my mom's worried about vegan pregnancy

[maple_syrup]

my (omni) mother was reading an article in her woman's day or good housekeeping magazine (i'm not sure) and came across an article that talked about a woman who adopted a boy that had some very rare disease that was caused by him missing some critical proteins in his diet when he was a baby. The article said this disease sets in before the child is six months old, which im assuming to imply that the definciency had to come from the mother.

my mom, reacting to the word protein deficiency, called me downstairs and started lecturing me, nearly in tears, wanting me to reconsider being vegan or even vegetarian because she doesnt want her grandkids to be sick, etc. to make matters worse, the vegetarian wife of a man she works with had to get an abortion because the baby's brain was not developing right at all on the ultrasound and it would not have survived.

please don't get into an abortion debate on this, i need help because she might seriously stop letting me be vegan or vegetarian (im 14) because she is concerned im not getting enough of the right proteins and i'll pass the deficiency onto my children. i haven't decided if i'm even going to have kids yet, what with the giant population and all, but i really do not want to stop being vegan. i know i need protein for amino acids and that the main amino acid that is hard for us to get is the omega-3 ones so i bought some flaxseed meal because flaxseeds are supposed to be rich in that. i get my other protein from lightlife tempeh, tofu (mori-nu kind and sometimes nasoya), boca burgers or gardenburgers, beans (all kinds!), nuts, peanut butter, and whole grains and silk soymilk and soy yogurt.

is there anything im missing? had anyone ever had an experience like this? i wasn't sure where to post this but i figured parents would have experience in this area. help!!! i want to stay vegan!!!

[VeganChick15]

omg i was like so freaked out and worried when i read this at first i got the wrong idea though. dont worry we will come up with a plan! you have to stay vegan.. it wouldn't be the same.. we have to be vegan together! good luck...

[Wolfie]

Well, hopefully by the time you have kids you'll be old enough that your mom can't tell you what to eat. A balanced vegan diet is just fine for supporting a pregnancy though. Maybe do an Internet search and print off some of the articles for your mom. Hearing that protein issue again and again sure gets tiring though.

[mushroom]

"...an article that talked about a woman who adopted a boy that had some very rare disease...

On the other hand, heart disease is a very common one.

[Tame]

Two things:
--consult a reputable nutrition site to show her you have done your research.

--get an opinion from a doctor who respects a veg*n diet that what you are doing is healthy.

***BTW, I think VC15 and I both read this the same way.

[Jeffer]

Well, hopefully by the time you have kids you'll be old enough that your mom can't tell you what to eat.

That's the ticket right there and the best advice so far!! :D :D

[FalafelsRule]

She should be more worried if you decided NOT to stay vegan while pregnant.

[monkeyandbunny]

Consider the source of where your mom read this article A women's magazineWhich I'm sorry, is not exactly reputable medical writing. If the article was retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine I would give it a second look. Many articles that are in such magazines are under researched and are written by "professional free lance" journalists who have an interest but not expertise in such issues. I'm willing to place bets that the By line doesn't have letters like "RD", "MD" or "DO" after his/her name.

Reason number 5,467 why I don't read mainstream "chicky" magazines.

[kristadb]

There are risks with a vegan diet, but as with any other diet. Also, it isn't fair to blame 99% of the women who lose their babies or have sick children; some do bad things to have that happen, but almost all don't. Yes, there are some extra concerns for vegan pregnancies, but they are easily addressed.

If she's bugging you now (and doesn't stop), research what you need to eat as a growing woman. See if you are actually eating that way (hard to be "right" if you're not). Show her information on how a pregnant woman can meet her nutritional needs with a vegan diet.

[dakinirawk]

I'd consider taking a B vitamin. Thats the only thing that needs supplementation from all the reading I've done. It will give you the added benefit of being less attractive to mosquitoes (mosquitoes don't like blood rich with vitamin B). of course, if you eat enriched breakfast cereal, you get a lot of that. I don't like eating cereal in the morning (I'm a soy protein shake girl....otherwise, I'm starving by lunch time), so I make sure to take my multivitamin and B supplement.

There's a book called BECOMING VEGAN that is excellent and really goes into every detail about health, the way to get it through the vegan diet, what to look out for, and how to get all you need. they have a whole section on pregnancy and veganism, and even raising vegan children.

Your mom is jumping the gun quite a bit here though, don't you think? Tell her you aren't planning to have kids so soon, so why the worry?

XOXO
Beth

P.S. I personally would watch getting too much off the internet, as its just as easy to find stuff to the contrary. Any time I use the internet as a source of debate, my "opponent" just goes to the net and finds the opposite. the internet is sketchy in terms of reliability.

[dakinirawk]

as an aside, you might consider reading "the beauty myth" by naomi wolf (and others like brumberg's "the body project", etc.) to learn the history of books like Good Housekeeping, and other "women's magazines." it will change your whole perspective on their "informative articles." :)

XOXO
Beth

[clairebear]

can't you just tell your mum that you're 14, and that you aren't planning to get pregnant any time soon. When you do think about getting pregnant, you'll read up on things and at that time you will make sure you choose the diet that is best for you and your baby. Until then, you know that being vegan is right for you, and its the diet you wish to follow.

I know you won't want to reconsider being vegan when you are pregnant...but it might placate her for now, plus you can techinically still "reconsider" being vegan while you are researcing the extra nutrients you need whilst being vegan and pregnant.

[monkeyandbunny]

as an aside, you might consider reading "the beauty myth" by naomi wolf (and others like brumberg's "the body project", etc.) to learn the history of books like Good Housekeeping, and other "women's magazines." it will change your whole perspective on their "informative articles." :)

XOXO
Beth


I second both of these books!

[Thalia]

can't you just tell your mum that you're 14, and that you aren't planning to get pregnant any time soon. When you do think about getting pregnant, you'll read up on things and at that time you will make sure you choose the diet that is best for you and your baby. Until then, you know that being vegan is right for you, and its the diet you wish to follow.

Exactly. I assumed from the post at first that you were already pregnant. Why else would your mother be worried? Since you aren't pregnant, it's a non-issue.

[maple_syrup]

Exactly. I assumed from the post at first that you were already pregnant. Why else would your mother be worried? Since you aren't pregnant, it's a non-issue.

she's just worried that my choices now will affect my future in a bad way and probably doesnt want me getting used to the idea of being vegan all the time forever (like that hasnt happened already) so i will drink milk etc. during pregnancy

btw, im not pregnant, not even sure if i ever will be

[MollyGoat]

An aside: Omega-3 is a fatty acid, not an amino acid. Amino acids are proteins, which it sounds like you get plenty of...

[froggythefrog]

If the issue is really about being vegan (parents have a lot of different concerns and sometimes only the small or highly unlikely ones come out), maybe you need to lead your mother to better sources than chicky magazines and daytime television, such as the sources mentioned above.
By the way, Montel Williams had a "vegetarian" who suddenly became obese for no apparent reason. The person telling me about this said, "Do you think they're making it up? Why would they do that?" I replied, "Everybody likes attention and what better way than to appear on TV?"

It might also help simply to integrate some really yummy vegan dishes into meals for the whole family. That way your mother can see what you are eating is not so "foreign", and actually becomes acclimated to the food.

[4EverGrounded]

she's just worried that my choices now will affect my future in a bad way and probably doesnt want me getting used to the idea of being vegan all the time forever (like that hasnt happened already) so i will drink milk etc. during pregnancy

btw, im not pregnant, not even sure if i ever will be I could totally understand if you were some sort of very heavy drug user or booze hound because that could affect an unborn child in horrific ways but being vegan? I very much doubt it. As long as your diet is balanced and your nutrients are met it should be no troubles at all.

AFAIK, the eating ways you have now shouldn't adversly affect a future child (should you decide to have children).

I agree with monkeyandbunny about not trusting chick mags. They're usually not the best source for anything except maybe how to clean house, organize a coupon keeper or perhaps how to keep your makeup all nice and neat on the vanity. For medical information, go with either JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) or NEMJ (New England Medical Journal). It's a much better medical info source and it's not written for easily excitable women like mothers who worry about something that may be eons into the future, if it happens at all. :yes:

[rainbowmoon]

Find a reputable source for vegan nutritional info, and offer to get a nutrition test done to make sure that you are getting everything you need. (but start eating really good and taking a multivitamin first. You don't want to fail the test!) You can also explain to your Mom that you probably won't have children for 10 years, and when that point arrives, you will evaluate your diet decision, consult a dietitian/nutritionist, ect.
Goood luck!!!

[maple_syrup]

Find a reputable source for vegan nutritional info, and offer to get a nutrition test done to make sure that you are getting everything you need. (but start eating really good and taking a multivitamin first. You don't want to fail the test!)

at my wellness checkup i beat everyone in my family in our hemoglobin test (iron count)!!! hehe sorry im very proud of that fact since im always referred to as the unhealthy one.

[Linzey]

Guys - please ignore 'Sabraeal'...it's just a friend of mine from another group using my other handle (which IS Sabraeal, and using my avatar from that group too!)

Karl...you little lunatic. Go to bed! You are grounded.

I'm serious guys...Karl's not even vegetarian!

Now shoo Karl!

*Linzey* (that pic that says "Sab" is me...he's just being a little brother like pest!)

[epski]

Check out Your Vegetarian Pregnancy, by Holly Roberts, M.D.

[Geekgirl]

The Brewer diet commonly accepted in the Natural birth world as the healthiest diet and is known to reduce the likely hood of various pregnancy illnesses such as gestational diabetes and preclampsia can be easilly adapted to a vegan or vegetarian diet. The thing you'd need to look out for is B12 which he reccomends getting from eggs but you can get supplements for that. The main tenants of it is to get atleast 80 gms of protien a day. I counted my protien grams for a week my first week going veg, and I'm not even pregnant and wasn't trying to eat more protien and I never went below the 80 gms. Granted I'm ova-lacto but I eat very little eggs or dairy.

[bstutzma]

I've been veg for 3 years and I just had some bloodwork done and the dr said it was some of the best bloodwork she had ever seen. ;-) My good cholesterol was high, my bad cholesterol low, my iron and B12 both normal. I watch what I eat pretty carefully to ensure that I get all the calcium, protein, etc. that I need. Sounds like you are doing a good job of that too! I am getting married next month and plan to have a family in a few years, and I'm not worried about kids yet! You are still a kid yourself, so try to enjoy it while it lasts ;-)

Your mom means well. She just doesn't know any better. She is just trying to protect the daughter that she loves. I would also recommend "becoming vegan" i think that if your mom read it, she would feel a lot better. Good luck!!

[giselle]

i know i need protein for amino acids and that the main amino acid that is hard for us to get is the omega-3 ones

Omega-3 refers to fats, not proteins.


so i bought some flaxseed meal because flaxseeds are supposed to be rich in that.


Yes, flaxseed is the richest source of 18:n3 fatty acids, also known as omega-3s.

I think I know what the problem is. It sounds as if your mother is mixing up her fears about your having an inadequate protein intake (looks like you are doing fine with protein based on what you eat) with what might have been written about long chain omega-3 fats in the article that she read.

The omega-3 fats important for human health are:

alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), also ALA
eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), also known as EPA and
docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), also known as DHA.

EPA and DHA are often referred to as long chain omega-3 fats.

Flax has the 18:3n-3 omega-3 fat. The other two, EPA and DHA, are found primarily in fish. Our bodies need EPA and DHA, too, especially for brain development and during pregnancy and lactation, because the need is greatest then and the mother passes it on to the baby through her plasma or her milk.

We can convert the plant fat 18:3n-3 to DHA and EPA, but the studies show that not all people can do this equally well, and it also depends on other factors in the diet. Women probably do it better than men, and pregnant women probably do it better than nonpregnant women.

Also, if we get too many other types of fats, such as trans fats (in junk food and margarine) or omega-6 fats, we may not be able to perform the conversion as well.

This is very often the case with veg*ns: even if they limit the junk foods, they still usually get too much omega-6 fat, and not enough omega-3 fat.

This is one reason why so many health authorities recommend that people eat fish or fish oil--because they contain the preformed EPA and DHA fats.

We don't really know if we need preformed EPA and DHA. We do know that veg*ns should be extra careful to get enough ALA and not too much omega-6 fats.

You don't have to stop being vegan if you want preformed DHA. It's a good insurance policy, whether you are planning on a pregnancy or not. There are a couple of sources from algae: O-Mega-Zen-3, Joel Fuhrman's DHA purity, and Neuromins. Neuromins is not vegan because the capsule is gelatin, but it's the cheapest of the three. Some people poke the capsules with a pin and just take the contents.

Refs:

Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3 Suppl):640S-646S.
Achieving optimal essential fatty acid status in vegetarians: current knowledge
and practical implications.
Davis BC, Kris-Etherton PM.

Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2002;53(1):65-79.
[Vegetarian diets of breastfeeding women in the light of dietary
recommendations]
[Article in Polish]
Strucinska M.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000 Oct;54(10):768-73.
Serum fatty acid, lipid profile and dietary intake of Hong Kong Chinese
omnivores and vegetarians.
Lee HY, Woo J, Chen ZY, Leung SF, Peng XH.

Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):555S-559S.
Essential fatty acid requirements of vegetarians in pregnancy, lactation, and
infancy.
Sanders TA.

(You can read this paper, and pass it on to your mother. It's free. If you aren't sure about something, ask someone here or more preferrably, your doctor.)
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/70/3/555S

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1998;68(3):159-73.
Can adults adequately convert alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) to eicosapentaenoic
acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3)?
Gerster H.

Lipids. 1997 Mar;32(3):341-5.
Dietary docosahexaenoic acid as a source of eicosapentaenoic acid in vegetarians
and omnivores.
Conquer JA, Holub BJ.

J Nutr. 1996 Dec;126(12):3032-9.
Supplementation with an algae source of docosahexaenoic acid increases (n-3)
fatty acid status and alters selected risk factors for heart disease in
vegetarian subjects.
Conquer JA, Holub BJ.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994 May;48(5):358-68.
The influence of maternal vegetarian diet on essential fatty acid status of the
newborn.
Reddy S, Sanders TA, Obeid O.

J Pediatr. 1992 Apr;120(4 Pt 2):S71-7.
The influence of a vegetarian diet on the fatty acid composition of human milk
and the essential fatty acid status of the infant.
Sanders TA, Reddy S.