What To Eat And Avoid In Three Trimesters Of Pregnancy; Expert Weighs In

When you are pregnant, people around approach you with numerous advice on what to and what not to eat. The discrepancy in suggestions can create a lot of confusion for you. Therefore, we spoke to Dr Pooja Chaudhry Thukral, Associate Director, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Faridabad. 

She shared what an expecting mother should eat in each trimester of her pregnancy. 

The expert said, “When speaking about diet, we should consider trimesters.”

What Food Is Good For The First Trimester Of Pregnancy?

The first trimester refers to the first three months, from conception to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In these initial months, a woman experiences nausea, aversions, and vomiting. 

First Trimester Diet Plan

• The food should be simple. Toast with fruit jam is a dry breakfast option that will fuel up your body with the energy needed to get through the day. 
• You should opt for dry food because it can help you deal with vomiting.
• Keep it bland with a minimal amount of spices so that your taste buds do not have to compromise. 

First Trimester Diet Don’ts

You should not consume oily and spicy food. It can lead to acidity, and you might have to depend on medicines to experience relief from gas.

What Should You Eat In The Second Trimester Of Pregnancy?

The expert said that aversions get better in the second trimester of pregnancy. A pregnant woman also puts on weight and her appetite increases, rather than becoming better than in the first trimester of the pregnancy.

Second Trimester Diet Plan

• You should opt for frequent meals. It will help you stay full for a long time.
• You should opt for a balanced diet. For example, you can have cereal for lunch or dinner or a combo of chapati and rice with dal (pulses) or vegetables. 
• You can have salad on the side to complete the meal. 
• Drink milk or buttermilk (benefits of buttermilk) in between your meals. You can also drink shakes. If needed, the doctor might prescribe your protein powder. 

Second Trimester Diet Don’ts

You should avoid stuffing yourself with a heavy meal. Moreover, you will have to wait for at least six to eight hours for another meal, which is a huge gap for the growing foetus. Do not miss out on walking. It is essential to continue with some physical activities.

What Should You Eat During The Third Trimester Of Your Pregnancy?

The doctor said that the third trimester of pregnancy starts after 28 weeks. She added that many expecting women come to her saying that their mothers-in-law have suggested eating ghee (benefits of ghee for constipation). 

She said that consuming ghee is good for health, but you should have it in moderation. If ghee leads you to put on excessive weight, it can be bad. It can lead to complications during vaginal delivery.

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Third Trimester Diet Plan

• You should have at least three meals of the day on the floor. You should sit on a mat or carpet with crossed legs. It is like an exercise for the body, works up your pelvis muscles, and improves digestion.
• You should drink lots of water and plenty of fluids to keep the body hydrated. You should drink at least 3-4 litres in a day.
• Have milk or buttermilk twice a day in the summer season. You can also drink juices or eat fruits by sprinkling chat masala or salt.

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Third Trimester Diet Don’ts

You should not drink carbonated drinks because they have zero calories and have no nutritional value for the expecting woman. You can drink citrus beverages if you are experiencing acidity.

Stay tuned to HerZindagi for more tips on taking care of yourself or your partner during pregnancy.