Nutrition in pregnancy: vegan and vegetarian diets during pregnancy
The nutrient requirements of pregnant women are significantly increased. The main thing is to keep an eye on the quality of the food. Especially at the beginning of their pregnancy, pregnant women do not necessarily need to eat more, but should pay attention to particularly good quality and composition of their meals. Women who eat a balanced and healthy diet generally provide themselves and their unborn child with sufficient nutrients, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Women who wish to maintain a purely vegan or vegetarian diet during pregnancy, on the other hand, must make sure they get enough of the critical nutrients and should seek advice from nutrition experts if necessary.
Experts disagree on whether or not a purely vegan diet in pregnancy carries risks for the unborn child. In principle, pregnant women have an increased requirement for important nutrients such as folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, iron and iodine. The energy requirement, and thus the calorie requirement, only rises as the pregnancy progresses. With a purely plant-based diet in particular, it is often difficult to supply the body adequately. The mother-to-be should therefore have her blood values checked and close any gaps that become apparent with suitable food supplements. Supplementation with folic acid and iodine is generally recommended for all pregnant women, not only vegans and vegetarians, in the first three months of pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy the requirement for protein also rises, which is why vegans should make sure they get enough high-quality protein from plant sources.
Nutritional counselling recommended: vegan diet in pregnancy
To prevent a possible nutrient deficiency, vegans are advised to seek professional nutritional counselling as early as when they are planning to have a child. A deficiency of critical nutrients can lead to developmental problems in the unborn child. It is therefore important for mothers-to-be to be sufficiently informed in order to cover the increased requirement for some nutrients during pregnancy. Many midwives offer such nutritional counselling, which in early pregnancy can even be billed to the health insurance fund. Very few vegans want to change their diet because of a pregnancy. Knowing about the additional nutrient requirement during this time is therefore extremely important for the women concerned. An adequate supply of carbohydrates, high-quality protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals for the mother-to-be and the unborn child is intended to ensure normal development of the unborn child and a pregnancy without complications. Possible harm and malformations caused by an undersupply of folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamins B12 and D or iodine must be prevented accordingly.
Conclusion
In principle, a vegan or vegetarian diet in pregnancy is possible, but very demanding. The women concerned should have their blood values tested for possible deficiencies and take any missing nutrients in the form of the necessary supplements. Many women are undersupplied with folic acid, vitamin B12, calcium and iodine in particular. Professional nutritional counselling, as offered by many midwives or gynaecologists, can be helpful support and make it easier to choose the necessary food supplements.
