veganism: Ethical concerns aside, as living organisms we require the kind of diet that includes meat or at the very least a substitute for meat. When a pregnant lady chooses not to eat meat or products derived from animals, she can be putting her child's life or development in danger. At least, that is what I have heard. Does anyone have any scientific data either supporting or denying this? If adults choose not to eat meat, that is their choice.But growing children need a proper diet, and vegetables are not the sole source of the essentials required for proper development. That's my opinion... does anyone have an educated argument either for or against it?|||Whilst it is easier to get the elements necessary for developing life from meat/diary products, as long as a carefully balanced diet is followed, there is no reason why a mother to be should not be a vegan. As a small example, Soya milk is actually higher in calcium that cows milk. Where I do not agree with the vegetarian/vegan way of life is when a child is not allowed to eat meat. The child should be allowed to make up his/her own mind when they are old enough.|||YES ITS DANGEROUS. NOT EATING MEAT DEPRIVES YOU OF PROTIENS, MINERALS AND AMINO ACIDS THAT YOUR BODY NEEDS. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT A DEVELOPING BABY NEEDS. ESPECIALLY THE PROTIEN.|||B-12 is absolutely essential and can only be found in meat! as an adult not pregnant, be a vegan. but, when you are pregnant...you must eat some form of meat. and studies show that B-12 supplements are not the same.|||I haven't heard of it being harmful to an unborn child when the mother eliminates meat however it is recommended that a pregnant woman consume 60 grams of protein a day. There are alternative means of consuming protein other than meat but protein is essential for a pregnant women to take in it is the building blocks of life Ive been told. In my opinion children should be allowed to eat meat if they choose to and that decision should not be made by the parent.I understand that a parent may want to restrict fatty, sugar filled foods however like you said vegetables alone are not adequate nutrition for proper development.|||I am a vegan, so is my partner and our children will be raised as vegans until they can make a decision on their own. I've spoken a dietician regarding this issue, and she was a vegan herself, with one healthy 20 month old and pregnant. She had nothing to say bad about being a vegan. I also spoke a lot to a food scientist who was a non-vegetian and said nothing bad about being a vegan while pregnant or as a child. You need calcium, protein, vitamins etc, in a vegan diet just like a vegetarian diet or meat filled diet. I get all of those, and plenty of them. In fact I would say the fetus would be 'healthier' because you need to eat more nutritious food to get the same amount of vitamins in most cases, therefore getting an array of vitamins and nutrients from food sources. A non-pregnant vegan woman gets about 65 grams of protein per day, you only need 71 grams per day while pregnant, and adding a piece of toast with peanut butter and a glass of soy milk would fill this space. Soy is filled with protein, calcium and sometimes vitamin D, as well as omega 6 & 3 not from animal sources, and 8 essential amino acids. You get 3.3 grams of protein from only 100 ml of soy milk. I think a vegan woman who is pregnant needs to be very health conscious about what she eats, and this will greatly impact the growing child in a positive way. Eating chips and diet sodas are fine in a meat eaters diet, although they contain no nutrients and can cause the mother to gain unnecessary weight as well as have blood sugar levels to rocket and dip. Eating frequently under a healthy vegan diet will not do that. If you compare the diets of a pregnant woman to the diet of a vegan pregnant woman, you can see the amount of thought and care a vegan woman puts in her diet. The amount of food she eats, and the food that she eats. You cannot drop ethics in talking about a vegan diet, because ethics is the reason for most vegans choice in food. A vegan pregnant woman gets all the protein and calcium required for human health, including during pregnancy and child raising, are available in foods that grow from the earth; soy, tofu, lentils, vegetable, fruits, starches, nuts, seeds and grains. A pregnant woman most likely would have lover cholesterol and blood pressure. A pregnant non-vegetarian is most likely eating chemicals, hormones and antibiotics, pesticides in the milk she drinks and the food she eats, where as a vegan would not. A vegan woman doesn鈥檛 need to worry about not eating non-pasteurized foods, un cooked meats, deli meats, fish containing mercury, etc etc. Rest your mind, we vegans are fine. Unless you are considering becoming a vegan or your wife is a vegan don鈥檛 worry about this topic. Each woman is allowed to eat what she feels is best for herself, and her family. To me this means not eating anything coming from animals (or wearing them, and doing my best for the environment), and to you it might be different. Do you research, it is very easy to reach all the 鈥榬equirements鈥?for a health diet through veganism, and if you are not fully covered, that is what pre-natal vitamins are for. I鈥檓 sure all non-vegetarian mothers to be take them for the same reason. Just in case you miss you glass of orange juice. Ask your Doctor if you are truly concerned and not just getting people revved up in YA.|||That is a huge misconception. Essential nutritients, vitamins, minerals, and building blocks for healthy development of the baby can be found in a number of foods, not only animals and animal byproducts. They can receive their proteins from peas, nuts, beans, other legumes, seeds, peanut butter, or tofu to name a few. Calcium can be found in Soy Milk, leafy green vegetables, dried beans or peas, and tofu. Vitamin D, when not taking in any dairy products, can be received by getting 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight to the hands, face, or arms three times per week or take a supplement as prescribed by their health care providers. As B12 is an animal and animal byproduct vitamin, it will be necessary to supplement B12. Think about it - which is more healthy: the crazy diets most people put themselves on, including Atkins, greasy chips, carbonated syrup (soda), butter dripping shrimp, high cholesterol fried chicken and the like - or eating organic, whole, earth-friendly foods? Other than that, a vegan who is diet conscious - which every vegan I know is by default of their lifestyle and eating habits - will not be at risk of harming themselves or their baby during pregnancy