Your 2nd month pregnancy diet should include all the essential nutrients. The foods you eat during this crucial stage should help in the healthy growth and development of the baby. Besides, your meals should provide you with the energy to help manage your pregnancy symptoms. Read on as we provide you with some information to help you plan your diet in your second month, including the foods you should stay away from.
Foods To Include In The Second Month Of Pregnancy
Here are the essential foods that you must include in your diet during the second month of pregnancy:
- Calcium is an important nutrient for developing strong bones, teeth, and muscles in the fetus. It is also essential for the proper functioning of the fetal heart and nerves. Foods to include:
Cheese Milk Yogurt Broccoli Tofu Kale Nuts.
- Folic acid is essential to prevent neural tube defects in the baby and also helps in blood formation. Foods include (1):
Green leafy vegetables Avocado Legumes Lentils Orange juice Fortified bread Beans Cereals
- Iron is essential for improving the hemoglobin levels to meet the blood required by the placenta and the fetus. Foods include:
Leafy green vegetables Jaggery Clams Lean meat Beef Seafood Cereal Bread Pasta Nuts Beans Dried fruits
- Fiber-rich foods help alleviate constipation and promote smooth bowel movement during pregnancy. Foods include:
Oats Whole grain bread Legumes Fruits Vegetables
- Iodine is necessary for the fetal brain and nerve development. Foods include:
Cheese Milk Fish Fortified bread and cereal Iodized salt Yogurt
- Protein is essential for fetal tissue development and also helps in repairing the breast and uterine muscles. The foods include:
Fish Lean meat Dairy Eggs Legumes Seeds Nuts
- Vitamin B12 is essential for cell division and folate metabolism during pregnancy (2). Foods include (3):
Meat Fish Eggs Poultry Milk and milk products
- Vitamin D is essential for the skeletal development of the fetus. Foods include:
Vitamin D fortified milk Salmon Tuna Mackerel Eggs Mushrooms Cereals
- Vitamin C is essential for the teeth and bone development in the baby and is present in fruits and vegetables. Include foods like:
Yellow and red color bell peppers Cabbage Broccoli Strawberries Citrus Brussels sprouts
Recommended daily intake of nutrients during pregnancy
(4) While having healthy food, you should also abstain from eating certain foods that could harm you and your baby.
Foods To Avoid In The Second Month Of Pregnancy
Here are some foods that you must avoid during the second month:
Avoid undercooked meat and poultry.
Do not eat raw eggs as they may contain salmonella.
Avoid soft cheeses like brie, ricotta, Camembert, blue cheese, and feta (7). Image: Shutterstock
Raw bean sprouts, pre-prepared pâté, sandwich meats, and salads must be avoided as they may contain listeria bacteria.
Avoid unpasteurized juice, cider, and milk as they may contain E.coli or listeria bacteria (1).
Avoid swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel as they contain a high level of mercury. Also avoid fish like freshwater salmon, bass, bluefish, trout, pike, and walleye that contain high levels of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) (8).
Avoid luncheon meat and cold hotdogs as they may contain listeria.
Do not eat raw fish like sushi and sashimi.
Avoid consumption of alcohol as it may affect fetal growth.
Avoid too much caffeine as it can lead to miscarriage (9).
Avoid fruits like pineapple and raw papaya, which are known to induce contractions (10).
Limit the intake of foods like pastries, cakes, pies, processed meats, pizza, commercial burgers, and fried foods that contain high saturated fats.
Limit the intake of sweets, energy drinks, and carbonated drinks that contain added sugar.
Limit the consumption of caffeine to not more than 200-300m or 2-3 cups of coffee a day (11), as it can cause miscarriage.
Read on for some more useful tips to follow in the second month of pregnancy.
Second-Month Pregnancy Diet Tips
Here are some diet tips to follow during the second month of pregnancy:
Do not skip a meal or starve yourself.
Avoid oily and spicy food as it can aggravate heartburn.
Take a lot of fluids.
If you have morning sickness, then munch on crackers.
Abstain from street food.
Make sure to clean the fruits and vegetable properly before consuming them. Image: Shutterstock
