*Does not eat any animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey.
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Pregnant women following a vegan or vegetarian diet need to pay special attention to ensure they're getting enough essential nutrients for both their health and the development of their baby.
While a well-planned vegan diet can provide essential nutrients, attention or supplementation may be needed for certain nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, choline, and vitamin D. Medical guidance is crucial to avoid nutritional deficits that could harm the fetus.
Proteins: Helps the baby's muscles, skin, hair, and nails grow. Supply the cellular building blocks (basic molecules and components that make up cells) for your child.
Iron: Increases blood production to boost the baby's oxygen supply.
Vitamin D: Supports the development of the fetus's skeletal structure and teeth, as well as overall fetal growth and development.
Calcium: Creates teeth and bones. Vital for the hormones, muscles, and nerves.
Iodine: Aids in making hormones in both the mother and the baby's thyroid gland, crucial for making hormones that help develop the baby's brain and nervous system.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Serve as critical building blocks of the fetal brain and retina, supporting early development.
Choline: Supports brain development in the baby.
Vitamin B12: Essential for the development and function of your baby's brain and spinal cord, and for forming healthy red blood cells.1, 2, 3
Where can I get those nutrients?5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Proteins: Tofu, tempeh, edamame, lentils, beans, nut butter, nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, hummus, seitan (wheat gluten), nutritional yeast, green peas, quinoa, and soy milk.
Iron: Pulses (beans, lentils, and peas), dark green leafy vegetables, wholemeal bread and flour, nuts, fortified breakfast cereals (added iron), tofu, dried fruit, such as apricots, figs, and peaches.
Vitamin D: Fortified foods such as cereals, orange juice, soy & almond milk, and some mushrooms.
Calcium: Dark green leafy vegetables, pulses, fortified unsweetened soya, fortified orange juice, pea and oat drinks, brown and white bread, calcium-set tofu, sesame seeds and tahini, dried fruit.
Iodine: Plant foods, such as cereals and grains, iodized salt, and prunes.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, Brussels sprouts, algal oil, and perilla oil
Choline: Shiitake mushrooms, soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans, quinoa, wheat germ, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, red potatoes, and cottage cheese.
Vitamin B12: Breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin B12, unsweetened plant milk fortified with vitamin B12, yeast extract, such as Marmite, and nutritional yeast flakes that are fortified with vitamin B12.
*Does not eat meat, poultry, or seafood, but may consume dairy products and eggs.
Iron: Increasing blood production to boost the baby's oxygen supply
Vitamin D: Supports the development of the fetus's skeletal structure and teeth, as well as overall fetal growth and development.
Iodine: Aids in making hormones in both the mother and the baby's thyroid gland, crucial for making hormones that help develop the baby's brain and nervous system.
Vitamin B12: Essential for the development and function of your baby's brain and spinal cord, and for forming healthy red blood cells.1, 2, 3
Where can I get those nutrients?5, 6, 11
Iron: Pulses (beans, lentils, and peas), dark green vegetables, wholemeal bread and flour, nuts, fortified breakfast cereals (with added iron), dried fruit, such as apricots, figs, and peaches.
Vitamin D: Egg yolk, foods fortified with vitamin D, including some breakfast cereals and fat spreads.
Iodine: Cow's milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and iodized salt.
Vitamin B12: Milk, cheese, eggs, breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin B12, unsweetened plant milk fortified with vitamin B12, yeast extract, such as Marmite, and nutritional yeast flakes that are fortified with vitamin B12.
Important tips if you're vegan or vegetarian:
Plan ahead
Eat a variety of food!
Seek support and guidance from your healthcare provider to see if a supplement is needed to meet your needs
Get into a habit of reading labels to see if a product contains a certain nutrient, or if it is fortified
While vegetarian and vegan diets can be safe and healthy during pregnancy and lactation, they require careful planning to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients. Consulting with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian can help ensure that both the mother and baby receive the nutrients they need for optimal health!
References:
1.Vitamin B12 during pregnancy. BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/diet-and-fitness/vitamin-b12-during-pregnancy_40009084
2.Palma O, Jallah JK, Mahakalkar MG, et al. The Effects of Vegan Diet on Fetus and Maternal Health: A Review. Cureus. 2023;15(10). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47971
3.Darnton-Hill I. Iodine in pregnancy and lactation. www.who.int. Published July 2017. https://www.who.int/tools/elena/bbc/iodine-pregnancy#:~:text=Iodine%20is%20essential%20for%20the
4.Sebastiani G, Herranz Barbero A, Borrás-Novell C, et al. The Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diet during Pregnancy on the Health of Mothers and Offspring. Nutrients. 2019;11(3):557. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030557
5.Vegetarian or vegan and pregnant. nhs.uk. Published March 16, 2021. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vegetarian-or-vegan-and-pregnant/#:~:text=If%20you
6.Can I Safely Be a Vegetarian During Pregnancy? | Banner. www.bannerhealth.com. Published April 23, 2023. https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/advise-me/pregnant-and-vegetarian
7.Vegan Vitamin D: Sources, Supplements, Benefits, More. Healthline. Published January 10, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/health/vegan-vitamin-d#supplements
8.The 7 Best Plant Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Healthline. Published December 21, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-plant-sources-of-omega-3s#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9
9.16 Foods That Are High in Choline. Healthline. Published April 7, 2021. Accessed April 30, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-with-choline#16.-Cottage-cheese
10.The 18 Best Protein Sources for Vegans and Vegetarians. Healthline. Published August 16, 2016. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-for-vegans-vegetarians#faq
11.9 Healthy Foods That Are Rich in Iodine. Healthline. Published February 2, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/iodine-rich-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7