Angelart & Holly - yeah I have always taken calcium suppliments. I'm not lactose intolerant, but I do find that dairy gives me aweful mucus problems (sorry for grossness) But yeah, I can't stand to drink milk as it really makes me cough, so really the only dairy I would get is from the occasional yoghurt or added dairy in foods. My only real dairy vice is cheese.... in particular - firm goats cheese. I just love it, so that would be a hard one to give up. I might just have to make an exception for it
I do love love love my green leafy foods, so I hope thats enough. I did however today buy some more Rice milk (again not a big fan of soy milk as it too seems to make me cough) which is fortified with calcium... so I hope that helps.
As for Iron mine has always been low, so again supplements were needed. Funnily enough my sister who is Lacto Ovo Vegeterian (drinks milk & eats eggs) has a condition where her body produces too much iron even tho she hasn't eaten meat (or taken an iron suppliment) in over 15 years! He Dr has told her she has to stop eating parsley (yes Parsley) as he thinks it maybe contibuting to the problem So I think I might start using my parsley moreso too when I get this started... just need to water my pot of it more... and find the nasty grub that has been eating my leaves
Widdly - Thats really reassuring! Thanks for that... I'm battleing with a lot of negative opinions from family over my decision, so the more posative stories I can tell them the better
I hate cow's milk. Bonsoy all the way! I don't have yogurt either, unless it's soy. I've added dairy into my diet in the way of cheese, icecream and chocolate! But it will all be given up once I have bubby. Like the others have said, a healthy vegan diet is perfectly attainable for you and bubs if it's done right
My understanding is that calcium problems in pregnancy show up in the form of osteoporosis in the mother more than bone problems in the baby.
Basically, the baby will suck the calcium from your very bones if you are deficient.
I've also read somewhere on here, and it was a comment that I took very much to heart, that it is important to have a good store of calcium in your own body for labor. Calcium is necessary for our muscles to work. So if we want them all working well for the labor process, we can't afford to run low on calcium during our pregnancies.
I think I read that we need about 1200mg of calcium daily when pregnant. That's about a litre of milk, or 2.5 cups of tofu, or 7 cups of steamed broccoli (ok, I like broccoli, but not *that* much).
Calcium is one nutrient I wouldn't personally risk being low on. YMMV of course.
Tenar - Yeah I have been taking Caltrate 600 mg daily plus my Blackmores Pregnancy multi has 59mcg of calcium too (which is the same as 590mg right?) So I think I'm covered... plus I have my rice milk and green leafies.
I was a milk addict with my first pregnancy... in fact I had a really rotten diet whilst carrying DD. I drank about a L of milk daily (flavored & sweetened *shudder) loads of meat and cheese, actually loads of everything. Needless to say she was a whopper 9.2lbs... and I was a whopper after the birth too. I had gained about 25kg all up so it was a feat to lose it all afterwards.
I just want this baby to get good healthy foods and I would like to not have such an ordeal getting back into shape afterwards too. It was ok for me to have a terrible diet the first time coz I could rest and nap whenever I liked, but now I have my 2yo Daughter to entertain and keep up with. I also want to lead a healthy example to her. I just know I can't keep going on like I have been coz I've been feeling really sluggish, and I know that the days where I replace meat and diary I feel great.
But yeah I'm not looking forward to telling my Obs that I'm making the change... I don't think he'll be as unimpressed as my Hubby, I had to reassure him I would still cook his beloved meat
Nat, i forgot - there used to be a really good dietician in QLD who did remote consults to melb, as I considered it when pregnant with DS. So obviously a lot close r to you than me, I will see if I can hunt down her name and info
So I think I might start using my parsley moreso too when I get this started... just need to water my pot of it more... and find the nasty grub that has been eating my leaves
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But it will all be given up once I have bubby. Like the others have said, a healthy vegan diet is perfectly attainable for you and bubs if it's done right 
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