Lucy Bailhache, Content Manager at Lovehoney, is a vegan and expectant mother, so we spoke to her about veganism during pregnancy and if she plans to raise her child as a vegan too.
Lucy Bailhache
Please tell us why and when you became vegan.
I was brought up on a vegetarian diet for moral and health reasons, and my sister and I thrived on it from birth right through to adulthood. We were rarely ill, never lacked anything nutritionally and it grew a keen interest in cooking and nutrition in us from a very young age. When I was 19, my parents and sister decided to give veganism a go, and despite my initial fear of having to give up cheese, thought I would follow suit and give it a go when I started University. The dairy and meat industry are so intrinsically linked that it was the next logical step for me as a vegetarian for moral, ethical and health reasons.
You work with other vegans and vegetarians at Lovehoney, so does it make it any easier to have this support around you in the workplace?
I work with other vegetarians and people who have a keen interest in the vegan diet at Lovehoney. The communal fridge is always filled with milk alternatives such as soya milk and almond milk as more and more people move towards a non-dairy diet. My colleagues often bring in vegan-friendly treats to share and I do the same in return. The attitude towards veganism has changed dramatically over the past couple of years, and instead of people thinking it's weird, they are now beginning to understand its health and environmental benefits. I put this largely down to bloggers such as Deliciously Ella and Oh She Glows providing people with really easy to follow and delicious vegan recipes, and powerful documentaries such as Cowspiracy, which has turned a lot of people I know vegan, or have actively cut down on their meat and dairy consumption.
You are 7 months pregnant, so what sort of things have you been eating in order to give you and your baby everything you need nutritionally?
I'm nearly 8 months pregnant and can genuinely say that me and the baby have really benefited from my veganism. My iron levels have been 'extremely high' (as quoted by my midwife) throughout (they usually dip towards the end of the pregnancy as the baby requires much more in the way of nutrients in the third trimester) and I haven't experienced any morning sickness or cravings. I haven't changed my diet very much - I guess I'm just more mindful about eating plenty of iron-rich green vegetables and making sure I eat plenty of protein, which I get from pulses, nuts and tofu. My bump is the right size, the baby is extremely active and I haven't piled on the weight (yet!).
Have you had to increase or take any new supplements?
I didn't take any supplements before I became pregnant but have taken standard pregnancy supplements since becoming pregnant. All pregnant women are advised to take them and I view them as a little back up to what should be a healthy diet.
Do you think being vegan makes pregnancy easier or harder?
For me personally, I've had such an easy pregnancy that I can only say it has made it easier. There are so many foods that you can't eat during pregnancy, such as certain cheeses, partly cooked eggs, pate, fish with high mercury levels etc, which never featured in my diet before I got pregnant, that I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything or craving anything.
Do you plan to raise your baby as a vegan? If so/not, please tell us why you reached your decision.
We do. My sister has brought her 3 year old up on a vegan diet and seems to have really thrived on it. She is the least fussy eater I know. I think as long as you (the parent) are well-researched on the nutrition side of things, it's hard to go wrong with bringing a child up on a vegan diet.
Has anyone challenged your choice to stay vegan while you have been pregnant?
Not so much challenged it, but people have definitely questioned it and shown an interest in it. I was expecting to come up against it from healthcare professionals but they have all been very positive about it. Especially when they see such an active baby and high iron counts with every blood test.
Some mothers-to-be choose to revert back to vegetarianism or become pescatarian while pregnant. What is your opinion of these women's decision to alter their diet while carrying a baby?
I think it's a common misconception that dairy is the go-to food for calcium. Milk isn't the leading source of calcium in food. In fact, it isn't the richest source by a long way. You may be surprised to learn that there are over 20 plant based foods that contain more calcium than milk does on a pound for pound basis. Calcium derived from plant-based products is also more easily absorbed by humans than it is from milk or milk-based products. So it's my opinion that it's actually healthier for pregnant women to reach for the dark green, leafy vegetables as opposed to dairy during pregnancy.
Regarding increasing the level of fish, the NHS advise pregnant women to avoid swordfish or marlin, and to limit the amount of tuna you eat (due to high mercury levels). Because of this, I actually feel safer in the knowledge that I'm avoiding fish completely. Our oceans are so polluted and overfished that I wonder if it's safe to advise pregnant women to eat fish at all.
You got married last year, so how much support do you receive from your partner to live the vegan lifestyle?
He supports me 100% and is actively trying to adopt a vegan diet himself as he has seen the health benefits of it for me and my immediate family. He was also very moved by the documentary Cowspiracy in terms of the effect of the meat and dairy industry on the environment. He has eaten meat all of his life so it's a lot harder going from this diet to veganism, as opposed to from being a vegetarian to a vegan, which I was fortunate enough to be in a position to do.
Tagged in Vegetarian Vegan