pregnancy

[laura]

Hi everyone. Just after a little info. My husband and I are both veganandare hoping to get pregnant soon with our first child. To tell you the truth I am absolutely terrified about the pregnancy.
Can anyone give me any info on what they ate when they were pregnant?
I have read that you should increase intake of fresh fruit and veg and eat nuts and pulses, is this what my diet should mainly consist of when I am pregnant? Also I ahve a slight issue with it. When I was at school I was bullied because I was always slim( still am) and this has had a pshycological affect on me and I am now scared that I will not be able to eat enough to sustain a pregnancy ( i have never had an eating disorder, nor do I skip meals) I work myself up so much sometimes that I feel phsically sick , but I dearly want to have children sooner rather than later.Has anyone else experienced this? or am I just weird. I am thinking about seeing someone to help me sort this problem out before I actully get pregnant. I think it would be in my best interest and that of our child`s.
Thanks
Laura

[AuroraLily]

I would suggest seeing a nutrionist and getting some meal plans sorted out. For the first trimester you don't need to eat much more than usual. It sounds like you know how to eat healthy, just add in some more protein throughout the day like nuts, tofu, soy milk etc. You'll be fine. You may also want to discuss the issue with a counsellor if you find yourself overwhelmed because anxiety may prevent you from conceiving. Good luck :)

[Jadzia]

I am 16 weeks pregnant and I've been doing a lot of reading on this. You really should not worry.

You only need 300 extra calories a day while pregnant, which is not hard to do at all. Just make sure that you eat those extra calories from nutritious foods and not empty calories from junk.

I have found that I am now just adding a few things that I normally did not due to the extra calories (I have always watched my weight in the past.) For instance, in the morning I might have a big glass of soymilk or calcium-fortified OJ instead of water. Or I have some peanut butter on my whole-wheat bagel. And I might have an extra snack or two throughout the day. Eating about 5 small meals a day while pregnant is good to prevent nausea.

I am eating entirely nutrition-filled whole foods such as tons of vegtables, fruits, beans and soyfoods and whole grains such as brown rice. I am avoiding eating any extra sugars or "junk" calories. As a result, I am amazed at how little my appetite has increased, but I talked to my doctor and she said I should just listen to my body and eat when I am hungry.

I think it is because I am eating such wholesome nutritious foods I haven't had any huge surge in appetite or strange cravings. Usually your body will tell you what it needs.

I am also taking a pre-natal vitamin that my doctor gave, which is added insurance. If you are trying to get pregnant, I would recommend you start taking a pre-natal or other good multivitamin now. Especially 400 mcg of folic acid-- they say it is very important to take that even before you get pregnant.

There are tons of great books and web-sites out there about vegan pregnancy. Do some reading up on it and it should set your mind at ease.

Don't worry, you'll be fine and good luck! :)

[Ms. Pacman]

Hey there!

I am 21 weeks pregnant now, and I was worried at first about being able to keep enough weight on because I was really skinny before all this. I've been pretty amazed at how my body has seemed to make me gain the weight. I'm getting weight and padding around my butt and legs like I never have before. It's awesome! I've definitely been eating a good deal lately, I don't think I have a choice. I've been trying to eat healthy, but I'm not totally guilting out over treats either :p

So, long story short: I've already gained over 20 lbs, and I feel really good about it. I feel like my body is so capable of sustaining a healthy pregnancy, even though I had sooo much troube adding weight before I got pregnant. I've been eating a good deal of fruits and veggies and pasta and soy stuff plus the stuff I won't admit to right now ;)

But yeah, it might be hard to eat how you envisioned for the few couple of months, but by the second trimester you'll definitely be able to eat well if you stay stocked up on fresh produce and everything else. I definitely look forward to salads and I went through a cooked greens phase too. Plus prenatals.

Don't worry so much either! Just eat and take care of yourself and have confidence in your body in its ability to do what it needs to do to nurture a little 'un. It's such a good thing!

Peace and good luck.

[laura]

Thanks for all of your replys and support.
My husband keeps saying to me that when I become pregnant nature will just take over and I will be fine. I guess I am just anxious about it all. again thankyou :)

[punkmommy]

Hehe, come to my house- I'll feed ya :D

Seriously though, it is a bit overwhelming a first, but if you eat a healthy vegan diet, you'll be fine. There are soem great vegan websites that helped me through my vegan pregnancy (my son's almost 4 now). There's www.vegfamily.com which has a lot of good info. There's a great book called " Super Baby Food " by Ruth Yaron which covers just about everything imaginable- I really recommend picking it up. There are many vegan multi-vitamins available now for pregnant women - www.Freeda.com has one. If I can think of more links and stuff, I'll try to post some more! Good luck to you!! :)

[sweetpeasma]

I basically ate just what I ate before just a little bit more of it. I also took vitamins. I did lose 15 pds in first four months and only gained 25 total. You'll be fine just make sure you are eating heathly and try to limit junk food.

[laura]

Thanks for your help. I am going to see the doctor tonight to see if I can get some sort of conselling. I have been putting it off since the problem started (about 5-6 months ago) guess I am just scared. I worry to much I need to lighten up a bit :)
Laura

[AuroraLily]

I think that's a good idea Laura :) Good luck.

[Rawmama]

Another reassuring fact to keep in mind is that the baby is going to take what it needs first, so if you are lacking in something you are the one who will feel the effect first not the baby so you can reajust your diet. Good luck with everything

[sunshinet47]

Laura,

Good luck to you, it sounds as though you are and will continue to do a great job!! I am so glad you asked this question, as I have been worried about getting enough of the right nutrients to the baby (am 16 weeks pg.) since I am still a learning lacto-vegetarian. (Can't seem to give up the cheese!)

Lisa

[silvrwood]

I'm vegetarian rather than vegan, but I had heard horror stories before I had my son about other vegetarians being overwelmed by the need for meat. They insisted that I would have to eat meat too once I got pregnant.

Well, I never had an urge for a piece of rotting carcass.

I, too, used to be 20 pounds underweight. I put on 50 when I got pregnant. Not by doing anything special - just my body taking over. And now, 2 years later, I am at a good average weight, so pregnancy healed me of that problem.

I took my prenatals and some extra Calcium, ate plenty of greens, had smoothies with protein powders every day. Throw a TBSP or 2 of flax oil in there, and you'll get extra calories, plus give your baby's brain a boost - if I understand correctly.

[RedWingsFan]

I am also a pregnant vegetarian. I am writing a magazine on vegetarian pregnancy and am looking for a couple of vegetarian women to include as examples in my article. If you went through (or are going through) your pregnancy following a vegetarian diet and don't mind being in my article, please drop me an e-mail at jacqueline702@aol.com. Thanks!

[silvrwood]

I am also a pregnant vegetarian. I am writing a magazine on vegetarian pregnancy and am looking for a couple of vegetarian women to include as examples in my article. If you went through (or are going through) your pregnancy following a vegetarian diet and don't mind being in my article, please drop me an e-mail at jacqueline702@aol.com. Thanks!
Wow! I am really excited that you're doing such an article. I hope it will be well read. I'd love to see some of the misconceptions around vegetarianism specifically in regard to pregnancy dispersed. I would also like to see sad cases like my friends', in which they fell prey to Western medicine authoritively insisting that they must eat meat or threaten the development of their children, eradicated.