kind classics: vegan pregnancy q&a part 1

Christina Pirello and Susan Levin have answered some of your very important questions about vegan pregnancy. These are the most common questions I received from you Kind Lifers when I first asked January of 2010. There's a lot of great information below so take a look at it and keep those questions coming! I'll be posting more answers to your questions in parts 2 & 3!

What kind of formula should a vegan baby drink?

Christina: Well first I have to say that the best food for babies is breast milk. In the rare instance that a mother cannot nurse then a formula can be used. There is a lot of controversy around soy and the isoflavones that include phytoestrogen. Somehow it has been put out there that phytoestrogens are the same as estrogen - but they're not at all the same. Unlike estrogen phytoestrogens are plant-based. They just behave in the same manner as estrogen receptor cells which regulate levels of estrogen in a woman's body. That said the soy formula I have found to be the most natural - without simple sugars additives GMOs antiobiotics or other questionable ingredients - is Baby's Only Organic sweetened with brown rice syrup.
 
Susan: Soy-based formulas are the best option for a non-breast feeding baby. Human breast milk is unique and not mimicked by anything else in nature so grocery-store brands of soy rice cow's milk by themselves are not substitutes for formula.
 
Also macrobiotic counselor Warren Kramer recommends checking out this book about organic baby food.

Is soy bad for a pregnancy and while breastfeeding?

Christina: No. Even if a baby is shown to be sensitive to soy nothing seems to come through in the mother's milk so there is no worry. While the baby gets all the nutrients the mother consumers experts say that if a baby has food sensitivities that does not mean the mother can not enjoy the foods the baby is sensitive to. The baby gets the nutrients but usually does not show signs of distress from the sensitivity. And usually an infant's sensitivity to soy is not something they are born with; often the mother has one too. We say that the mom should eat normally and see if there is a negative reaction in her infant like excessive fussiness indigestion crying...it will not usually be severe. In fact studies have shown that mothers eating traditionally-produced organic soy like tofu tempeh shoyu and miso are more relaxed and as a result so are the babies. 
 
Susan: Soy products are safe and may even have health advantages. In fact research has shown that the earlier people consume soy in life the greater the health advantages. So sharing your love of soy with your children may be a priceless gift. Soy is not essential but it does reduce cancer risk later in life. Additionally protein needs go up during pregnancy and lactation and soy is a great high-protein source. Emphasize whole soy foods such as miso tempeh tofu soy milk and of course the whole soy bean edamame.

Christina: People are freaked out by soy because they have been told to be freaked out. The truth is that traditional soy can help women with so many things from PMS to hot flashes associated with menopause; to reducing breast cancer risk; to reducing muscle tension in the legs. On the other hand any soy products with soy isolates or isolanted soy protein should be avoided because the way they're processed makes them unhealthy.
 
Are soy formulas safe?  If so which one should a mother feed her baby?

Christina: Most soy formulas are loaded with sugar and are not made from organic soybeans so you could be getting GMOs pesticides herbicides antibiotics and other additives. Again the only one I have found to be free of all that jazz is Baby's Only Organic.
 
Susan: Yes soy formulas are safe. According to published research there does not seem to be any difference in outcome between babies who drank soy and cow's milk formulas. Dr. Spock himself felt soy formula did have advantages over cow's milk formula because of cow milk's link to various diseases such as type 1 diabetes lactose intolerance and dairy allergies.
 
In the 8th Edition of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care it states "cow's milk itself … is not safe for infants. The protein and sugar mix is wrong and infants fed straight cow's milk are likely to become seriously ill."

How can a vegan pregnant woman increase her protein without going overboard on soy?

Susan: Don't sweat the protein issue. If you consume adequate calories your protein needs will be met. When you eat more calories during pregnancy you naturally consume more protein as well. It takes care of itself! Remember protein is found in whole grains beans peas nuts seeds and vegetables. Yes even broccoli gets 1/3 of its calories from protein!

Christina: There is no need to go crazy with protein because you're pregnant. There is protein in everything we eat except fruit. Women should get their protein from beans soy foods traditional again no isolated soy seitan and grains like quinoa and amaranth which contain the same levels of protein and structure as an egg and a daily serving of nuts. A vegan woman need not go nuts with soy to get what she needs. I usually recommend people eat tofu once a week and enjoy fermented soy more often: twice a week for tempeh daily for miso. Fermented soy is easy on digestion so people have fewer difficulties with it.

That covers your soy questions! In parts two and three we'll look at your questions about breastfeeding stretch marks Vitamin B-12 and much more!

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