Nutrition in pregnancy by trimester

Nutrition during pregnancy by trimester includes certain rules, selection of necessary products, and creation of an optimally balanced menu. For example, protein food is a “building material” for a small organism – the expectant mother should remember this, including boiled meat, fish, raw vegetables and fruits, eggs, cereals, and legumes in her daily diet.

Nutrition during pregnancy is a relevant topic that should interest every woman when deciding to become a mother. Much depends on proper nutrition - both the well-being of the pregnant woman and the full intrauterine development of the fetus.

It is very important to take into account the development and growth characteristics of the baby in each trimester of pregnancy, since these characteristics determine the small organism’s need for vitamins, microelements and nutrients necessary for its proper development.

For normal development, the fetus must receive everything it needs: minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins. However, this does not mean that the expectant mother should “eat for two”, on the contrary, fractional nutrition is encouraged – often and little by little. It’s just that the food should be as varied as possible – this principle will also help a woman avoid the problem of gaining excess weight.

Even in the early stages of pregnancy, alcohol in any form is contraindicated for women. In addition, it is necessary to give up carbonated drinks, concentrated juices, products that contain harmful components (dyes, flavor additives, flavor enhancers, preservatives). It is necessary to limit the consumption of sweets, flour products, salt and sugar as early as possible. Among the essential products that should be included in your daily diet, it is necessary to note porridge, eggs, meat and fish, sour cream, cottage cheese, kefir, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, berries. In the cold season, it is recommended to eat dried fruits, dried apricots, raisins, prunes, compotes.

[ 1 ]

Nutrition in the first trimester of pregnancy

Nutrition in the first trimester of pregnancy, in principle, does not differ from the usual menu of a woman before conceiving a child. However, during this period, changes in the taste of a pregnant woman may be observed. Despite everything, she should take care of the right diet, which should include natural, healthy, extremely useful products.

Nutrition in the first trimester involves following the rules of rational intake of compatible products. Thus, the expectant mother should eat often and little by little, without rushing. It is necessary to increase the consumption of drinking water, and also to introduce protein foods into the daily diet, since protein is the "building material" for the formation of the embryo.

It is advisable to eat boiled, stewed or baked food, and also to give preference to cereals, raw fruits, fresh vegetables, lean fish and meat, vegetable oil. Green salads, dairy and fermented milk products, wholemeal bread, cereals, nuts are appropriate during this period. It is necessary to take vitamin E, folic acid and iodine preparations prescribed by the doctor.

Harmful products include semi-finished and smoked foods, products containing dyes and preservatives, fried foods, and table salt. You should limit your consumption of coffee, flour products, and sweets.

Nutrition in the first trimester should be balanced. A pregnant woman needs to control her diet, taking into account the increased load on the liver, kidneys, intestines and other organs during the period of bearing a child. If early toxicosis develops, it is recommended to discuss nutrition issues with a medical specialist.

Nutrition in the second trimester of pregnancy

Nutrition in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy plays a significant role, since this is a period of intensive intrauterine development and active growth of the fetus. Fortunately, at this stage of bearing a baby, all signs of early toxicosis disappear, and the pregnant woman's appetite improves. Therefore, it is important to monitor the amount of food consumed in order to prevent overeating and, as a result, gaining excess weight.

Nutrition in the second trimester should include a large number of vitamins, minerals and microelements that are necessary for the normal development of the fetus. During this period, the body of the expectant mother is depleted of iron reserves, so you should take care of sufficient intake of iron-containing foods: boiled and stewed meat and fish, liver, buckwheat porridge, apples. In addition, food should contain sufficient amounts of protein, which is found in eggs, dairy products, cottage cheese.

The source of vitamin C is rosehip decoction, phosphorus, calcium and vitamin D are needed for the formation of fetal bone tissue. Their sources are dairy products, cottage cheese, fish products. Vitamin A, which affects the genes of the future child, is contained in carrots, apricots, pumpkin, parsley, spinach, egg yolks, fish oil.

Nutrition in the third trimester of pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy should be controlled, especially in the 3rd trimester, when the risk of gaining excess weight increases. This unpleasant factor is easier to prevent than to deal with its consequences later. Extra pounds provoke problems with bearing a child, contribute to increased blood pressure, the occurrence of edema, failures in the digestive tract, kidneys, and liver. Therefore, it is so important to plan the daily menu of a pregnant woman and strictly adhere to a competent, balanced diet.

Nutrition in the third trimester involves limiting the intake of some products, primarily such as flour products and fresh white bread. At this stage of bearing a child, the pregnant woman's diet should include vegetable soups, various cereals (pearl barley, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge), meat (its lean varieties - poultry, beef, rabbit meat and veal). Of the mandatory food products, it is necessary to highlight fish (pike perch, navaga, cod), various dairy products.

In the last weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to give preference to food containing large amounts of fiber, which prevents constipation - frequent companions of the process of bearing a child. A lot of fiber is contained in apples, cabbage of all varieties, pears, bell peppers, vegetables and fruits, as well as lettuce and pumpkin.

Recommended drinks include rosehip infusion, dried fruit compotes, unsweetened natural juices, weak tea with milk, herbal infusions, and still mineral water.

Nutrition during pregnancy by trimester will help expectant mothers cope with the most important period in their lives – bearing a healthy baby. Following the recommendations of nutritionists, you can avoid many problems associated with digestive problems, early toxicosis, and also ensure the full intrauterine development of the child.