KKH’s Chong cited a European review that concluded from over 50 selected studies that a balanced vegetarian diet with adequate micronutrient intake can support foetal growth and development, and is protective against poor pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature birth.
“However, these protective effects disappear once nutritional deficiencies such as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, Omega-3 and iron surface,” she said. “At the same time, the risk of low birth weight, neurological disabilities and foetal malformations also increased in relation to these nutrient deficiencies.”
This highlights the importance of appropriate meal planning to ensure a balanced vegetarian diet to avoid unwanted dangerous health outcomes for both mother and child, she said.
Reutens advised planning your meals with a dietitian, who will be able to design a practical nutrition plan that centres around your food preferences and nutritional requirements, and ensures you get sufficient nutrients critical for a healthy pregnancy.
Her additional advice for women following a plant-based diet during pregnancy: “Ensure that you include some form of protein in every main meal. Also, vary your food choices every day. The wider the range of foods, the more nutrients there are.”
MAKING A VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN DIET WORK DURING PREGNANCY
Tina Padia was raised in a Hindu family and has followed a vegetarian diet for as long as she can remember. The 45-year-old mum to a three-year-old aimed to maintain a balanced diet with protein, while steering clear of high-fat, fried and processed foods, allowing herself a treat every now and then.
“I even started drinking cow’s milk – a huge challenge for someone who switched to alternative plant-based milk years ago – but I believed it might help my baby grow strong and healthy, even if that sounds like an old wives’ tale,” she told CNA Women.
Padia conceived after four years of in vitro fertilisation treatments so was “uber cautious” during her pregnancy. And, at 42, she was classified as having a ‘geriatric pregnancy’ so she took extra care, cutting down on sugars to avoid gestational diabetes and going on daily walks with her husband, even in the middle of the pandemic, with their masks on.
“My advice would be to consult a certified nutritionist specialising in pregnancy if you want to follow a specific diet, versus relying on online support groups or friends and family,” she said.
