What are the dangers (if any) to pregnancy if you're a vegetarian or vegan? Are there any benefits?

A vegetarian or vegan diet can be perfectly healthy- *if* you are gettign the correct nutrients daily. That is the hard part. Many vegetarians/vegans run the risk of anemia or other nutritional imbalances, and that can be made worse during pregnancy.

Speak with a nutritionist who can help you make sure you are eating a good combination of foods to both support a healthy body for conception as well as through pregnancy.

Iron and protein are more easily gotten and absorbed from animal meat. But there are other sources, such as legumes and fresh vegetables. Animal protein is also complete, while proteins from vegetables/legumes need to be pieced together to form a complete protein for our body.

Any woman who is eating a healthy and complete diet won't need vitamin/mineral supplements, but if your diet is lacking in some way, prenatal vitamins might help. A lot of women do not tolerate the vitamin supplements very well. Eating fresh, whole foods and a variety of foods every day gives you a better chance of getting good, usable nutrition.

I personaly know a number of vegetarians who did choose to eat animal protein sources while pregnant to make sure they were gettign enough protein. Babies are made up of protein. The US recommended daily protein for pregnancy is 60 g, but the Brewer diet recommends a minimum of 80-100 grams for a single pregnancy and more for a multiple pregnancy.

Leila

Birth and Postpartum Doula

Alot of women are actually grossed out by meat during pregnancy...I have always been a die hard carnivore and here I am at 16 weeks...and I had to pass my beautiful filet with bernaise sauce off to my husband because just looking at it was making me want to yark.

As long as you are taking a really good prenatal vitamin and getting lots of fresh fruits and veggies as well as enough protien and calcium for those vegans out there...you should be ok...

In fact...since your digestive track slows down during pregnancy...its probably better to lay off the trip tips and racks of ribs anyway...

Talk to your doctor to be safe...he/she may refer you to a nutritionist for the optimum pregnancy diet to make sure you and the little one get all the nutrients you need.

Actually, being a vegetarian would be a better choose for a pregnant woman. Vegetables and fruits would be more healthy for the baby instead of greasy meats and fast foods.

There are no dangers if you are getting the right nutrients. I suggest seeing a nutritionist.

to other poster: Vegetarians eat alot more then veggies and fruit.

You still need to make sure that you get protein, so eat beans, etc.