A vegetarian diet can support a healthy pregnancy and successful lactation if it provides adequate energy;including milk and milk products; and contains a wide variety of legumes,cereals,fruits and vegetables. Many vegetarian women get nourished, with nutrient intakes from diet alone exceeding the RDA for all vitamins and minerals except iron,which is low for most women. In contrast, vegetarian women who restrict themselves to an exclusive plant-based diet generally have low food energy intake and are thin. For pregnant women it could be a problem. A healthy pregnancy can be jeopardized with low pregnancy weights and small weight gain during pregnancy.
Vegetarian diets may require supplementation with vitamin B12,calcium and vitamin D, and the addition of foods fortified with these nutrients. Babies born of vegetarian parents may suffer from spinal cord damage and develop severe psychomotor retardation due to lack of vitamin B12 in thee mother's diet during pregnancy. Breastfed infants of vegetarian mother's have been reported to develop Vitamin B12 deficiency and severe movement disorders. Vitamin B12 supplements corrects the blood and neurological symptoms of deficiency, as well as the structural abnormalities, but cognitive and language development delays may persist. A vegetarian mother needs a regular source of vitamin B12 fortified foods or a supplement that supplies 2.6 micrograms daily.
If a pregnant woman cannot meet her calcium needs through diet alone, 600 milligrams of supplemental calcium will be needed daily and taken with meals. Pregnant women who do not receive sufficient dietary vitamin D or enough exposure to sunlight may need a supplement that provides 10 micrograms daily.
Vegetarian diets may require supplementation with vitamin B12,calcium and vitamin D, and the addition of foods fortified with these nutrients. Babies born of vegetarian parents may suffer from spinal cord damage and develop severe psychomotor retardation due to lack of vitamin B12 in thee mother's diet during pregnancy. Breastfed infants of vegetarian mother's have been reported to develop Vitamin B12 deficiency and severe movement disorders. Vitamin B12 supplements corrects the blood and neurological symptoms of deficiency, as well as the structural abnormalities, but cognitive and language development delays may persist. A vegetarian mother needs a regular source of vitamin B12 fortified foods or a supplement that supplies 2.6 micrograms daily.
If a pregnant woman cannot meet her calcium needs through diet alone, 600 milligrams of supplemental calcium will be needed daily and taken with meals. Pregnant women who do not receive sufficient dietary vitamin D or enough exposure to sunlight may need a supplement that provides 10 micrograms daily.
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