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Everyday Nutrition: Midwife Ignorant about Vegan Diet
My midwife is really ignorant about vegan diets. Is there a web site or book you’d recommend that will help her understand nutrition during a vegan pregnancy?
Sadly, the majority of healthcare professionals are not knowledgeable about vegan diets, especially during pregnancy. I have had my fair share of pregnant clients come to me, upset that their medical providers are recommending they start incorporating animal food back into their diets to support fetal growth. As we know, this is completely unnecessary. Pregnancy is an incredibly vulnerable time for women, so it is of utmost importance that women have supportive and informed caregivers.
Your midwife will find accurate, science-based information about vegan pregnancy here at Generation Veggie written by vegan registered dietitians. Additionally, the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has consumer-friendly resources on its website related to proper nutrition during pregnancy and beyond: www.vegetariannutrition.net.
If your midwife is looking for a book, you don’t have to look much further than “The Everything Vegan Pregnancy Book”, by Reed Mangels, Ph.D, R.D., L.D. Reed has more than thirty years of experience advocating for plant-based nutrition and is a trusted resource in the field. Luckily, more and more women are opting to either go vegan or stay vegan while pregnant, which will hopefully dispel the myth that doing so is risky. I hope healthcare professionals will increasingly seek out accurate information regarding vegan health and nutrition in order to provide the best care for their patients.
Have a nutrition question for Anya? Email her.
Disclaimer: Although Anya Todd, R.D. and Kara Rienzo, R.D.N. are registered dietitians, the nutrition content provided on GenerationVeggie.org is for educational and informational purposes only. Any or all changes to your diet and lifestyle should always first be discussed with your professional healthcare providers. GenerationVeggie.org assumes no responsibility or liability for any consequences resulting directly or indirectly from any action or inaction you take based on the information found on or material linked to on this website.
Posted in Advice Columns, Everyday Nutrition, Pregnancy
Anya is a registered, licensed dietitian with more than a decade of experience in clinical settings, research, education, and community outreach. Currently, Anya is pursuing a graduate degree in Sustainable Food Systems. When not working or studying, she runs the Mid-Ohio Animal Welfare League, a volunteer-operated nonprofit that provides foster care to medically needy companion animals and brings low-cost vet services to under-served areas. Read more about Anya.
