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Her husband believes that the diet is not providing her with the nutrients she needs during her pregnancy.

A mum-to-be has taken to Mumsnet to express her frustration after her husband asked her to stop eating vegan while pregnant. The mum says she has never had any health issues as a result of being a vegan and growing up in a vegan family, but her husband is still concerned that she isn’t getting the nutrients she needs for a healthy pregnancy.

A Lifelong Commitment

The mum says that she has always eaten a healthy, balanced vegan diet, even as a child.

“My parents are vegans and my siblings are,” she wrote. “My husband is mainly a vegan as I do the food shopping and cooking. My husband has upset me by going against something which is obviously a huge part of my life.”

In her post, the mum-to-be said that her husband’s constant hints that she should eat meat were starting to really upset her. While she admitted that she didn’t know how pregnancy might affect her, the mum also said she had never had a problem with iron levels or other nutrient deficiencies before.

Ask The Experts

Comments on the post were divided, but most were in favour of the mum’s decision to continue eating a vegan diet.

“If you’re a lifelong vegan, then you can actually make yourself ill to suddenly eat meat,” said one response. “Maybe if you had your iron levels checked it would put his mind at ease,” suggested another.

Some responses, however, said they understood her husband’s worry. “I think he has good intentions and I don’t think he’s being unreasonable to bring it up,” said one. “For peace of mind ask your doctor.”

As with any decision during pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to keep your midwife or doctor in the loop so they can offer you their advice and reassurance – better safe than sorry!

Did you eat a vegan diet during your pregnancy? Share your story in the comments.

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  • Simply tell the husband that if and when the Doctor tells her she needs to eat meat then she will and until that happens she does not want to hear his constant hinting.

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  • Not vegan here, however I think she can still get good stuff from other things

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  • You can definitely get all the protein and nutrients you need by following a vegan diet. If the husband is mainly a vegan also why does he have a problem with it??

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  • For the sake of peace, I would be talking to my doctor and getting him/her to let the husband know whether or not there is any harm in what you are doing. It’s an easy way out of an argument.

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  • I’ve never eaten vegan and wouldn’t especially whilst pregnant

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  • Is the husband a medical professional? If not, and her doctor is happy with her diet and iron levels, he should stay quiet. Sounds like he is using the pregnancy to control her. Having said that, I was pescatarian prior to and early in my pregnancies, and I couldn’t absorb iron, even the supplements. Then husband and my doctors did suggest eating meat (and other iron rich food). Husband managed to find a way to cook it for me so I could eat it, and it seemed to helped with my levels and I grew to enjoy it the way he cooked it. You only need a tiny amount. I admit he had an agenda – he comes from a family of heavy meat eaters and I think he was sick of eating vegie food all the time. I don’t eat meat anymore, unless someone is cooking it and is unaware, but I still can’t absorb iron and have regular injections. I believe my then husband’s heart was in the right place and in my case, I had the medical evidence that I needed some help.

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  • A lot of people are vegetarians or vegans and enough nutrition can be obtained if you know what to eat

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  • I would eat meat but I do love meat

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  • Best to talk to her GP but I can understand the concerns of her husband. Information is best.

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  • If she chooses to remain vegan it’s totally her choice but she should get professional advice from a Dietitan to ensure she is getting adequate nutrition for both herself and her baby.

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  • Her body her choice if she’s always been vegan then she knows how to fuel it

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  • I could hardly eat anything during my pregnancy as I was so sick. I imagine this Mum is being guided by the professionals.

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  • I would definitely go see an professional. That way they can see what’s beat for mum and baby.

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  • why not both go see a dietician or nutritionist that specialises in it and get both of your minds put to rest. You may both be right in some aspects and not others, a professional can help

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  • I wasn’t vegan and never planning to

    Reply

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