If you are a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) and you eat dairy products and eggs, there is no reason why you cannot continue your diet throughout your pregnancy. Even if you are a vegan and exclude all dairy products and eggs from your diet, with careful attention and planning, you can meet most of your nutritional needs as well. Going without meat does not mean going without nutrients. But, you’ll need to ensure you get the proper allocation of grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, calcium-rich foods, nuts, and vitamin B-12.
Studies of Vegetarians During Pregnancy
A number of studies of lacto-ovo vegetarians (vegetarians who use dairy products and eggs) have shown that maternal weight gain and infant birth weights were not significantly different from those of non-vegetarians Similarly, two studies of vegan pregnancy, one in the US and one in Britain found birth weights to be similar to those of non veg women while the average weight gain of vegan women was slightly higher than that of the reference population.
Vegans are vegetarians who use no animal products. There have been reports of low birth weights in infants of women following macrobiotic diets. These women appeared to have both low weight gain and low energy intakes. The macrobiotic diet is based largely on grains with smaller amounts of vegetables (especially sea vegetables), soups, and beans and is typically more restrictive than other types of vegetarian diets.
As with everything concerning pregnancy be sure to contact you doctor if you have any questions. You may also want to speak with a registered dietitian who specializes in woman’s health.
