4 Weeks Pregnant

[Lori_Vegan]

Hey guys, just found out that my husband and I will be having our first little one in April of next year!! Wow, simply. LOL

I'm planning on raising him/her lacto-ovo vegetarian. I've read quite a few things and am calling up different pediatricians to find a good one, but I'm from the deep south and veganism/vegetarianism is looked down on down here, unfortunately. It seems I argue about the right/wrongness of it more than I get any answers!! :wall: :cry:

So I turn to my trusted veggie boards!!!

Is it hard(er) to raise a veggie child? Do you give them a multi-vitamin just to "make sure" that they *are* getting everything they need?

Also, do any of you guys have a husband/partner/SO that's omni and you're having some trouble "convincing" them too??

Thanks for any replies guys! :wayne:

[veggielove]

Congratulations!!! a HAPPY and healthy 9 months for you!!!!

My daughter is lacto-ovo. It is so ridiculously easy. She was breastfed also for almost two years, and yes, I did give her vitamins, but most omni kids also take them (vitamin a/d/e etc.) I wanted to do this, especially because my husband has such poor eyesight, I wanted to give her the extra vitamins to hopefully evade that problem. She seems to have perfect vision so I'm glad I did! She is just now starting to take a multi.

Eat lots of vegetables and fruits during your pregnancy - your child will develop a taste for them starting even this early. Breastfeed, if you can. (Eat lots of varied foods during this too!) Your milk will have so many benefits for your child, too many to list. My daughter was vegan until age one, we waited on milk and eggs for allergy prevention reasons. She has no food allergies so I guess its working!

My child is super, super healthy. She is 24 months old, and is 3 feet tall and 31 lbs (90th percentile for both... she has been since birth, so she's stayed right on her "curve".) She is super, super smart. She has been reading all the letters for several months, speaks in full sentences and speaks both english and spanish. She is close to being potty trained (I honestly think she cuold have done it months ago, she was ready but I am not lol!) She is the love of our lives and I'm so proud of how healthy she is. No one has ever questioned her diet, because they see the beautiful meals I prepare for her - and wish their kids would "eat that stuff!" Once your child is born, you can come right back here for breastfeeding tips and later, solids tips. Good luck and congrats again!!!

[unovegan]

We have a 4 month old and a 4 year old. Sam, the 4 year old, is mostly vegan with a little dairy. It hasn't been hard at all for us. He eats what we eat and that's that. It actually helps us to eat healthier as well as we don't want him eating crap.

maybe call a doctor first. Remember that you're paying him. If he gives you a hard time, bail on him and let him know why. A professional will be just that. Our kid's doctor is great.

We do give our kid's a veg multivitamin. They're pretty easy to find these days. It definitely doesn't hurt to be safe. I take one now after having been vegan for 15 years and possibly not getting enough B12 and it possibly affecting my memory. So, better safe than sorry.

I'm with you on the south. I grew up in Louisiana and it was tough.

[Lori_Vegan]

:vebo::vebo:

Thank you so much guys! I feel so much better now! My husband has read your posts too and he's much more relaxed about it! :vebo:

I hope my son or daughter will be as accomplished as yours!!! :)

[zoebird]

hello! congratulations! :) being a mom is awesome. :)

first, i'm ovo-lacto and my husband is omni. our baby is ovo-lacto. he's 11 months old right now.

his primary food source is *breastmilk* which doesn't require anything special. he can get everything he needs from it for years, but once he starts in on food, food becomes supplemental to the breastmilk, and then eventually the breastmilk becomes supplemental to the food (usually between the second and third years (ages 1-2 and 2-3).

after this, a diverse diet should provide all that he needs--whether vegan or vegetarian--though vegans need to supplement with b12 at least and a multi is a good idea.

[kaymay]

Lori_Vegan,
I'm about 3 months pregnant and an ovo-lacto. I also plan on raising our son or daughter to be ovo-lacto. From everything I've heard and read, including from our doctor, that type of diet is absolutely no problem. I'd recommend a little more research if you go the vegan route though. I know it can be done in a totally healthy way for little ones, it just takes a little more care to make sure they are getting all the different amino acids they need. Good luck and congratulations!

[Jinga]

Hey guys, just found out that my husband and I will be having our first little one in April of next year!! Wow, simply. LOL

I'm planning on raising him/her lacto-ovo vegetarian. I've read quite a few things and am calling up different pediatricians to find a good one, but I'm from the deep south and veganism/vegetarianism is looked down on down here, unfortunately. It seems I argue about the right/wrongness of it more than I get any answers!! :wall: :cry:

So I turn to my trusted veggie boards!!!

Is it hard(er) to raise a veggie child? Do you give them a multi-vitamin just to "make sure" that they *are* getting everything they need?

Also, do any of you guys have a husband/partner/SO that's omni and you're having some trouble "convincing" them too??

Thanks for any replies guys! :wayne:

Congrats on your pregnancy :)

My son is only 2 months old, so I don't have a lot of 'raising' experience. However, I can tell you that it's important to interview pediatricians before deciding on one. Call ahead to set up a meeting. It should be free, but some charge a copay. Bring a list of questions of things that are important to you. If they don't have time to talk with you, you don't want them as a doctor. All of the ped's we talked to were perfectly fine with raising a child lacto-ovo vegetarian. We decided upon a doctor that we love so far. She is very very pro-breastfeeding, but does recommend that all babies fed less than 50% from formula be on a baby vitamin (formula is already fortified with that stuff).

Good luck with everything. I hope you and your baby are the picture of health :baby:

[Amy SF]

I don't have any advice, as I'm not a mother, but the mothers here have posted some very good advice. I just wanted to extend my congratulations on your impending little one! :vebo: :baby:

[Cornflower]

Congrats on your pregnancy! No, it is not harder to raise a child vegetarian, IMO. We have been vegetarian since I was pregnant with our first and we are still a veggie family 6 years later. I live in the Seattle area though which is very veg-friendly. My son's school did a BBQ on field day and they even provided veggie-dogs for the vegetarian kids!

As for vitamins, I would just pay special attention to B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's are especially important during pregnancy and breastfeeding so I like to add a Tbsp of flaxseed oil to smoothies and sprinkle walnuts on oatmeal and cereal. I'm pregnant now with our 3rd (33 weeks) so I have been paying special attention to this in particular. B-12 is not such a worry for me because I regularly drink soy milk that is fortified with it, plus I am a nutritional yeast addict. :p

[Cornflower]

Congrats on your pregnancy :)

My son is only 2 months old, so I don't have a lot of 'raising' experience. However, I can tell you that it's important to interview pediatricians before deciding on one. Call ahead to set up a meeting. It should be free, but some charge a copay. Bring a list of questions of things that are important to you. If they don't have time to talk with you, you don't want them as a doctor. All of the ped's we talked to were perfectly fine with raising a child lacto-ovo vegetarian. We decided upon a doctor that we love so far. She is very very pro-breastfeeding, but does recommend that all babies fed less than 50% from formula be on a baby vitamin (formula is already fortified with that stuff).

Good luck with everything. I hope you and your baby are the picture of health :baby:

Wow, I've been away from this board for too long! Congrats on your baby Jinga! I'm so happy for you!

[tatzaana]

How does infliximab affect a baby during pregnancy? I currently take Infliximab every 8 weeks for Crohn's Disease. My partner and I are planning to get pregnant while I am feeling well and I was wondering if anyone knows any current facts about the effects of infliximab during pregnancy or can someone give me a link to an updated, genuine site please?!
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[Amy SF]

How does infliximab affect a baby during pregnancy? I currently take Infliximab every 8 weeks for Crohn's Disease. My partner and I are planning to get pregnant while I am feeling well and I was wondering if anyone knows any current facts about the effects of infliximab during pregnancy or can someone give me a link to an updated, genuine site please?!

It depends. Are you vegetarian or vegan?

[zoebird]

tatzaana, your doctor would know better than any of us. talk to yoru doctor about your medications and what you may need to do to prepare for and have a healthy pregnancy. working together, you will be fine.

asking random people on an internet board about it, and you'll likely go amiss. talk to your doctor.

[Jessss2008]

Hey guys, just found out that my husband and I will be having our first little one in April of next year!! Wow, simply. LOL

I'm planning on raising him/her lacto-ovo vegetarian. I've read quite a few things and am calling up different pediatricians to find a good one, but I'm from the deep south and veganism/vegetarianism is looked down on down here, unfortunately. It seems I argue about the right/wrongness of it more than I get any answers!! :wall: :cry:

So I turn to my trusted veggie boards!!!

Is it hard(er) to raise a veggie child? Do you give them a multi-vitamin just to "make sure" that they *are* getting everything they need?

Also, do any of you guys have a husband/partner/SO that's omni and you're having some trouble "convincing" them too??

Thanks for any replies guys! :wayne:


Firsty, CONGRATS!!!!

And secondly, my parents raised me omnivore and they still gave me a children's vitamin. It was fruity so we loved taking them. Otherwise I don't know what else to say as I am not a mother (besides to fur kids) Hope all goes well with your pregnancy :)

[@rno]

We have raised a son and a daughter as vegetarian. They are adult now.
My parents started in 1930 to be vegetarian and raised 7 children as vegetarian. Only one of them started to be an omnivore (not me).

So you see, it is not a problem to raise children as vegetarian.

[soja]

Hello!
Firstly - cangratulations on Lori's pregnancy, hope everything will be alright with you and your baby! :angel:

We have similar problems as you. We live in Slovenia (EU) and here is being vegetarians like being witches. There are not many doctors that are willing to help objectivly, people judge us for being who we are. Such a paradox ... :)
I understand you have vitamins especialy for vegetarians in USA? No, we dont have that either, not that i knew of ...:-/ I will though find some and give my 7,5month daughter vitamins. So you say it is better if she gets: B12 and omega acids. Anything else we should be paying attention to more?
I dont breastfeed since she was 3,5 months old. So there is one minus ... I try to give her various food, seasone vegetables and many fruits. I am just introducing her to legumes - they are inportant source of proteins. I take care she gets food with vitamin C and iron. Is there anything more that you could note me about?

Any ideas will be helpfull - for me and probably to Lori as well!

Thanx:up:
:hi:

[soja]

Ps. We are lacto. byebye ;)

[Sophia_]

Congratulations :)
Wishing the best for your pregnancy!

[lovepiggie]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Not much new advice that I can add, but I thought I'd recommend this website to you
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/

I found it a lot more helpful/friendly than the other pregnancy forums I checked out, especially when it came to things like being a pregnant vegan!