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Vegetarian Journal
Excerpts
January/February 1997
Volume XVI, Number 1
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Vegan Pregnancy
By Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.
"My doctor says I have to drink a quart of cow's milk a day. My parents
are convinced I'm doing something harmful. I'm starting to wonder if my
diet is all right."
Even the most committed and knowledgeable vegan may
face doubts when pregnant. After all, the so-called experts are all questioning
her dietary choices.
Actually, it is reasonably simple to follow a vegan diet throughout pregnancy
while eating foods that meet your needs and the needs of your baby. I know;
I've done it twice. Here are some things to consider.
Weight Gain
How much weight you gain during your pregnancy has a marked impact on the
baby's size and health at birth. Women of average weight should aim for
a 25-35 pound weight gain, and overweight women should strive to gain 15-25
pounds. If you were underweight prior to your pregnancy, you should try
to gain 28-40 pounds. Adolescents may need to gain 30-45 pounds. A general
trend is to have little weight gain for the first 12 weeks. Then, in the
second and third trimesters, a weight gain of a pound a week is common.(1)
Many
vegans begin pregnancy on the slim side and may gain weight very slowly.
If this sounds like you, you will need to eat more food. Perhaps eating
more often or eating foods higher in fat and lower in bulk will help. I
found it easiest to drink extra calories and treated myself to a soymilk
shake (soymilk blended with fruit and tofu or soy yogurt) in the evening
for a few weeks when weight gain was low. Other concentrated sources of
calories include nuts and nut butters, dried fruits, soy products, and
bean dips. If, on the other hand, your weight gain seems too high to you
and your health care provider, look at the types of food you are eating.
Simply replacing sweets and fatty foods with fruits, vegetables, grains,
and legumes can lead to more moderate weight gain. Daily exercise, as approved
by your health care provider, can also help.
Protein
You will probably get lots of questions about whether you are getting enough
protein. Current recommendations for protein in pregnancy call for 60 grams
per day. This is 10 grams more than non-pregnant women aged 25-50 need.
One study showed that the average non-pregnant vegan woman was eating 65
grams of protein daily, enough to meet her needs during pregnancy.(2) If
your diet is varied and contains good protein sources such as soy products,
beans, and grains, and you are gaining weight, you can relax and not worry
about getting enough protein. Many women simply get the extra protein they
need by eating more of the foods they usually eat. As an example, you can
add 10-15 grams of protein to your usual diet by adding 2 cups of soy milk,
9 ounces of tofu, 3 ounces of tempeh, or 1 1/2 bagels.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Vegans also get lots of questions about calcium. Both calcium and vitamin
D are needed for the development of the baby's bones and teeth. There is
some evidence that pregnant women adapt to low calcium intakes and increased
needs by increasing calcium absorption and reducing calcium losses.(3) This
certainly is worthy of additional study and may be pertinent to vegans
whose diets may be low in calcium. However, for the time being, calcium
intakes of 1200 milligrams daily are recommended for women under 25 and
of 600-2011 milligrams daily for women 25 and older.(1) Pregnant vegans should
make a special effort to have 3 to 4 or more good sources of calcium daily.
Some plant-based calcium sources that are well absorbed are calcium-fortified
soy milk and orange juice; dark green leafy vegetables like collard greens,
kale, and turnip greens; and calcium-precipitated tofu. (Calcium content
of tofu varies, read labels.)
While sufficient amounts of vitamin D can be made by our bodies following
sunlight exposure, it is difficult to define adequate sunlight exposure.(4)
The National Academy of Sciences recommends that a vitamin D supplement
of 10 micrograms (400 IU) daily be taken by pregnant vegans who live at
northern latitudes in the winter and by those with minimal exposure to
sunlight.(1) Supplements of vitamin D should be used only with the approval
of your health care provider, since high doses of vitamin D can be toxic.
Fortified foods like some cereals and some brands of soy milk are another
way to meet vitamin D needs.
Iron
Iron deficiency anemia is not uncommon during pregnancy, among both vegans
and non-vegetarians. Iron needs are much higher than usual in pregnancy
because of the increase in the volume of the mother's blood and because
of blood formed for the baby. Iron supplements of 30 milligrams daily during
the second and third trimesters are commonly recommended.(1) Additional iron
may be needed in case of iron deficiency. Iron supplements should not be
taken with calcium supplements and should be taken between meals in order
to maximize absorption. Even when iron supplements are used, pregnant vegans
should have daily servings of high-iron foods like whole grains, dried
beans, tofu, and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B-12
The use of vitamin B-12 supplements or fortified foods is recommended for
all pregnant vegans. Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in the developing
fetus. When breastfeeding, it is also important to make sure that you have
enough vitamin B-12 stored to meet the baby's needs. Fortified foods include
some breakfast cereals, some soy milks, and Red Star brand T-6635 nutritional
yeast.
Folic Acid
Folic acid has recently been in the news because of its connection with
a type of birth defect called neural tube defect. Studies have shown that
women who have infants with neural tube defect have lower intakes of folate
and lower blood folate levels than other women. Folic acid is needed early
in pregnancy (before many women know they are pregnant) for normal neural
tube development. Many vegan foods including enriched bread, pasta, and
cold cereal; dried beans; green leafy vegetables; and orange juice are
good sources of folic acid. Vegan diets tend to be high in folic acid;
however, to be on the safe side, many health care providers are recommending
multi-vitamins containing 400 micrograms of folic acid.
All this advice to eat a plant-based, whole foods diet sounds wonderful
to many pregnant women. What are the barriers to eating a healthful vegan
diet?
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting, also called morning sickness, are a concern of many
pregnant women, vegans included. Many women are repulsed by foods which
used to make up the bulk of their diet. These aversions are extremely common
in early pregnancy and are believed to be due to a heightened sense of
smell, possibly due to hormonal changes.(5) While every woman and every pregnancy
will vary in terms of coping with nausea and vomiting, here are some things
to try.
If it tastes good, eat it! I can remember wanting nothing but saltines
and ginger ale for days at a time. Then, one day when my husband was warming
up some leftover pasta, it smelled wonderful. I ate three bowls full and
never regretted it.
Try eating lowfat, high carbohydrate foods. These are digested more quickly
and stay in the stomach for less time, giving less time for queasiness.
Eat
often. Sometimes nausea is really due to hunger.
Avoid foods that have strong smells. Sometimes cold foods are better tolerated
because they don't smell as much. Have someone else do the cooking if possible
and go away from the house while cooking is being done.
Be sure to drink juice, water, soy milk, or miso broth if you can't eat
solid food. Keep trying to eat whatever you can. Contact your health care
provider if you are unable to eat or drink adequate amounts of fluids for
24 hours.
Lack of Time
Whether you're working full time outside the home or at home full time
(or some variation), the thought of preparing elaborate meals and snacks
will probably seem daunting. Meals do not have to be elaborate. A meal
can be as simple as a bowl of cereal and fruit with soy milk, peanut butter
and crackers, or a baked potato and a salad. Use convenience foods like
canned beans, frozen vegetables, mixes, pre-chopped vegetables, and frozen
entrees to reduce preparation time. Use time-saving appliances like crock-pots,
pressure cookers, and microwave ovens. Plan to have leftovers. Check out
some quick and easy vegan cookbooks for ideas. (See the catalog on pages
33 and 34 of the Vegetarian Journal.)
Your Health Care Provider
While many family practice physicians, obstetricians, nurses, and midwives
may be quite knowledgeable about nutrition, many are not familiar with
vegetarian diets and especially not vegan diets. Your health care provider
may have questions about what you are eating and whether you will be able
to meet your needs. Look on this as an opportunity to educate someone about
vegan nutrition. Try sharing this article and other materials from the
resource list with your health care provider. Keeping a record of what
you eat for several days may help convince your health care provider that
what you're doing is fine or may highlight areas needing improvement. If
you have specific concerns and questions, you may choose to consult a registered
dietitian (R.D.) with expertise in vegetarian nutrition.
Remember, a varied vegan diet can meet your needs and the needs of your
baby during this exciting time.
References
1. Institute of Medicine Subcommittee on Nutritional Status and Weight
Gain During Pregnancy. Nutrition During Pregnancy. 1990. National Academy
Press.
2. Carlson E., et al. 1985. A comparative evaluation of vegan, vegetarian,
and omnivore diets. J Plant Foods 6:89-100.
3. Prentice A. 1994. Maternal calcium requirements during pregnancy and
lactation. Am J Clin Nutr 59(suppl): 477S-83S.
4. Specker B.L. 1994. Do North American women need supplemental vitamin
D during pregnancy or lactation? Am J Clin Nutr 59(suppl):484S-91S.
5. Erick M. 1994. Hyperolfaction as a factor in hyperemesis gravidarum.
Considerations for nutritional management. Perspectives in Applied Nutrition
2:3-9.
The Vegan Diet During Pregnancy, Lactation, and Childhood, a 12-page handout
by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., available for $3.00 from The Vegetarian Resource
Group.
Meatless Meals for Working People, by Debra Wasserman and Charles Stahler,
available for $12 from The Vegetarian Resource Group.
Simply Vegan, by Debra Wasserman and Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., available
for $13 from The Vegetarian Resource Group.
Fact Sheet: Vegetarian Diets in Pregnancy, send SASE to Vegetarian Nutrition
DPG, c/o Carol Coughlin, R.D., 191 Baldwin Street, Leicester, MA 01524.
The
Vegetarian Way, by Virginia Messina, M.P.H., R.D., and Mark Messina, Ph.D.,
New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1996, $24.
The Vegetarian Journal published here is not the
complete issue, but these are excerpts from the published magazine.
Anyone wanting to see everything should
subscribe to the magazine.
Converted to HTML by Jeanie Freeman
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� 1996-
The Vegetarian Resource Group
PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203
(410) 366-8343 Email: [email protected]
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Last Updated
May 18, 1998
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