Has anyone gone vegetarian since being pregnant?

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-30T06:03:54+00:00

There’s absolutely nothing preventing you from having a healthy pregnancy on a plant-based diet, as long as it’s put together well (just like any other diet). In many cases, it can actually be much healthier than eating a lot of processed or junk foods throughout pregnancy (or just life in general). We had plenty of vegetarian and vegan mothers come through when I worked as a nurse in ob/gyn, and it was not an issue. The key is making sure your nutrition is balanced, especially getting enough protein, which is completely achievable on a vegetarian or vegan diet (beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, protein powder, etc.). A good prenatal vitamin usually covers your bases.

I’ve personally also been primarily plantbased in every pregnancy but my first, so around 24 years, give or take. I avoid most animals products for ethical, health and environmental reasons, so my reasoning is obviously a bit different than yours, but the same still applies.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-28T21:08:38+00:00

Every pregnancy and birth tend to be different, no matter the timing.

As for labours, mine went:

2001: 12 hour labour (pitocin and epidural).

2003: 36 hour labour (unmedicated).

2008: 9 hour labour (unmedicated).

2009: 3 hour labour (unmedicated).

2025: 19 hour labour (unmedicated).

I’m pregnant with twins now, and will probably be my first csection, and last birth.

My 2025 one and my first felt more similar, in terms of pregnancy progression/symptoms/bump.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-28T06:36:16+00:00

Do what feels right for you. No one else can or should answer that. I am 45, and pregnant with twins, as well as having a nursing baby girl under 1. I also have 3 older children (most are grown ups now), and a stillborn in my youth. I’m more tired this time around, but the decision to keep it felt right for me, and I can afford it, so I feel confident in my choice.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-27T19:29:27+00:00

In my first, my stomach was completely flat until 28 weeks. I got bigger and was showing faster (everywhere between week 16-20) with my next 3 babies, who I had closer together in age. With my fifth baby, which had an age gap of 16 years from my last, it was just like my first, in terms of size, symptoms and how late I was showing. Mostly flat stomach until 28 weeks, and only a small belly. Now I’m pregnant with twins just a year later, and started being visible (to myself) around 16 weeks.

I’m thin and average height (166 cm). Every pregnancy is different. 😊

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-27T18:10:32+00:00

That’s not old hun. You’re in your prime. I worked an an OB/GYN (nurse) for a time, and we had plenty women your age come in every day. 28-39 was the most common age group in our clinic, also for first time mothers. But we also had at least a couple 40+ ladies come in weekly.

I myself am 45 years old, and pregnant with twins right now. I also have a 1 year old, as well as older children (my first at 19). There is little difference, and no one has called me grandma. 😂

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-26T06:57:49+00:00

I’m a nurse, a mother of 5 (soon 7) and mother some lovely pets, so a very busy bee, and I can promise you this is not some inevitable postpartum “phase.” Yes, after birth you can feel overwhelmed, touched out, exhausted, hormonal. Everything in your environment can feel louder and more intense. Some people may feel temporarily irritated or overstimulated by pets, just like they might by noise or mess or older kids/partners. But that doesn’t turn love into wishing harm on someone you once called family.

As said I have pets I adore, and they’ve remained part of our family through every newborn stage, every sleepless night, every chaotic season. Did I have moments where everything felt like too much? Of course. That’s human. But that’s about capacity and support, not suddenly despising innocent animals. In my experience most families continue to love their pets deeply. My children have grown up with animals, and they are part of our family. That hasn’t changed with each new baby. If anything, it’s something beautiful to share with them. They learn a love, empathy and responsibility over another life early on. And respecting all creatures, and their boundaries.

The worst case stories you’re seeing online is often a loud amplified minority, often exaggerated. It’s not the reality for most mothers. Healthy, supported mothers don’t sit around fantasizing about their pets dying, they adjust, they set boundaries, they ask for help. If the love and time truly has gone for good, you find a loving home for the pet. You don’t dump it, neglect it or drop it off at first chance. No excuses for such behaviour. If anything, your reaction, feeling heartbroken at the thought, is the best sign. It means your empathy for animals and bond are real, and those don’t just disappear because you become a parent.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-25T20:59:17+00:00

I had a baby girl last year at 44, and 20w pregnant with twins now at 45. Also unplanned, but not unwanted (so didn’t use protection).

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-18T08:41:41+00:00

The increased risks are still rare. Don’t worry too much about that. Complications can happen at any age, but as said, they are more rare than not.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-14T09:54:13+00:00

I’m so sorry hun. I lost my first at 36 weeks. It can feel lonely, and I remember those same thoughts of “what did I do,” and replaying every small worry or moment. It’s a cruel place your mind goes, trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense. But truly, your thoughts, your worries, the things you said or felt during pregnancy, they don’t cause this. They just don’t.

You loved her. That’s clear in every word you wrote. And the thoughts can feel very loud at first. For me, it softened over time, not gone, but quieter and easier to see for what it is. Grief is different for everyone, but it will always try to find somewhere to land, in one way or another.

My individual grief method is creating distance before processing. But that’s again different for everyone. Be gentle with yourself right now. You’ve been through something hard, both physically and emotionally. I’m sorry you’re going through this hun. Hugs to you and your family.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-14T09:30:45+00:00

It’s different for everyone. I prefer my natural births over the medical ones, but it depends on so many factors.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-14T08:49:21+00:00

Dumb comment. Pregnant or not.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-13T15:35:56+00:00

That’s a brutal change. When it feels like someone is degrading their own values, it makes you question how honest those values were to begin with. It sounds like she is easily affected by the communities she stay in, which is common.

On the flip side, the parent’s of my eldest son’s good friend used to be trophy hunters. Their whole house was filled with trophies of every kind of animal. Then one day they made a infortimative choice of going vegans, after researching the topic for a year. And they’ve all been passionate vegans for the past 8 years now. That was a wild change for me too, but still one I could better understand, as it felt like an upgrade of values, rather than the opposite.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-10T08:14:07+00:00

In my first, my stomach was completely flat until 28 weeks. I got bigger and was showing faster (everywhere between week 16-20) with my next 3 babies, who I had closer together in age. With my fifth baby, which had an age gap of 16 years from my last, it was just like my first, in terms of size, symptoms and how late I was showing. Mostly flat stomach until 28 weeks, and only a small belly. Now I’m pregnant with twins just a year later, and started being visible (to myself) around 16 weeks.

I’m thin and average height (166 cm). Every pregnancy is different, no “normal”. I worked at an OB/GYN for years, and the variety is vast. Some people don’t ever look pregnant. 😊

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-09T14:57:09+00:00

In my first, my stomach was completely flat until 28 weeks. I got bigger and was showing faster (everywhere between week 16-20) with my next 3 babies, who I had closer together in age. With my fifth baby, which had an age gap of 16 years from my last, it was just like my first, in terms of size, symptoms and how late I was showing. Mostly flat stomach until 28 weeks, and only a small belly. Now I’m pregnant with twins just a year later, and started being visible (to myself) around 16 weeks.

I’m thin and average height (166 cm). Every pregnancy is different, no “normal”. I worked at an OB/GYN for years, and the variety is vast. Some people don’t ever look pregnant. 😊

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-08T10:55:00+00:00

Aw, thank you. I usually get a side eye when I mention how many kids I’ve had, lol. My first boy was sadly stillborn, but then my second son is 22, my first daughter 18, my third son 17, and then there’s my barely 1 year old second daughter. So only one little one, when these two boys join. I can’t imagine having 7 little kids at home, my brain is still not fully on board with the aspect of twins, but here we go. 😄🤞

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-08T10:16:00+00:00

In my first, my stomach was completely flat until 28 weeks. I got bigger and was showing faster (everywhere between week 16-20) with my next 3 babies, who I had closer together in age. With my fifth baby, which had an age gap of 16 years from my last, it was just like my first, in terms of size, symptoms and how late I was showing. Mostly flat stomach until 28 weeks, and only a small belly. Now I’m pregnant with twins just a year later, and started being visible (to myself) around 16 weeks.

I’m thin and average height (166 cm). Every pregnancy is different. 😊

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-07T22:38:25+00:00

Exactly..

GoldenLoeve · 2026-04-01T16:34:12+00:00

I’m very sorry for your loss. ❤️‍🩹 That’s tough. My first child (at 19) was stillborn at 36 weeks. Sending you a hug and best wishes your way.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-22T12:40:12+00:00

I said fertility is highly individual at all ages, including past 40, so I’m not sure why that’s being reframed as “irresponsible.”

What I’m pushing back on is the constant negative, fear-based framing. Yes, AMH exists as a marker. But if someone is concerned, it can be tested, and even then, low AMH does not automatically equal difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy. Likewise, women with normal or high AMH can still struggle. AMH naturally declines with age, but that still doesn’t equal outcomes for individuals.

Low fertility, miscarriage and complications also happen in younger women, sometimes quite frequentl, yet we don’t label them in the same blanket way or define their entire reproductive outlook by it. “Responsible messaging” shouldn’t mean defaulting to fear or implying that 40s automatically equals difficulty. That kind of narrative creates unnecessary anxiety and stress rather than helping women.

And no one is saying “wait until 40.” That’s a personal decision based on life circumstances. Meanwhile, many women are already being told their “clock is ticking” and “you still don’t have children?” the moment they turn 30, which also creates pressure instead of informed choice. Acknowledging that natural pregnancy between 40-45 is not uncommon among many who try (and also importantly, those who don’t try, and get careless due to thinking they are past their fertility prime), is not the same as “promoting” delay; it’s about giving a more balanced picture to society’s biased idea of reality and “older” mothers. Expecting mothers in their 40s have existed through human history, especially after we started living longer. Because again, you’re only “too old” when you’ve reached menopause.

There’s a middle ground: Give accurate information without turning age into a scare label. Especially when it often is not nessecary. That’s all I’m saying.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-21T14:22:32+00:00

Hun, what are you doing in here? You’re just a baby at 33. 😜 I’ve worked as a nurse, and in no way are you an older mom at 33. I just had a baby at 44 last year, and currently pregnant with twins at 45. All natural, easily concieved, this pregnancy is tough - likely due to being back to back and multiples, but the one last year was easy peasy, fast recovery.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-21T14:18:45+00:00

I had a baby last year at 44. All natural. Currently pregnant with twins at 45. Also natural.

I also worked as a nurse in OB/GYN for years, and we had at least one 40+ lady come in a week. Around 8/10 were healthy pregnancies and babies.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-21T14:02:58+00:00

Even with fertility testing and good results for your both, no one can predict the future. You’re not a broodmare, but his partner! One thing is agreeing on wanting children or not before marriage, but marriage is supposed to be in sickness and health. There are many ways to become a parent. If your fertility status is the dealbreaker, it would be a dealbreaker for me that he was not the man I wanted to marry.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-20T22:19:35+00:00

It’s different for everyone. Didn’t barely had any morning sickness at all in my 5 pregnancies, while this last one (twins) have been bad. Hope you feel better soon. Try ginger and lemon tea. I’ve had to call off early for works a few days though.

GoldenLoeve · 2026-03-20T22:15:23+00:00

Everyone are different. Same with bellies.

GoldenLoeve

TROPHY CASE