In recent years, plant-based diets have become more and more popular. People choose to go vegetarian for a variety of reasons including health benefits, sustainability concerns, and ethical motivations. Whatever the reason, this type of diet can be healthy and nutritionally adequate, even during the reproductive years. However, people who are pregnant require a bit of planning to make sure the developing baby is getting all the nutrition necessary from a plant-based mom. First, let’s talk …
The Baby Blog: Food & Beverages
For the Love of Cheese! Why Are Pregnant People Told to Avoid Soft Cheese?
Cheese is as old as modern mankind, with clues about its existence reaching all the way back to 8,000 BC when the first sheep and goats were domesticated by our ancestors (www.historyofcheese.com). And since cheese has been around for so long, it is now one of the most popular and beloved foods throughout the world. So, it did not come as a surprise to me that many who are pregnant and breastfeeding ask MotherToBaby about eating cheese all the time! On our texting service alone (855-999-3525), …
Spicing Up Your Life during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Are Spices and Herbs Ok?
Being pregnant can be stressful enough without worrying all the time about things like “can I bake with poppy seeds?” Or “can I drink tea with peppermint?” Recently I had a caller tell me that “it seems like every time I turn around, there is something else that either I should not cook with or drink in a tea during pregnancy. What about when I am breastfeeding? Help!” As a specialist who answers questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, I hear these kinds of questions all …
Powered by Plants: Vegetarian and Vegan Diets in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Maya has been a healthy, happy vegan since she was a teenager. Now, at age 25 and pregnant for the first time, she is suddenly worried and uncertain about whether she can provide all the nutrients her developing baby needs if she continues to follow her vegan diet during pregnancy. She contacted us at MotherToBaby looking for answers. Maya’s question is not unusual, but since it’s a bit outside our area of expertise, I enlisted the help of an expert in maternal nutrition to help answer …
Navigating the Holiday Menu during Pregnancy
Holiday festivities sometimes include eating foods and drinks that might not be part of our everyday diet. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, we need to give a little more thought to what we should eat and drink. “Is it ok for the baby?” often goes through our minds during these times. As a teratogen information specialist at MotherToBaby who answers a lot of the questions we get via our texting service (855-999-3525), these types of questions ramp up during this time of year! So, here’s some …
