WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Vegan and Pregnant

Vegan and Pregnant
Plant-Powered Nutrition! 🥦🌽
As a vegan, your diet is primarily centered around plant-based foods, and it's essential to focus on getting the right balance of nutrients during pregnancy. Here are some key nutrients to pay attention to:
  • Protein: Make sure you're incorporating a variety of plant-based protein sources such as legumes, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, and nuts into your meals. Protein is crucial for the growth and development of your baby's cells and tissues. 💪🌱
  • Iron: Plant-based sources of iron include dark leafy greens, lentils, fortified cereals, and seeds. Iron is important for oxygen transport in your body and the development of your baby's blood cells. Pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources can enhance iron absorption. 🌿🌱
  • Calcium: Ensure you're getting enough calcium from sources like fortified plant milks, tofu, leafy greens, and sesame seeds. Calcium supports the development of your baby's bones and teeth. 🥛🌿
  • Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal-based foods, so it's crucial for vegans to obtain it through fortified foods or supplements. B12 is essential for neurological development and the production of red blood cells. 💊🌱
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Include plant-based sources of omega-3s, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and algae-based supplements. Omega-3s play a vital role in brain development and can contribute to a healthy pregnancy. 🐟🌱
Meal Planning for a Healthy Pregnancy! 🍽️💚
Planning nutritious meals is key to maintaining a healthy vegan pregnancy. Here are some tips to help you thrive:
  • Variety: Include a wide array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds in your meals. This ensures you're getting a diverse range of nutrients. 🌈🍽️
  • Supplements: Consider taking prenatal supplements recommended by your healthcare provider, especially for nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3s. Supplements can help bridge any nutritional gaps. 💊💚
  • Cooking and Preparation: Explore different cooking methods such as steaming, baking, and stir-frying to retain nutrients in your food. Soaking legumes and grains can improve their digestibility and nutrient availability. 🍳🥦
  • Hydration: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Hydration is essential for your overall well-being and helps support healthy bodily functions. 💧💚
Seek Expert Guidance! 🌱🩺
During your vegan pregnancy journey, it's crucial to seek expert guidance and support. Here's what you can do:
  • Consult a Registered Dietitian: A registered dietitian who specializes in prenatal nutrition can help you create a well-balanced vegan meal plan that meets your specific needs. They can provide personalized guidance and address any concerns you may have. 🥕🍽️
  • Work with Your Healthcare Provider: Keep your healthcare provider informed about your vegan diet and any supplements you're taking. They can monitor your nutrient levels and provide additional recommendations if needed. 🩺💚
Related articles
J
Jessica
15 Jul 2023

Alright so my sister and I met up with our family today and I guess she’s concerned that I’m losing too much weight and told everyone I was too skinny. I feel like it’s normal to not want people to talk about your body, especially after a baby. I’m not trying to lose weight but it keeps coming off and I’m actually trying pretty hard to be vegan and gluten free for my baby so she can stop breaking out. It’s funny though because before my baby I was 105-112 pounds and now I’m 110 so I don’t think anything’s changed that much since I had my baby. I’ve always struggled to put weight on but I think she got used to me being pregnant and weighing 150 pounds. I told her one day that I was struggling to gain weight because of the breastfeeding but she twisted my words around and now my family is concerned 😓.

3 comments
M
Mommy#1
You and I have the same body weight pre baby and during pregnancy! You’re fine! Don’t let ppl get to you like this, I always had my family giving me crap for this but I was a runner my whole life and once I caved into their “recovery” when I was vegan and I ate what they ate and I went up to 140 lbs and it was unhealthy for me! Ppl just wannna talk to talk. When I was pregnant they made fun of me! So ppl just want to put others down so don’t listen to them
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
J
Jessica
See my boyfriend says I don’t look like anything, I just look like me. I just hate when I let people make me feel bad about it. I think it’s because I lost my butt and I loved it so much when I was pregnant but I’ll have it back next time I get pregnant again.
27 Mar 2024

Answer


S
Shae
11 Jul 2023

My baby boy 10 lb 1oz at 1 month, that's normal weight right. I'm vegan and was vegetarian while pregnant, and I breastfeed.

2 comments
M
Martina
How did you feel during your first trimester? I’m 4 years vegetarian. This is my third pregnancy (no births). I am 12W4Days. I’m having a hard time w food aversion nausea vomiting. Worried.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments

A
Aloni
9 Jun 2023

Is any one else’s baby forcing them to become vegan. I’m asking because I can no longer eat meat or processed foods. Only things that stay down are veggies water and fruit. 😭

2 comments
V
Veronica
I cant eat meat with the bone... the bone, cartilage and chewy fat grosses me out. 😂
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
D
Daniela
Me😥 I barely started eating tiny pieces of meat here and there but it's mostly veggies especially potatoes or pastas and fruits, definitely nothing spicy or acidic at all either as much as I love them😭
27 Mar 2024

Answer


S
Samantha
6 Jun 2023

Hey community question will they be able to tell my babies gender by my 18 week ultra sound? I'm an all natural vegan 1st time mom expecting and refuse to do alot of the test especially blood work since my baby needs all the blood it can get. I'm opting out to only 2 sonograms during my pregnancy to minimize radiation!

4 comments
T
Tina
They may or may not be able to tell it all depends on position your baby is in during your anatomy scan ultrasound
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
S
Samantha
thanks love my 1st ultrasound it was moving sooo much. The tech said omg how developed already and moving so much. Waved and all ! I'm manifesting to find out that day. Because that's my last one, since the dr tricked me said it was an appointment and it was a sonogram all because I stated I only wanted 2 one in the beginning and one at the end. So I decided to let this be my 2nd one since i know the anatomy scan is extremely important.
27 Mar 2024

Answer


e
estefany
2 Jan 2023

So I have being craving spicy when I really don’t like it much but also I have being craving something sweet call flan but overall not chocolate for me sweet is not really my forte right now. I know if is sweet is a girl and spicy is s boy. But I’m s little confused. Also note I’m vegan and rarely want meats since I got used to my own food but I have being craving beef. Is this a sing for a boy? Is my first so I’m really lost in everything any tips for cravings and overall the pregnancy

4 comments
E
Ellonda
It's ok to give into cravings if you choose. My pescatarian friend started eating chicken again when she got pregnant. The predictions related to cravings aren't accurate though... they don't mean anything really.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
M
Marshana
I thought I was having a boy too because I was craving spicy nope it's a girl they say girls like spicy boys like sweets and I love spicy food and I love beef I love eating meat. If I do eat any type of sweets it's going to be some gummies I eat a chocolate every now and then but I really don't like chocolate but I like salty foods
27 Mar 2024

Answer


N
Najah
25 Nov 2022

6 months & you really want mommy to be vegan again 😂😂😂😂❤️❤️ i will baby

1 comments
N
Naliaka
My Baby Boy Definitely Has Me Craving Vegan Food 😭
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments

L
Laura
4 Nov 2022

The worst thing you can do to a pregnant woman is get her food order wrong!!! How Tf do they mess up a burger? Just look at the pictures on your assembly line and put it together. How can you add cheese to a vegan burger?! How Tf is that a vegan burger?!! There is no cheese anywhere in the picture or the description. And I ordered two. Im soo angry.

5 comments
M
McKaylan Lee💗
I cannot stand door dashing Wendy's. I get the grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce tomato and mayo and no honey mustard. I called and said I cannot have it and they still put it on. But when I go in there they make sure it isn't on there 🤦drives me nuts !
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
L
Laura
There was no lettuce no tomato, nothing, just mustard (which i hate) and cheese. Soo pissed. I had to scrape everything off. Smh
27 Mar 2024

Answer


h
hailey
25 Jan 2022

My daughter is 3 months going on 4 in February she was breast fed for 2 months and now she is on enfamil prosobee vegan formula because of stomach issues. She acts so uncomfortable and wakes up throughout the night still not even to eat because that would overfeed her but because she has so much gas and pain she cries and stiffens her whole body. I have tried prescription pep acid and gas drops also gripe water warm baths swaddling nothing really works. Does someone have any tips to help her with her pains or figure out what’s going on ?

0 comments
A
Autumn
Trying doing some baby yoga with her, my 2 month old has issues with gas too and I've found that bicycle kicks and some stretching helps her quite a bit. I had been breast feeding but lately I've decreased in supply so I had to introduce formula more often. I started with Similac sensitive and have gone to an all natural formula my husband picked out. She seems to really enjoy it when she doesn't get the milk I have pumped. The yoga stretching has really helped her gas and/or digestive problems
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments

A
Ariel
19 Jan 2022

Baby’s been wanting nothing but cheesyyyy anything cheese bread Cheez Itz shoot queso would work too 😭 literally went into pregnancy a vegan coming out eating like shit 😂

0 comments
R
Roxy
Omg I've been craving a lot of cheesy stuff to how funny I'm having a boy and I'm 16 weeks pregnant what do you have in
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
A
Ariel
OMG WHAT!! I won’t know what im having until the reveal on the 13 of feb but im wondering if it’ll be a boy now 😂
27 Mar 2024

Answer


B
Brooklyn
8 Dec 2021

I was vegan before getting pregnant and all I want is burgers and i know veggie burgers wont do it! Help me i dont want my baby to be affected by me eating bad :(. I swear ill go back vegan when this pregnancy is over but im starving and i know meat fills me up🥺🥺

11 comments
B
Brooklyn
I just feel bad for the poor cows :( but my baby is screaming for beef nachos and burgers😩
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments

Related articles

Hot topics

More questions from Moms