Stay Vgegan Durning Pregnancy

Vegan diet and pregnancy – does that go together? Lots of women think it works and try it.

If you know anything about nutrition, then make sure you get enough iron so that the baby can make enough blood. And then? Is it born healthy? No.

Iron Is Not Enough       

They now know that vegetarians and vegans are prone to iron deficiency and counteract this with certain foods, such as lentils or poppy seeds. But iron isn't the issue when a woman is trying to balance veganism and pregnancy.

The problem is called cobalamin, in short: vitamin B 12. Because all sources of this vitamin are of animal origin. Anyone who goes directly from omnivore to full vegan can last about three to four years before the deficiency symptoms appear.In pregnant women, however, the vitamin B12 supply in the liver is used up immediately. Their babies are often born with mild to severe cobalamin deficiency.

The treacherous thing about it: you can't see it. Because an excess of folic acid can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency for a while. And folic acid is plentiful in a vegan diet. By the time the mother or pediatrician notices the signs, the babies often already have irreparable damage, especially to the nervous system.

Supplement Vitamin B12

A completely vegan diet during pregnancy is harmful for the mother, but above all for the child. The healthiest solution is therefore: backtrack and at least put eggs and milk back on the menu, two good sources of cobalamin.

There are capsules, tablets, but also fortified foods for vegans.The cobalamin in it always comes from animal products, there is no way around it.