When Iskra Mallory became pregnant with her first child, she felt prepared—until she met the endless advice. “Everyone had an opinion,” she says. “Especially when they found out I was planning to stay vegan during pregnancy.”
She didn’t take the decision lightly. Iskra spent weeks researching how to meet her nutritional needs—especially when it came to supporting her baby’s brain development. “I wanted to give this child the best start I could,” she says. “Without compromising my values.”
What she learned reassured her. Nutrients like DHA, choline, folate, and B12 could be obtained through a thoughtful plant-based diet—with the help of targeted supplements and smart food choices. She leaned into flaxseeds, walnuts, leafy greens, fortified plant milks, and plenty of legumes. “My meals became simpler, but more purposeful,” Iskra explains.
She also paid close attention to protein and iron, two areas often flagged for plant-based pregnancies. “Tofu, lentils, quinoa—they became my staples,” she says. “But I didn’t overthink it. I just listened to my body.”
Support from her midwife made a big difference, too. Together, they monitored her labs, adjusted her supplementation, and ensured both Iskra and the baby were thriving.
Nine months later, Iskra delivered a healthy baby girl—and kept her energy throughout the pregnancy. “I felt strong,” she says. “Not just physically, but emotionally. I knew I had made informed choices that honored both of us.”
