  We compute the vacuum polarisation correction to the binding energy of
nuclear matter in the Walecka model using a nonperturbative approach. We first
study such a contribution as arising from a ground state structure with
baryon-antibaryon condensates. This yields the same results as obtained through
the relativistic Hartree approximation of summing tadpole diagrams for the
baryon propagator. Such a vacuum is then generalized to include quantum effects
from meson fields through scalar-meson condensates. The method is applied to
study properties of nuclear matter and leads to a softer equation of state
giving a lower value of the incompressibility than would be reached without
quantum effects. The density dependent effective sigma mass is also calculated
including such vacuum polarisation effects.
