vegan for 1. You do not NEED to eat meat for the baby! I had perfectly normal pregnancies with no complications. My babies were born completely healthy. I also went on to breastfeed them with no problems what so ever.
You do not need to eat meat.
And here's an answer that you can tell who ever ask "you don't like meat so you don't eat it"

Answer 8

i've got been a vegetarian for 17 years and function 3 babies. Vegetarians do no longer neccessarily could desire to take a definite supplement, vegans have a stricter weight-help plan than us. in spite of the fact that they do make nutrition supplementations in particular designed for vegetarians, in spite of the fact that I particularly have consistently merely taken an dazzling multi nutrition wheile no longer pregnant and in basic terms a prenatal nutrition throughout the time of being pregnant.

Answer 9

I've been vegan since conception, as have my two children (10 and 7) and none of us have ever even been sick, so it's news to me that eating meat is at all healthy.

Answer 10

There is a website you can go to for information on this subject. It is called modernmanna.com The people there are great. I used to work for them. They are also vegetarian. Charise was vegetarian when she was pregnant and taught their children likewise. You can e-mail them and get information about your questions you have. Good luck and God Bless.