Is it risky to have a vegetarian diet while pregnant?

I've been a vegetarian for 6 years now, and I cannot bare the thought of eating meat. However, my husband and I are trying for a baby, and I don't want to put my baby at risk. If the baby got sick because I didn't want to eat meat I couldn't live with myself.Is it risky to have a vegetarian diet while pregnant?
There have been entire vegetarian societies for thousands of years. They have successfully procreated. Like any pregnant woman, you simply need to be more mindful about getting a good balance of all the nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and protein. That can easily be done on a vegetarian diet. Many pregnant women take vitamin supplements. Consult your obstetrician on what extra things you need. You can get them all from foods other than meat.
You need to make sure you get enough protein and fat for your baby. Make sure you drink milk, eat cheese, eat/drink soy, eat hummus. Anything with protein in it to make sure you and your baby get enough. If not it could risk the baby being underweight.Is it risky to have a vegetarian diet while pregnant?
It's not risky at all, as long as you are aware of nutrition. There is nothing in meat that's not in other options.



"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes."



Here's some resources:



http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_li鈥?/a>



http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/pregn鈥?/a>



http://www.babycenter.com/0_diet-for-a-h鈥?/a>
No no, there are lots of pregnant veggies! I have another vegetarian relative who has just given birth to a ten pound baby. He was absolutely huge!



As long as you are getting all of the necessary nutrients for your foetus, it doesn't matter whether whether you are eating meat or not.Is it risky to have a vegetarian diet while pregnant?
I was veggie during both my pregnancies and my baby girls are now beautiful robust children of 4 and 5.

The baby will take whatever it needs. If it is not coming in via your diet it will just take it from your body. Many women develop odd food habits during pregnancy and only feel able to eat certain things, a very few have such severe morning sickness they cannot keep a thing down, but the baby still grows and is healthy.

Don't worry, and good luck.

People who dont know anything may try to tell you it is not good, but they are talking out of their bottoms.
My daughter is a strict vegetarian and has carried three healthy children.Make sure you have a varied diet with plenty of calcium and protien,check with your doctor to see if you need to take iron tablets and your health visitor can give you advice on a healthy varied diet.Also there are lots of books around written for pregnant mothers that are veggie.You could look up the vegetarian and vegan web site.
Don't you know there are NO children who have vegetarian parents? haha jk. Absolutely not. I am a vegetarian and I ate quite well during my last pregnancy(4M/O daughter) I ate things such as hummus(regular with gorbanzo beans), black bean hummus, falafels, TONS of portabello sandwhiches-'shroom ruebans, shrooms with balsamic dressing and romaine lettuce with cucumbers,feta,olives,peppers,onions etc...I ate tofu of course but as a last resort because I was NOT into it while pregnant. I ate beans like crazy...any kind of bean was not safe around me haha. As long as you are getting ample amounts of protein instead of meat...go for it. It is actually very healthy!



and my daughter was born a 7lb10 ounce chunky monkey!
No.

It's not risky.
Eating vegan is also fine when you're pregnant. You don't need cheese as mentioned above.Just make sure you eat a lot of different things and you'll be fine.
um,no?

as long as your getting enough iron and whatnot
It is not ideal, but as long as you eat enough protein for both yourself and the baby, it should be fine.



Increase your intake of protein rich foods such as beans (especially kidney beans and chick peas - garbonzo beans)

if you eat dairy, up your dairy intake too - there is protein in dairy

eggs - if you eat eggs

fish if you eat fish - tuna is the best in terms of protein

peanut butter

tofu

eat tofurkey - it has tofu and lots of protein

green beans

carrots



and eat a lot more iron rich foods too - your baby will suck up a lot of your iron in your blood so you really need to up your iron intake:

green leafy veggies such as:

broccoli

kale

beet root

romaine lettuce

other iron rich veggies:

beets

celery

beans



I included fish, eggs and dairy because I know some vegetarians that eat that - some vegetarians eat fish, some eat dairy, some eat both fish and dairy, so I have included them just in case. I personally don't agree with the vegetarian lifestyle, but that's your choice, and if you want to stick to your values, that's great. But increase the protein and iron and it should be fine. Keep going to your doctor so he/she can monitor your levels to ensure that the baby is getting enough nutrients.
OMG! a vegetarian diet does NOT harm fetuses. Look at India!!!!! Before western influences most of the people were vegetarians in that country and they clearly reproduced and formed a strong population. my mommy was a vegetarian, her mommy was one etc.....and i was born perfectly healthy. as long as you consume folic acid, and lots of nutritious foods like milk, fruits, and veggies, you'll be FINE
No, it is not risky, as long as you remember you are eating for two. Also, generally the baby will take what it needs, so if you aren't getting enough of something, you are the one that will suffer, not the baby. My SIL doesn't eat red meat, and she got anemic during pregnancy, and had to take an iron supplement, but the baby's iron levels were fine. Take prenatal vitamins, and get a book about veg pregnancy.
Not that I know of, but make sure you're getting lots of healthy fats (2nd/3rd), B12, especially iron.

Extra fats and calories in the 2nd and especially 3rd trimester.

Heres some sites

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_li鈥?/a>

http://www.vegetariannutrition.net/artic鈥?/a>

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/pregn鈥?/a>
No, its fine. People don't need any particular food. They only need what the foods provide and those things are found in all different foods. Meat is just a product.
Well, if it were a problem, India wouldn't have such high population density. A vegetarian diet is safe for all stages of life. Just keep in mind that like anyone else, your nutritional needs do change when you are pregnant.
No. Millions of vegetarians have healthy babies. Ask your doctor. It's okay.
no. you need protein for the baby to properly grow. then again, im no doctor!!! hope it helps!
If you follow a vegetarian diet with eggs and milk, you should be OK. But you should immediately stop eating all soy products because the phytoestrogens could cause birth defects if the child is a boy - specifically a problem called hypospadias.



Fermented soy foods in small amounts should be OK, but ditch the tofu and soymilk.
Yes it is. You need extra protein, vitamins, and minerals to help the baby's development.