| Your friends, family, and doctor may | | | | comes from the breast sterile. Formula |
| have accepted that you are a vegetarian. | | | | fed babies are at high risk for exposure |
| If you become pregnant though, be | | | | to bacterial contamination. In countries |
| prepared for that to change. These same | | | | where sanitation is very poor, |
| people will often express strong doubt | | | | breastfeeding can be the difference |
| about the nutritional adequacy of your | | | | between life and death for a small |
| vegetarian diet now that you are | | | | child. And unlike formula, breast milk |
| pregnant. You yourself may wonder | | | | is free. |
| whether you should add meat to your | | | | People who were breastfed as babies have |
| diet. | | | | higher IQs, lower rates of obesity, |
| Don't change your diet unless you want | | | | diabetes, and cancer, and less illness |
| to. There is no need to eat meat just | | | | while breastfeeding since their mother's |
| because you are pregnant or | | | | antibodies are passed on through her |
| breastfeeding. You can get all the | | | | milk. In addition to missing out on the |
| nutrients you need from a high quality | | | | immunological benefits of breast milk, |
| vegetarian diet. It is probably not a | | | | formula fed infants are at higher risk |
| good idea to become a vegetarian while | | | | for SIDS, and developing chronic health |
| you are pregnant or breastfeeding | | | | problems like allergies, obesity, and |
| though. Becoming vegetarian is a major | | | | diabetes later on. These are just some |
| change, and your body is going through | | | | of the benefits of breastfeeding for |
| enough changes without the additional | | | | infants versus the downside of formula. |
| stress of changing your diet. | | | | And it doesn't stop with infants. |
| If you are pregnant or planning to | | | | Mothers who breastfeed are at lower risk |
| become pregnant it's a good idea to make | | | | for certain types of cancer, recover |
| sure that you are eating a well balanced | | | | from pregnancy and birth faster, and |
| diet. While not eating meat can make you | | | | miss less work because of infant |
| healthier, it doesn't guarantee it. | | | | illness. They don't have to worry about |
| Hopefully you have been following the | | | | keeping formula sterile or lug around |
| advice on Savvy Vegetarian and are | | | | multiple bottles every time they leave |
| eating a great vegetarian diet! | | | | the house. And again, breast milk is |
| A good vegetarian diet has a wide | | | | free! |
| variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, | | | | Society benefits from breastfeeding |
| grains, legumes (i.e. beans, lentils, | | | | because we don't have to bear the |
| and nuts) and some eggs and dairy or | | | | long-term costs of formula feeding on |
| their equivalent. Fast food, highly | | | | our families and nation in terms of |
| processed junk foods, and canned fruits | | | | health costs, and lost productivity and |
| and vegetables are eaten rarely if at | | | | income due to illness. |
| all. | | | | The environment benefits because |
| If you are eating a balanced diet then | | | | breastfeeding does not generate any |
| it makes sense to assume that you just | | | | waste. There are no polluting factories |
| need to eat more of the same to meet the | | | | producing it, no polluting |
| increased nutritional needs of | | | | transportation needed to distribute it |
| pregnancy. This is basically true, but | | | | and no containers to end up in our |
| how much more? And more of which foods? | | | | landfills. |
| A pregnant woman needs only a small | | | | The World Health Organization (WHO) puts |
| increase in calories; around 300 | | | | formula feeding far down on its list of |
| calories and 10-16 extra grams of | | | | infant feeding methods which includes |
| protein. The body's need for certain | | | | mothers milk from her breast or a |
| nutrients increases significantly | | | | bottle, and another woman's breast milk |
| though. Every bite you take is important | | | | from the breast or a bottle.Formula is a |
| when you're pregnant. While the RDAs for | | | | lifesaver for infants whose mothers have |
| almost all nutrients increase, | | | | a serious illness like HIV or |
| especially important are folic acid, | | | | tuberculosis that can be transmitted |
| iron, zinc, and B12. Attention to | | | | through breast milk. But in most cases |
| adequate B12 is crucial for vegetarians | | | | it is not even the second best choice. |
| who choose not to eat eggs and dairy. | | | | If we lived in an ideal world, formula |
| For more information on this topic, see | | | | would be the last option to consider |
| Vegetarians, Are You Getting Enough | | | | when deciding how to feed your baby. |
| Vitamin B12? | | | | Unfortunately we live in a society that |
| A lactating woman needs 500 extra | | | | can make it quite difficult to even |
| calories and 12-21 extra grams of | | | | start breastfeeding, much less continue |
| protein. This may be the only time in | | | | it for at least 12 months as the |
| your life that you can eat large | | | | American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) |
| portions and lose weight. | | | | recommends. (Read the AAP's |
| Don't overdo it though. Not all women | | | | breastfeeding policy) Advertising for |
| lose weight while breastfeeding. If you | | | | formula often begins in your doctor's |
| eat sensibly and exercise during and | | | | office at your first prenatal visit |
| after your pregnancy a gradual return to | | | | where you are signed up to receive free |
| your pre-pregnancy weight should not be | | | | formula samples. Formula companies |
| too difficult. | | | | donate large amounts of money to |
| A breastfeeding woman needs less folic | | | | hospitals and give gifts to medical |
| acid, iron, and zinc than a pregnant | | | | personnel and new mothers. No wonder it |
| woman but more B12. Calcium requirements | | | | is so easy to turn to formula. |
| stay the same (1200mg) whether you are | | | | Support groups: Most women have no |
| pregnant, breastfeeding or not, so make | | | | knowledgeable support group of women who |
| sure that you are getting enough calcium | | | | have breastfed to help them through the |
| in your non-pregnancy diet and you won't | | | | difficulties commonly encountered when |
| have to worry while you are pregnant or | | | | learning to breastfeed. Frequently they |
| breastfeeding. | | | | must also deal with active opposition |
| Breast fed is best: At Savvy Vegetarian | | | | from family members who are uneducated |
| we believe in eating the best food | | | | and uncomfortable about breastfeeding. |
| possible. Scientists, doctors, and | | | | Obstacles to breastfeeding: Those women |
| others concerned with infant nutrition | | | | who do successfully start breastfeeding |
| agree that breast milk is the best food | | | | often then encounter obstacles outside |
| for babies. Even formula makers say it, | | | | the home that hinder continued |
| although usually in very small print. | | | | breastfeeding. If a woman returns to |
| Why is breastfeeding best, and just how | | | | work by choice or necessity, she may |
| far from best is formula feeding? | | | | find that management and coworkers do |
| Formula provides adequate nutrition for | | | | not easily accept the need for breaks to |
| an infant, meaning the infant won't | | | | pump milk for her infant. (What about |
| suffer from malnutrition. That's all it | | | | all those workers who take cigarette or |
| does. Breastmilk does that and much | | | | gossip breaks though?) Without a really |
| more. Breastfeeding benefits children, | | | | good breast pump she may have trouble |
| mothers, the environment and society. | | | | pumping enough milk for her baby. Hint: |
| Formula feeding not only does not | | | | buy a hospital quality pump not made by |
| benefit these groups, it can actually | | | | a formula maker. Medala is a good one. |
| harm them. | | | | A woman who plans to breastfeed needs a |
| Breastmilk is species specific. It has | | | | lot of determination, a good support |
| evolved along with humans to perfectly | | | | group, a willingness to educate those |
| meet the nutritional needs of human | | | | open minded enough to listen, and the |
| babies. It does not contain any | | | | ability to turn a deaf ear to the |
| allergens like formula does. And it | | | | willfully ignorant. |