Just wondering if we have any vegan mummys out there that might be able to shed some light on switching to a vegan diet whilst pregnant.
Long story short, I used to be a lacto ovo vegetarian, but started eating meat when I was pregnant with my first baby. Now I'm pregnant again and would like to switch back. I'm pretty clued up with how to get my protien and calcium from vege sources, but to be really honest I'm not quite sure how much of everything I need right now (I'm 24 weeks pregnant) I am of coarse taking a pregnancy multivitamin, but I know that they are a supplement, not a nutritional replacement.
I was also wondering if there are any things of particular note from vegan mummys to be aware of (like certain things to avoid). I know how much I love eating vego, but I just don't want to deprive my unborn bub from what they need to develope fully also.
I would really appreciate any feed back - positive or negetive.
I don't eat meat and am allergic to diary, use vegan house and beauty/skin etc products but am not vegan because I eat eggs occasionally.
To be honest it's been very difficult during pregnancy because of a total lack of calcium intake (despite leafy greens and heaps of broccoli!) and am very worried about bone problems as a result.
If you can bare to eat and drink dairy I would suggest it for that reason. I get a good amount of iron between greens and supplements, but the calcium is the main problem. Even calcium fortified soy doesn't offer as much as dairy :-(
I am usually a vegan but now vegetarian since being pregnant. I take a range of supplements - zinc, magnesium, iron/folate & calcium!!! I think calcium intake is pretty vital so personally I wouldn't cut out dairy right now
My friend is a vegan and didn't alter her vegan diet whilst pregnant with her twins. She had the most healthy pergnancy, doctors were astounded by how healthy her and her bubbas were. Her gorgeous twins were born a very healthy 6pound 12oz each. Neither she or the twins had any deficiencies
You can definitely have a healthy and happy vegan pregnancy. I would recommend seeing a dietician who specialises in that kind of diet though to be onthe safe side. Plus you just get nagged a lot from doctors otherwise. I can give you a recommendation if you like of someone who does remote consults. Otherwise give the vegetarian society of qld a bell as they will send you a free starter pack including some info on being utd.
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
Vegan diet during pregnancy
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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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