How To Have A Healthy Vegan Pregnancy
If you have just found out that you are pregnant, or currently trying for a baby, and following a vegan or plant-based diet, you might be wondering if it is safe to continue to do so - read our post on how to have a healthy vegan pregnancy with information on a vegan diet and pregnancy and vegan pregnancy supplements.
You might be thinking about if a vegan pregnancy is right for you, how a vegan diet will affect your baby or how to make sure you consume the essential nutrients in your diet when you’re pregnant and a vegan.
Make sure you read this post on how to have a safe and healthy vegan pregnancy, along with information on Pregnacare Gummies, our vegan pregnancy vitamins.
Firstly, What Is A Vegan Diet?
Vegans do not eat foods or use any products that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs. A vegan or plant-based diet contains only plants – including vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits – and foods made from plants. Veganism is becoming increasingly popular, and as of 2023 YouGov estimate that between 2-3% of people in the UK follow a vegan diet.
If you are a vegetarian, read our post on how to have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy.
Can You Be Vegan During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can be vegan during pregnancy as long as you safeguard your nutritional intake and eat a healthy, varied and balanced diet, with essential nutrients sourced from places other than meat and dairy.
Is A Vegan Diet Safe & Healthy For Pregnancy?
It is important for everyone to try and eat a varied and balanced diet during pregnancy, whether you are vegan or not. This will help provide nutrients for your own health and in turn the development, growth and health of your baby during pregnancy.
It is safe to continue eating a vegan diet during pregnancy as long as you eat a varied, balanced diet that contains the right building blocks such as protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates – sourced from places other than meat and dairy. Those following a vegetarian or vegan diet may need to safeguard their nutritional intake with vegan supplements, as some nutrients are only available in limited food sources.
Pregnancy And Folic Acid
The UK Department of Health recommends that all women take a daily supplement containing 400μg of folic acid when trying for a baby, and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and potentially beyond, as this can help to reduce the risk of Neutral Tube Defects (NTDs) such as Spina Bifida, in your baby.
Supplemental folic acid intake increases maternal folate status†. Low maternal folate status is a risk factor in the development of neural tube defects in the developing foetus. Folic Acid is also beneficial beyond 12 weeks as it contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy.
The UK government announced in September 2021 that folic acid will be added to UK white flour in the future (the new rules will exclude gluten-free and wholemeal flour). This is to help increase the amount of folic acid in maternal diets, as low folic acid status is a risk factor in the development of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida. This will, however, not replace the need for mums-to-be to take a folic acid supplement, as the UK Department of Health continues to recommend that all women trying to conceive until the 12th week of pregnancy should take a daily supplement containing 400µg folic acid. You will still need to take a supplement containing folic acid as fortification is only to improve the folic acid contribution from the normal diet.
It is also recommended that vitamin B12 is taken with folic acid at this time as it works very closely with folic acid. Research suggests* that taking a daily supplement of at least 2.5 µg of B12 (the EU RDA) with your main meal, in addition to the recommended daily 400µg supplement of folic acid, may further reduce the risk of NTD. B12 is mainly found in animal and dairy produce, so B12 supplementation is especially important for women following vegetarian or vegan diets.
†The beneficial effect is obtained with a supplemental folic acid daily intake of 400µg for at least one month before and up to three months after conception.
* Addition of Vitamin B12 to folic acid supplements to optimise the prevention of Spina Bifida and other Neural Tube Defects, Professor John M. Scott, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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