Is a vegetarian pregancy a good idea?
Q. Recently, my wife and I decided to become lacto-vegetarians. We already have a one-year-old daughter, but we want one more baby. Should my wife give up vegetarianism, or at least postpone it for some time? Should she use supplements?
A. Your question in particularly timely in the wake of the recent verdict handed down in Atlanta, in which vegan parents were found guilty of the murder of their six-week-old son, who died of malnutrition. Whether it was the result of ignorance or indifference on the part of the parents, the jury was clearly outraged by the preventable death of a helpless infant.
People choose veganism for a variety of reasons: For many, the choice is dictated by religious, moral, environmental, or ethical convictions. For others, it is a matter of preference or necessity. Of all the arguments for veganism, however, the notion that veganism is healthier than diets containing animal protein is perhaps the shakiest.
There’s no question that the human body is designed to eat animal protein. Then again, as denizens of the 21st century, we do lots of things that run contrary to our biological blueprint. And there are plenty of studies that show vegetarians are frequently healthier than their meat-eating counterparts. With proper education and some extra effort, healthy adults can thrive on a vegan diet. (For more information on constructing a healthy vegan diet, consult the http://vrg.org/).
But is veganism healthy for infants? In an editorial for this week’s New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/21/opinion/21planck.html), Nina Planck writes:
“I was once a vegan. But well before I became pregnant, I concluded that a vegan pregnancy was irresponsible. You cannot create and nourish a robust baby merely on foods from plants.”
Of particular concern with pregnant and nursing women and their babies is that they get enough protein, iron, vitamins B-12 and D, calcium and zinc. Essential fatty acids are also critical to proper fetal development and infant growth. These nutrients are all primarily found (in or best absorbed from) foods of animal origin.
It is possible to get all the nutrients needed for human health from plant or synthetic sources, but it requires strict attention to your diet, and usually at least some supplementation or fortified foods. For example, many infants thrive on a fortified soy-based infant formula–but regular soymilk is not an appropriate substitute. Those who feel that supplements or fortified foods aren’t “natural,” should remember that a vegan diet is also not “natural” for our species.
You mention that you and your wife are lacto-vegetarians, and that’s a somewhat different story. Milk contains high-quality protein, vitamin B-12, and is usually fortified with vitamins A and D. Dairy products are not terrific sources of iron or zinc, however. As a nutritionist, I would have far fewer qualms with a pregnant patient or a young child following an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet, containing both eggs and dairy products. Whatever you decide about your own diet, its very important that you share that information with your obstetrician and pediatrician, so that they can counsel you appropriately and monitor your health and the health of your children with that in mind.
Most physicians recommend prenatal vitamins for all pregnant women, in part because of the increased need for certain nutrients during pregnancy. I think a multi-vitamin it would be a particularly good idea for pregnant or nursing women who follow vegetarian diets.
The ND community includes a large number of vegetarians, who I’m sure have some thoughts on these issues as well. So let’s open up the floor to comments!
http://www.vizu.com/ & http://answers.vizu.com/market-research.htm
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