Is there any risk of being vegetarian during pregnancy?

If your cousin eats only ONE kind of plant (and NO fish at all), she might not get all amino acids. If she has a varied diet, she's getting all the complete protein she needs, unless she isn't eating enough calories to begin with.

A balanced vegetarian (or pescetarian, like your cousin) diet is fine during pregnancy. Even the American Dietetic Association explicitely says so:

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. "

Your cousin's diet does not sound balanced or well-planned though, if you are actually representing it accurately. Being a vegetarian does not mean eating only 'veggies and some fish'. Where's the rest? The grains? The pulses? The potatoes? The actual hearty meals?

As for my own experience: I've been a vegetarian (So I don't eat ANY animals, including fish) for years. I never even considered not being a vegetarian during pregnancy. My midwife confirmed that it was perfectly fine to eat this way. I had an uncomplicated pregnancy, didn't develop any deficiencies, and gave birth to a perfectly healthy 7 pound boy.

I'm no Nutritionist, but I can tell you that those who follow a vegetarian deit and are extremely skinny would be that way regardless what diet they followed.

Being a "Vegetarian" has nothing to do with having anorexia, bullemia, or purge eating disorder. it's all up to the individual.

You can get plenty of proetin from nuts, seeds, Oats, and other legumes. w/o having to resort to soy protein. I'm not into the whole veggie thing myself, but I hate the misinformation people give about not getting adequate amount of protein or right kinds.

Only health benefit from meat protein is that you get more for fewer calories. THAT'S IT! you can find all the chains of amino acids in plant based material too. but since you're pregnant you're eating for two now; you might want to put that into consideration.

Well.... you're growing another person - so you might want to think about adding eggs at least. Eggs are the finest protein - the most complete - you can get - and they're cheap. Fish is good at least. But think about eggs - they're very important.

And see if she'll take a multiple vitamin also - and some extra folic acid.