Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

 
A common inquiry made by pregnant women relates to whether or not they can safely maintain their vegetarian or vegan diets during pregnancy without harm to the baby. There is no reason why vegetarian and vegan diets would be harmful as long the necessary steps are taken to ensure that the mother's diet is supplemented with the nutrients, such as iron and protein that are found in meat products. Complementary protein sources can be found in beans, grains, peas, nuts, dairy products, and whole-grain pastas.

Vegans will have a more difficult time ensuring that they are getting enough essential vitamins and minerals because they avoid animal related products - including dairy - completely. If the mother is vegan her diet will likely be deficient in iron, calcium, B12, zinc, and folic acid. Vegans will need to pay closer attention to their diet to ensure that the daily recommended levels of these nutrients and vitamins are met.

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