Hi I am new here. I just find out I am pregnant and I would like to ask you guys, who are on vegan diet, what kind of supplements are you taking to get all nutrients for baby during pregnancy? I always experiment with food,but it is hard for me to think of being vegan cous my husband is big meat lover.

My older son ( I have two sons, one 12 y and other 2.5y) is person if you put in front of him meat and salad he would go for salad and when I asked him why he dosnt like meat he said it is discusting and he would love to replace it with something else. Only thing that he realy like is chitcken breasts. I am trying to change myself, I know I cant change my husband, and would do baby steps but I think even baby steps are important.xoxoxo

Okay, I can't help it - DUH is right. As Meg, I think, stated earlier, particularly NFP should only be used with a committed partner.

Angela - are you flirting, vegetarian, vegan, or superhero? And for how long? All any of us can to is give personal advice since we're not professionals or anything, but I would say to try and go as superhero as possible for a couple of months and then try going off the pill again, continuing to be as superhero as possible. It can take a while for your cycle to regulate after pills, though. However, the more superhero you are, the more likely your diet will affect varying aspects of your health in a positive manner. Just something to think about maybe trying. Many woman see a decrease in PMS when going cleaner with their diets.

Birth control pills are estimated to be effective 92-99%of the time, depending on usage. Every method depends on usage and individual. As Patrick said, if your cycle isn't regular TCOYF might not work for you, but you should read about it and research it before dismissing it as an option if you are looking for one. I have friends who are unable to use hormonal birth control because of the effects it has on them, I don't use it because it aggravates my migraines and moods. Plus, I don't like peeing out a bunch of hormones into our environment. Those are my personal reasons for not using HBC. It's obviously important that a woman, and her partner, should always be as informed as they can about every available method and make the choice that is best for them. And I would hope that anyone, not just those using NFP, would be willing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy should it occur.

I agree with Patrick, you get a pass if you're vegan but need medication. I always try to look for natural solutions first, but sometimes medication is necessary. BCP combined with Spironolactone are the only things that stop the crazy out of control acne I've had since I was 11. On top of that, BCP have worked flawlessly for me as pregnancy prevention. I hate that they have lactose in them, but I feel like I'm doing the best I can. The only side effect I've ever had from them is that my periods went from being 8-10 days long to being 4 days long and have become predictable instead of wildly sporadic.

I appreciate Alicia mentioning that her method may not work for everyone. Have there been any scientific studies to test the effectiveness of this version of birth control? Unless someone has evidence that it is at least 99% effective, I'm not considering it. I hope that anyone who uses TCOYF or the book Alicia mentioned as birth control is willing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, should it occur.

FYI - Vegan condoms can be bought here: http://store.veganessentials.com/intimacy-products-c62.aspx or http://www.thesensualvegan.com

I'm also a big fan of TCOYF. I stopped using the pill about 7 years ago now after my accupuncturist made a strong plea that I stop taking BCP and directed me to this solution. It does take some dedication, but after a while it becomes second nature and the benefit of understanding your body is well worth it.

No medicine will be vegan, as the FDA currently requires animal testing in the initial phases, yet please do not let that stop you from taking medicines you need.Taking a medicine that is already approved (on the market now) will not lead to additional animal testing.

Lactose is present in trace amounts in BCP (although I don't know why, and some used to be made without it). Again, if you need meds to control a medical condition, you get a pass.

Angela-some women find PMS/PMDD symptoms better after several months on a low fat vegan diet; if you have not tried going off BCP since going vegan, you may want to consult with a physician near you.

Nuvaring is a birth control method that may give the hormonal control you have found helpful, and contains hormones in a sythetic polymer. No latex or lactose.

It's my understanding that BCP aren't vegan due to animal testing and lactose, so I'd love to not take them. However, I have taken them since I was 13 years old for severe PMS bordering on PMDD, not for contraception (at the moment, anyway). I have tried to stop taking them through the years but with absolutely excrutiating results. Is there any other solution for me?

Hey Alicia,

Thanks so much for the info. My brother is a recent flirt with veganism and he has lost 25 pounds!!! He is working out a lot so I'm so excited to reccomend those dude books. yay!

We've used the concepts in Taking Charge of Your Fertility to conceive. I highly recommend the book! Someone else mentioned an iPhone app to help keep track -- there's a great one on Android called My Days. Very accurate!

Thanks for the book recs for guys. Going today to pick some up for the hubs...

I whole-heartedly endorse reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility. You can find more information here: http://tcoyf.com/ and there are even forums to help you out just like there are here! The Natural Family Planning method is nothing like the Rhythm method. NFP can be extremely effective for both planning and avoiding pregnancy. There are women on the boards who have been using it to avoid for years and years (I seem to remember one lady who has used it for, like, 10 years now). I have been using it and have been able to stop birth control pills completely. My cycle is still regulating, as I've only been off the pills for a couple of cycles, but already I'm having no problem seeing clear indicators of the path my cycle takes. As Alicia said, there are only a few days a month that you are actually fertile, so you can opt to just not have sex during those days, and you will be completely risk free! It's also really easy once you get into the habit. You just take your temperature every morning when you wake up (at the same time every day, for most people) and you chart that along with two other signs of fertility. You can then get a very clear picture of what your body is doing, when you are starting to be fertile, and when you have ovulated. It's really easy. I highly recommend getting the book and reading through! They also have a book for teenage girls to help them better understand the changes their bodies are going through by charting. I wish I had had that when I was young!

Does anyone have information on Queen Ann's Lace Seed as a contraception?

Taking Control of Your Fertility is an excellent book, and I've used it to council patients interested in NFP (Natural family planning). Keep in mind, there is no one perfect form of birth control, but you should be able to work with your doctor to find a hormonal or non-hormonal method that you are happy with. Contrary to the "Rythym method user"="parents" jokes, in the right patients these methods can be very effective (as effective as condom use).

As for gaining weight, I find that if I increase the oil in my diet (usually by going to an vegan Indian buffet), I will trend up. The mechanisms of weight gain and diet are really well spelled out in Barnard's book Turn off your fat genes.

Patrick Weix, MD, PhD