Pregnancy and Vegetarian Diet Concerns

Pregnancy and vegetarian diet issues:
I became pregnant in my first year on a vegetarian diet. My obstetrician was a very intimidating person. He tried to discourage me from being a vegetarian and insisted that I needed to eat certain meat items (such as liver) in order to remain healthy during pregnancy.

He asked, “Where are you going to get your iron from?” At that time, in 1979, I could not answer his questions, but I knew I was not going back to eating meat.

He was not pleased with my vegetarian pregnancy diet. However when he realized that I was not budging from my stance he then prescribed iron tablets. I used some during my first pregnancy, but not my second.

A pregnant woman needs plenty of iron so that she does not get anemic. Iron is needed for good hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood to all parts of the body and helps our muscles to function properly.

Pregnant women absorb more iron when pregnant and must consume more so they and the developing baby stay healthy.

Pregnancy and vegetarian diet foods will not conflict if a variety of fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables and legumes are consumed to get all the proper nutrients.

Look at all the animals that are vegetarian, such as an elephant, they don’t start eating meat because they are going to have a baby.

Just remember that you are eating for two, and need to consume more of healthy foods.

Click on the following to learn more about –
Vegetarian nutrition
Reasons to eliminate dairy products

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