Soy milk is made from soaked, ground soybeans, giving the plant drink closest to cow's milk in protein. Fortified with calcium, vitamin D and B12 it is a safe and nutritious choice throughout pregnancy.
Why it's good in pregnancy
Soy milk provides about 3 g of complete protein per 100 ml, matching cow's milk, along with folate, potassium and, when fortified, calcium, vitamin D and B12. For a vegan or dairy-free pregnancy it is the plant milk that does the most work.
Key nutrients
ProteinSoy is a complete plant protein, supplying every amino acid your baby's tissues need.
CalciumFortified soy milk provides around 300 mg of calcium per glass, as much as cow's milk.
Vitamin DAdded vitamin D supports calcium absorption and your baby's bone growth.
B VitaminsFortified brands add B12, and soy naturally supplies folate and riboflavin.
Serving ideas
Fortified soy milk on cereal or in porridge
Soy latte with a single shot
A soy milk and mango smoothie
Unsweetened soy milk warmed with cocoa
Soy milk in pancake batter or custard
Safety
Fortified soy milk is a safe, protein-rich dairy swap in pregnancy.Two or three servings of soy a day is well within normal, safe intake.
Choose a fortified, unsweetened soy drink and check that calcium is listed — organic versions often are not fortified. The phytoestrogens in soy have been studied extensively and normal food amounts (two to three servings a day) are considered safe in pregnancy; it is concentrated soy isoflavone supplements that are not recommended. If you have an underactive thyroid, take your levothyroxine at least four hours apart from soy milk, which can reduce its absorption. Keep opened cartons chilled and use within the stated days; fresh, unpasteurised soy milk from Asian markets should be boiled before drinking.
Common questions
Is soy milk safe during pregnancy?Yes — fortified soy milk is a safe, protein-rich dairy alternative, and normal food amounts of soy are well studied in pregnancy.
Does soy affect hormones in pregnancy?Soy's phytoestrogens are weak and, at two or three servings a day, have not been shown to affect pregnancy; only concentrated isoflavone supplements are advised against.
Which plant milk is best for pregnancy?Fortified soy milk comes closest to cow's milk, with as much protein plus added calcium, vitamin D and B12; oat and almond milks have far less protein.
Did you know?
Soy milk is the only common plant milk with as much protein as cow's milk, around 8 g a glass.
People in Japan and China have drunk soy milk through pregnancy for generations, with no harm seen in population studies.
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