Just curious..what do vegans do when they get pregnant?

Question

you need protien for the baby to develop, and you need more calories(most vegan food is very low fat)....do they revert to eating more tofu or what? do their babies develop normally and gain weight normally?

Answer 1

My friend was born vegan, so her parents are vegan, She's normal. Protein and calories wouldn't be a problem, but the mom may want to take extra B12 and make sure she's getting enough calcium, and iron in her diet, or through supliments.

Answer 2

PROTEIN, chick peas, most legumes, amino acid combos of whole grains and legumes, legumes and nuts and seeds. If they are lacto ove thna dairy and eggs. FATS. Nuts and seeds. CARBS, vegetables.OTHER NUTRIENTS (i.e. vitamins and minerals) all sorts of stuff. Read Vegetarian Sports Nutrition.

Answer 3

Ask your doctor.

Answer 4

The American Dietetic Association approves of properly planned vegan diets for all life stages, including pregnancy and lactation.  Protein is not an issue for vegans eating a balanced, varied diet and even the increased requirements of pregnancy shouldn't pose a problem since you also need additional calories (some of which, of course, will have protein.)  There is also no reason why a vegan can't get enough fat and calories, either.  Foods like nuts, seeds, avocado and coconut are rich in both (and it's the good kind of fat to boot.)  So, we do what other women do: we increase our calories and keep a closer eye on nutrient intakes.  

Not only can vegan pregnancies be perfectly healthy and normal (and I know several women who have either given birth as vegans or are currently pregnant and have the full support of their obs,) there is a fair amount of data supporting ways in which veganism may actually be an advantage.  The Farm, a vegan community in TN, has allowed their pregnant women and babies to be tracked over several decades now.  Their babies are, on average, a tiny bit smaller than the national average, but not enough to be considered statistically significant.  But their preeclampsia rate is almost non-existent and drastically lower than the general population.

Answer 5

The American Dietetic Association is one of the nation's leading nutrition experts and it supports vegan diets for all ages: "Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."

http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs....

You might enjoy this site. It has photos and stories of kids whose mothers were vegan during pregnancy: http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/real...

Here's a meal planning chart for pregnant women who are vegan: http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/pregn...

Basically, they eat a variety of whole grains, breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, beans, soy products, nuts, and seeds.

Answer 6

I'm vegan and will be pregnant soon.  I'm going to go to a nutritionist to make sure that my baby gets every nutrient it needs.

But most women gain WAY too much weight when they're pregnant anyway.  The baby is a parasite and will get everything it needs from my body, even if it needs to leech protein from my muscles.  There is no risk to my baby.  Only to me.  My girlfriend is anorexic, she had two healthy babies.  She gained 17 pounds for the first (her top weight: 5'5" 125) and 9 for the second (top weight 116).  

Babies will be fine unless mommy is doing drugs, smoking or drinking.

But I will give my baby nutrients, just not excessive calories.  I'm eating for two, but one of us weighs less than an ounce.

Answer 7

well it really depends...

my cousin-in-law was a vegan for a very long time, and when she got pregnant, her doctor told her that she had to eat meat or she would lose the baby.

So, she had to eat meat.

She went back to being a vegan after having the child, a beautiful baby girl named ellie:]

anyways, it depends on your doctor.

Answer 8

they just eat lots of nuts and more quorn etc.

:)

x*x Ellie x*x

Answer 9

A vegan diet can be very high in protein and very high in fat.

A vegan diet usually includes less saturated fat and more healthy fats if the person is conscious of their health.

Answer 10

For us, it meant stopping all junk foods, sugary foods, coffee, and all that stuff that we know is bad for us.  Eating a very plain and healthy diet.  There were some things that we ate more of or added for reasons that mothers need more of this or that during pregnancy... can't recall what that was, but we used a midwife and basically they tell you all that kind of stuff.

Of course vegan babies of vegan mothers are of normal weight and health etc.  Humans are designed to be vegan, whether you think so or not.  Our kids were both very healthy at birth and continue to be.  They are easily at least 2 years ahead of the other children in their thinking and physical abilities.

But just because someone is vegan, doesn't automatically mean they are healthy.  I know many vegans that basically eat the same crappy North American diet they did before, only now it's vegan.  Still have sugar cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch, and bla bla bla... c**p food in general.  I keep my kids away from that c**p.

Answer 11

Veggies have protein.  For example beans are a great

source of protein and yes the babies are normal.

Answer 12

i think id eat more of what i crave for. vegans get plenty of protein.