Being a pregnant vegetarian requires special attention. The reason for this is that pregnant women and the fetus in the womb need full nutritional support to stay healthy. Nutrition should be obtained from various types of food, including foods of animal origin.

Pregnant women are encouraged to get plenty of nutrients, including protein, folate, iron, calcium, and various types of vitamins.

Some of the nutrients are found in fruits and vegetables, but others are mainly found in foods of animal origin, which are limited or not consumed by a vegetarian.

Facts of being vegetarian during pregnancy

Being a vegetarian while pregnant is actually possible, but it should be fully supervised by a doctor. The reason is that there are nutrients for pregnant women that are more commonly found in foods of animal origin, such as beef, eggs, and fish.

Limiting or not eating foods of animal origin at all may increase the risk that pregnant women and the fetus will suffer from nutritional deficiencies.

One of the nutrients found in many foods of animal origin is vitamin B12 and folate. These nutrients play a major role in the development of the fetal nervous system. So, when pregnant women are deficient in vitamin B12 and folic acid, their babies are at risk for neural tube defects.

Besides vitamin B12, beef and fish are good sources of protein and vitamin D. Vitamin D has various benefits for the body, especially for maintaining bone health and stamina. Meanwhile, proteins are important in helping in the formation of body tissue. If you lack these nutrients, pregnant women may develop preeclampsia.


Not only that, foods of animal origin are foods rich in iron. Iron deficiency will increase the risk of anemia in pregnant women. If prolonged and severe, anemia can lead to premature birth, babies born with low birth weight, or developmental problems.

Prevent nutritional deficiencies

In fact, there are several fruits, vegetables, and foods made from plants that contain the above nutrients. It's just that the nutrient levels in these foods tend to be lower than in animal food sources.

If you do not follow a balanced nutritious diet, there is concern that the nutritional needs of pregnant women are not being met properly. For vegetarian pregnant women, try to respect the following nutritional intake:

1. Iron and folate

To meet iron and folic acid needs, pregnant women can consume green vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, whole wheat bread, iron-fortified cereals, or eggs (if pregnant women are vegetarian) who still consume it).

2. Protein

Although the greatest source of protein is foods of animal origin, a fairly high protein intake can also be obtained from plant foods. Nuts, like soybeans, are good sources of plant protein for pregnant vegetarians. Vegetables and fruits also contain protein, but usually not at high levels.

For vegetarian pregnant women who still consume food products of animal origin other than meat, protein can be obtained by consuming milk, cheese, and eggs.

3. Vitamin B12

If pregnant women still consume foods of animal origin, such as milk, cheese and eggs, multiply this intake to meet vitamin B12 needs. In addition, pregnant women can also consume soy milk and cereals which have been added to vitamin B12.

4. Vitamin D and calcium

Vitamin D, which the body can form with the help of sunlight, can also be found in cheese, egg yolks, mushrooms, and food products that have been added to this vitamin, such as grains, juices, nuts and soy milk. These types of foods usually contain enough calcium.

However, before deciding to follow a vegetarian diet during pregnancy until breastfeeding later, pregnant women should first discuss it with their doctor. Especially if pregnant women are vegetarian type and do not consume animal products, such as eggs and milk. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe a pregnancy supplement with additional nutrients.