The Kind Life


Pregnant belly

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 last January. 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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For some reason I find the notion of drinking "yak milk" very funny!!!

Thank you Alicia, I just noticed part 2 and 3 and am excited to read it tonight.  I will be buying the book this week. Anything to feel more at ease during pregnancy. thank you ;)

What exactly is isolated soy found in. Will the label actually say "isolated soy" in the ingredients list?

When pregnant two years ago my prenatal vitamin of choice was by Rainbow Light- with "Vegan Guard".  Upon reading this post I was disappointed to see that the first question addressed was about baby formula. Happy to see Christina Pirello's response "breast is best". Statistically most U.S. moms who even start breastfeeding are not sticking with it past 3 months. When he was born, I breastfed my son until we mutually ended breastfeeding at around 16 months, and it was without a doubt the most difficult and rewarding thing I've ever done. For the moms who have been physically unable to breastfeed, my heart goes out to you. For any new moms out there, get yourselves educated on breastfeeding! Go to a breastfeeding class at a hospital, call/see a lactation consultant, read the American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding. After my son was born it took 7-8 scary, exhausting days before my milk came in. It didn't help that my husband was suddenly hospitalized the first week we were home from the hospital; I thought I was going to lose my mind. Luckily, I had my mom's emotional support, and my husband recovered. It saddens me to see that often the biggest detriment to a mom's success with breastfeeding is not having the emotional strength to stick with it! Simply because we so want to do the best for our baby, we oftentimes psyche ourselves out emotionally when we run into problems. The worst thing a new mom can do is get panicky, or dissolve into tears when hitting a wall with breastfeeding- which is so very hard when you're running on no sleep and trying to take care of yourself, post delivery. Wish I'd known about herbs like Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle that first week, my milk would have come in even sooner. Be informed. The saddest is those who use formula out of convenience- not the best for the baby, or the planet. Breastfeeding can be hard work, but our babies, our future health and our planet are so worth it!

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.

Sorry but I have personal experience with soy coming through the breast milk and feel that some of the information posted could be misleading.

When my son was born I was an omnivore I ate meat and drank milk but when my son was two months old he kept having allergy like symptoms a rash, very bad gas and diarrhea.

My husband and I took our son to the pediatrician right away we were told he most likely had a dairy intolerance (an Intolerance is different from a true allergy and babies usually out grow them around 1 or 2 years or age).

 We went through our house top to bottom and read labels. We ended up throwing out and donated loads of food and other items containing dairy. We finally completely took out all the dairy products from my diet and home our son did improved a little but not completely.

So we went back to the pediatrician and we were then told that 40% for babies with milk intolerance also present with soy intolerance. My son was exclusively on the breast and didn’t eat soy or dairy himself he just received the soy and milk protein from my breast milk. We had to go back throughout house and get rid of even more food, lotions and house hold items that had soy.

 We also went to a pediatric allergist and Seattle children’s hospital specialist to make sure it was only intolerance. I don’t have any food allergies and they don’t run in my family or in my husbands. I just wanted to let you know that soy can be a danger for babies even if the soy is from breast milk. 

My son having a soy and dairy intolerance made me have to go on an elimination diet I couldn’t have wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, caffeine, nuts, shellfish or corn for moths and had to slowly add each item in one at a time. Soy and dairy I couldn’t consume or even try to add into my diet at all until my son was over a year old.

 I kept off the dairy, meat and animal products and have been Vegan for a little over a year now. My friends kept asking me what I was doing all my baby weight melted off, my hair was super shinny and my skin looks very clear. My son is now 16 months and we are just now able to do a soy “challenge” (we gradually up the amount of soy I drink and see if he has a reaction and we have to take loads of poo samples for the doctors).

 My son’s intolerance helped my family embrace being Vegans for our planet, own health and for the health of our Baby. Please do eat soy just know it can cause a reaction in babies.  Thanks for reading I hope this helps

 

I have to just ever so slightly disagree with the protein part of this article. How much protein we need is based on a bunch of variables, and if you are very active, getting your protein just from veggies and grains most likely will not be enough. I am pregnant and I teach a very vigorous style of yoga. Even without being pregnant, I was advised by my Naturopath to up my protein substantially since my veggies and grains weren't cutting it for my lifestyle. If you are a pregnant woman like myself who's job is very physically demanding, you might need to supplement protein into your diet, especially because your immune system is compromised during pregnancy. Protein helps to strengthen the immune system and help repair muscles- which seem to take longer to repair during pregnancy. Obviously what I am saying is very specific- probably only a small amount of pregnant ladies are Ashtanga teachers or Pilates instructors, etc, but for those for us who are, it's really important we keep our protein up so we don't get sick!

 I had a read and am dissapointed with the information on breastfeeding and sensitivities to soy by Christina i thought that information was a load of rubbish, pretending soy sensitivites don't exist and that it doesn't pass through the breastmilk is laughable!!!

I am disappointed by the information on breastfeeding and sensitivites to soy by Christina, i thought that information was a load of rubbish, pretending soy sensitivities don't exist and if they do it doesn't pass through the breastmilk is laughable!!!

Just like the dairy milk industry like to brainwash us into pretending dairy doesn't cause health problems and that dairy is amazing and all of their so called "experts" are actually paid by the dairy industry. It looks like certain Vegans with a passion for soy don't mind doing their own bit of soy promoting with so called "experts".

I'm very disapointed in this as it makes us look as silly as the meat and dairy industry when we make downright ridiculous claims but then try and just back it up with "experts".

Severly annoyed
Betheney 

I would also like to know what she means by "isolated soy."  Additionally, if she's only suggesting to eat soy once/week I'm wondering how often she suggests eating beans? 

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