Midwives

The Vegan Society's vegan babies and children guide contains information on pregnancy and pre-pregnancy nutrition, vegan babies and children, also for information about childhood nutrition see our page 'the vegan diet for infants and children' and the parenting section of this site.

There is a wealth of information on vegan mothers-to-be and babies in our publication 'Feeding your vegan infant - with confidence'  by Sandra Hood, State Registered Dietician.

Information on Vitamin K

Belinda Harvey
British Journal of Midwifery, Vol. 16, Iss. 8, 07 Aug 2008, pp 516 - 519

"Newborn vitamin K prophylaxis against vitamin K deficiency bleeding is routinely recommended in the UK. Different regimes and recommendations are considered in the light of recent reports. There is no clear consensus regarding the best route, frequency of oral administration, or efficacy of preparations. The formulation of the only vitamin K preparation available is not vegetarian in origin. The possibility of an increase in the small number of parents who withhold consent to newborn prophylaxis is considered alongside other issues which may influence women’s choice. Midwives and doctors may face considerable difficulties and dilemmas in obtaining informed consent, particularly in the case of vegetarian women because there is currently no vegetarian alternative to offer. A campaign is in progress towards finding a solution to this dilemma."

NHS information sheet on Vitamin K  (pdf file)