[Antigone89]

Hello all you, I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and everything goes really well.
I am 22 years old and all my blood test and stuff were in normal range.

Now my doctor said that she wants me to take in Multivitamin supplements. I dont see why, I take vitamin B12 but I eat so much vegetables, nuts and fruit that I dont get why I should take in additional supplements??? Even though all my tests are within normal to optimal range?

Can anyone tell my why that is, I mean, I eat a lot, I dont throw up. I have been a vegan for years now and I have never had problems, no malnutrition, nothing. I was always fine.

Plus what really anoyes me is, that appart from my twinsister everybody in the family (mother, sister, aunt, grandma) are telling me that I will hurt my baby, that I am a bad mother.

Even though everything is fine, the baby develops healthy and normal and so on. I cant reach them. They just keep telling me I should take all these supplements, that I should at least go back to beeing a "vegetarian" not some stupid vegan...

Even though everything is fine and I keep going to the doctor like every two weeks, to prove them, everything is fine, for them it is not enough. They keep telling me I am doing everything wrong. That even if it is ok now, it could get worse or even hurtful for the baby.

I have a broad knowledge about plant-based nutrition and I have never been healthier than now. But I cant reach my family. That makes me so angry sometimes, because when we eat and I cook something different for me they keep nagging about it.

And they always say, they just want my best, they have to think about the baby..... As if I (the mother9 would ever do something if I would think it hurts the baby!!! I would never do such a thing!! And everything is fine.

My problem is, that I dont seem to find the right words to comfort them. To assure them that everything is and will be allright.
But on the other hand, they nag me for my beliefs and how I "view" live. As if their view is better. I get sick with it. I never lecture them about what I think (like if they have a barbecue I never tell them that I think they are murderers or that I find their amount of meet consumption disgusting) I never do that.

I let them live by their believes, even if they are totally different then mine. But they can not shut up about it. That makes me so sad. I could understand their view if I were suffering from malnutrition but I am not!!

Has anyone any suggestions how I could reach them or at least make them shut up about it? I just want them to respect my way of live. I just want a healthy and happy child, like every mother I suppose.

Without the constant fight over the food.
Please I really need a bit of support here,
Antigone

[cid]

(Original post by Antigone89)

Now my doctor said that she wants me to take in Multivitamin supplements. I dont see why, I take vitamin B12 but I eat so much vegetables, nuts and fruit that I dont get why I should take in additional supplements??? Even though all my tests are within normal to optimal range?

Can anyone tell my why that is,

Have you asked your doctor why?


I am afraid i am a bonafide meat eater, so the only advise i can provide, is maybe look up information on veganism during pregnancy find some examples or official documentation to quell their doubts.

Also what are vegans stance on breast feeding?

[Antigone89]

Well I am from germany, and the only official documentary for "pro" vegan pregnancy is in english. Plus in the internet there is a lot of rubbish and "old" medical evidence that vegan pregnancy is irresponsible to the child. I am very good with english, but my parents are not. So there is a problem.

My doctor just seemed concerned about the baby, but I thin that is just because she is herself a "omnivore" and has never looked up about vegetarien/ vegen pregnancies.

Well I supose I will just take a DHA supplement, which ist why she wanted me to take supplement at all. Even if I then dont understand why she wanted me to take an "All-Vitamin-Mineral-supplement" when she was referring to the DHA????

And she couldnt really explain why she wanted me to take it, just said it was "absolutely necessary"..... Problem is my sister was there with me and she wants to force these supplements on me now because she sais "the doctor said this and it is best for you" .... "if you dont look out for your baby, someone else has to do it for you".

I have read it up, DHA is mostly in seefish and stuff like salmon, but also in some vegetable oils such as sunflower , algae and so on.

But well I will ask in the pharmacy....

Just so say it, I have nothing against meet-eaters but I want my non-meet-egg-milk-chees-fish eating at least toleratet. I mean after all it is my live isent it??

Thank you.

PS: As for breasfeeding, I tthink it is the best start to give your child, after all it is what nature intednded us to do, isent it? it makes the mother-child bond stronger, you have skin contact and the child gets everything it needs from the mothermilk. I dont think bottle milk can be an equal substitute. In some cases it might be necessary to bottle feed, but I thing the most natural thing would be brestfeeding, which I inted to do later on when the baby is here

[reoffender]

If I can express my opinion on the situation... You people are crazy! That's why your children suffer from deseases...

[Ice_Queen]

Because most mothers are recommended supplements of some kind!

You're not being singled out because you're vegan.

[cid]

when my mother was pregnant with me she supplemented her diet with brandy and cigarettes, this is why i am just so awesome.

[Erich Hartmann]

(Original post by Ice_Queen)
Because most mothers are recommended supplements of some kind!

You're not being singled out because you're vegan.

This. Doesn't matter what your dietary practices are, you will be recommended some supplements.

Don't be so stubborn.

[DancerPerson]

Babies need a lot of supplements; remember that you're eating for 2 now. It's good you eat a lot of vegetables, but supplements are also important because babies rapidly develop in the womb, and it doesn't hurt to take them, does it? If your doctor recommended it and if you want your baby to turn out healthy, you should take them.

I myself am a vegetarian. I'm not pregnant, but I heard that doctors keep a closer eye on vegetarians and vegans because of the amount of protein and iron consumed. I assume your doctor only has your best interests at heart.

[Lord Jon]

Most mothers are recommended supplements for themselves and thier baby regardless. Bear in mind tnhey are called supplements not replacements , hence they supplement (or are in addition to) what your usual intake is.

Seeing as you are already vegan , it would be a good idea to take it anyway. Your doctor did say so anyway.

[SpiritedAway]

As the others have said, many mothers are advised to take some like that. My mother is a meat eater but still had to take iron pills (which is in red meat) and calcium supplements. Ask your doctor why you need them if you are unsure, because I know in her case it was because the baby was using up the vitamins that she was taking in, making her ill in the long run because her own body wasn't getting enough.

As with the vegan diet, if the doctor knows you are vegan, then I'm sure she would have said something if it wasn't good for the baby. I have heard of many vegetarians saying they started to eat meat during their pregnancy and after a search pretty much everywhere seems to say that as long as you're getting your folic acid, B12, calcium etc. which is hard to get in vegan foods but vital for the baby, you and the baby should be fine.

[Sammydemon]

(Original post by cid)
Also what are vegans stance on breast feeding?

Why would vegans have any problem with breastfeeding? They are free to choose whether or not they feed the child their milk.

[Khan_79]

(Original post by Antigone89)
Hello all you, I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and everything goes really well.
I am 22 years old and all my blood test and stuff were in normal range.

Now my doctor said that she wants me to take in Multivitamin supplements. I dont see why, I take vitamin B12 but I eat so much vegetables, nuts and fruit that I dont get why I should take in additional supplements??? Even though all my tests are within normal to optimal range?

Can anyone tell my why that is, I mean, I eat a lot, I dont throw up. I have been a vegan for years now and I have never had problems, no malnutrition, nothing. I was always fine.

Plus what really anoyes me is, that appart from my twinsister everybody in the family (mother, sister, aunt, grandma) are telling me that I will hurt my baby, that I am a bad mother.

Even though everything is fine, the baby develops healthy and normal and so on. I cant reach them. They just keep telling me I should take all these supplements, that I should at least go back to beeing a "vegetarian" not some stupid vegan...

Even though everything is fine and I keep going to the doctor like every two weeks, to prove them, everything is fine, for them it is not enough. They keep telling me I am doing everything wrong. That even if it is ok now, it could get worse or even hurtful for the baby.

I have a broad knowledge about plant-based nutrition and I have never been healthier than now. But I cant reach my family. That makes me so angry sometimes, because when we eat and I cook something different for me they keep nagging about it.

And they always say, they just want my best, they have to think about the baby..... As if I (the mother9 would ever do something if I would think it hurts the baby!!! I would never do such a thing!! And everything is fine.

My problem is, that I dont seem to find the right words to comfort them. To assure them that everything is and will be allright.
But on the other hand, they nag me for my beliefs and how I "view" live. As if their view is better. I get sick with it. I never lecture them about what I think (like if they have a barbecue I never tell them that I think they are murderers or that I find their amount of meet consumption disgusting) I never do that.

I let them live by their believes, even if they are totally different then mine. But they can not shut up about it. That makes me so sad. I could understand their view if I were suffering from malnutrition but I am not!!

Has anyone any suggestions how I could reach them or at least make them shut up about it? I just want them to respect my way of live. I just want a healthy and happy child, like every mother I suppose.

Without the constant fight over the food.
Please I really need a bit of support here,
Antigone

It a bit difficult for me to understand that for breastfeeding you think we should do what nature intended us to do, but you never realised unlike vegetarian animals eg. cow etc humans teeth are different we dont have flat jaws like cows means nature has given us teeth which are helpful to eat both vegetables and meat, but this is a strange world we live in, and i just dont want to get into a daft, idiotic and irrelevant discussion.

One of my friends used to have a book when she was pregnant and it has all information about baby growth during pregnancy week by week. sometime mother needs calcium when nails and bones are developing and so on and on.

Similarly for so many things to develop properly humans need vitamins that come from meat that is why your family and even doctors i assume would be suggesting to eat meat or to atleast take vitamin supplements.

You are annoyed because of your family as they want to impose their things and it is your life but at the moment its not just about you it is about your baby as well. your family is wants you to eat supplements and you want to keep your baby vegetarian so are you not imposing, what is the difference. Obviously it is your life but you should provide everything to your baby which is needed for his well being and let him/her decide what he/she wants. Once you are done with child birth you can have your life back and become a vegetarian again. But i think you should provide your baby everything he/she needs.

Sorry if it may look like sermon but your help was my only intention.

Good luck with your pregnancy and baby.

[cid]

(Original post by Sammydemon)
Why would vegans have any problem with breastfeeding? They are free to choose whether or not they feed the child their milk.

well its just, they oppose drinking milk, so maybe they oppose their child drinking milk,

what? they're vegans!

[Antigone89]

Thanks for your answers so far, even if not all have been helpful.

Just to say, my blood test was better, than it was for even most meat eaters.
As for vegan sourses of different Vitamins etc:

Protein: Tempeh, Seitan, Soybeans, Lentils, all kinds of beans are very protein rich, Tofu, Qinua, Peanut Butter, Almonds, Soy milk/yoghurt, ...

Iron: Soybeans, Lentils, Spinach, Tempeh, Beans, Potato, Prune juice, Tahini, Cashews, Brussel Sprouts, watermelon, Tomatoe juice, Soj joghurt, .....

Calcium: Collard greens, cooked; Tofu, Calcium fortified orange juice, Turnip greens, cooked; Tempeh, Kale, Soybeans, Okra, Bok Choy,
Tahini, Brokoli, Almonds, ...

So this are the things most people worry about most, and you can all see there is plenty of things to choose from.
As for vitamins, I eat a lot of fruit, salads, smoothies, vegetable-oils with omega-3-fats,...............

And as to the one who said humans are, scientificaly meat eaters I slightly object. Even doctors havent finally decided if we are meet or plant eaters. We have no "fangs" like dogs, our teeth are more those of vegetable eating animals, even if there are slight similarities between some omnivore animals. And our digestion system is better equipped for vegetables and fruit. Or have you ever eater raw meat. You wouldnt fare good afterwards.

So I am a healthy adult with a healthy baby with a slighty uncommon diet. I asked for help. And not to be put down even more.

[StarsAreFixed]

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Are there any forums you have found where you might find other vegans who are pregnant? I'm sure there are German pregnancy forums, and of course English where you might find a few people and see what they are doing etc. Veganism is still run down by a lot of people, your family are probably aware of this and just want the best for you and your baby. They are not trying to annoy you, they are worried about how this could possibly affect your baby as well as you and are unsure if you ARE really getting just as much nutrients etc. as someone who isn't a vegan. I highly doubt they know anyone else who went through a pregnancy while vegan so you will have to accept that they will be worried.

As for supplements, I would not take this as any kind of perceived insult that you are not providing as much for your baby as somebody else would. Folic acid and multivitamins are recommended for all expectant mothers, not just you. There is no harm in taking them, they can only help and at worst, not actually do anything. Please take them. Nobody is denying your results are not in the normal range, least of all your GP, but you need all the help you can get. Taking the supplements your doctor wants you to will help to shut your family up a bit. See if you can get any information on forums or elsewhere about vegan pregnancies and maybe translate it for them if they're not good with English like you said. Try not to let hostility get in the way of how you feel about your family- I can see that it would be annoying but you are out of the norm so they are worried. Snapping at them is not going to solve anything.

[Popular-reject-x]

If your doctor advises it, I would take the supplements. It'll be more to make sure the baby is getting everything it needs and I've heard that most pregnant women are encouraged to take them.

Surely the healthiness of your child is more important than your principles? The doctor is trained to know what is best for you and your baby. Congratulations on your pregnancy

[Antigone89]

I just never liked medicine, or to throw some pills in for whatever bothers you at the moment.

So my main problem here is, that I am not used to taking in anything in pill form. I dont know, I have a very strong antipathy here.
Probably I wouldnt even be so agitated, but the doctor didnt explain why I should take it. She just said I needed to get this one thing because I dont eat fish, but honestly which pregnant woman eats see-fish twice a week???

I asked her again and again for any reason why I am supposed to take in all these Vitamins even if I dont need them, because I take them in excessively by my daily diet???

She could give me no reason other than that I do not eat fish. But these Omega-3 fats are also in vegetable oils, not just in fish. That just gave me the impression that she knows how to treat meateaters but that she has no experience with vegetarian/ vegans. She didnt answer me when I asked her about it. So my main impression was that she was just taking the save side. Even though I feel it completely unnecessary.

I mean my blood tests always were top score. So why should I supplement something that is not a problem. I would sure as hell take something if even just one thing was to low. But everything is rather high. Nothing on the lowest point of the good/bad scale.

And in some of the German vegan forums, most say they never took a thing during their hole pregnancy and they have perfectly healthy babys.

I just want my family to calm down.

[Sammydemon]

(Original post by cid)
well its just, they oppose drinking milk, so maybe they oppose their child drinking milk,

what? they're vegans!

No, vegans oppose the commodity status of other animals and the usage of them and their products without their permission, thus taking away their freedom.

A human willingly giving their child their own milk has nothing to do with the above!

[sarahthegemini]

(Original post by reoffender)
If I can express my opinion on the situation... You people are crazy! That's why your children suffer from deseases...

diseases*

[blinkbelle]

(Original post by Antigone89)
I just never liked medicine, or to throw some pills in for whatever bothers you at the moment.

So my main problem here is, that I am not used to taking in anything in pill form. I dont know, I have a very strong antipathy here.
Probably I wouldnt even be so agitated, but the doctor didnt explain why I should take it. She just said I needed to get this one thing because I dont eat fish, but honestly which pregnant woman eats see-fish twice a week???

I asked her again and again for any reason why I am supposed to take in all these Vitamins even if I dont need them, because I take them in excessively by my daily diet???

She could give me no reason other than that I do not eat fish. But these Omega-3 fats are also in vegetable oils, not just in fish. That just gave me the impression that she knows how to treat meateaters but that she has no experience with vegetarian/ vegans. She didnt answer me when I asked her about it. So my main impression was that she was just taking the save side. Even though I feel it completely unnecessary.

I mean my blood tests always were top score. So why should I supplement something that is not a problem. I would sure as hell take something if even just one thing was to low. But everything is rather high. Nothing on the lowest point of the good/bad scale.

And in some of the German vegan forums, most say they never took a thing during their hole pregnancy and they have perfectly healthy babys.

I just want my family to calm down.

As a vegan, I'm still ambivalent about what I will do when I become pregnant. Luckily that will be several years away so I have plenty of time to decide. I think you do need to take a supplement in some form or another for omega 3. I personally supplement with flaxseed (which is a grain) and add two tablespoons to my cereal everyday.

Flaxseed provides omega 3, fibre, iron, amongst other great things, and you can never get too much of a good thing right?! It might be an option for you to look into if you're truly opposed to supplementing your diet in tablet form. Personally I take the Veg1 tablet as made and recommended by the Vegan Society, but I don't in any way judge you for your decision not to.

xx