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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Pregnancy diet >>  Diet during first trimester
Diet during first trimester    


During the first trimester most pregnant women are known to experience the common symptom of morning sickness or nausea which can be quite dehydrating and frustrating for them. It is from the first trimester onwards that one needs to concentrate on 1st trimester foods in particular and also follow a new pregnancy healthy lifestyle. Healthy eating during the first trimester is required so as to ensure the healthy growth and development of both the mother and the child as the pregnancy progresses and even in the future years of the child. Some foods that are included in the diet during the first trimester include fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, cereals, dairy products and crackers which are required to stabilize the blood pressure which tends to fluctuate during pregnancy. Nutrition during the first trimester also includes an additional intake of fresh drinking water and other fluids as it prevents the mother from getting dehydrated on account of the vomiting and is also required to flush out any harmful toxins form the body.  During the first trimester women who suffer from frequent bouts of vomiting and nausea should ideally eat foods that are easy to digest and are known to be light on the stomach and should also eat smaller and more frequent meals to prevent and dehydration or weakness form setting in. First trimester calorie intake should ideally be from foods like soy, lentils, and fresh leafy vegetables which tend to benefits the body of the pregnant woman and also provide both the mother and child with calcium, fiber, iron and protein.
Many women have the misconception that they should gain a certain amount of weight during pregnancy and tend to go overboard with their calorie intake. While gaining a certain amount of weight is normal during pregnancy it is not healthy to become obese as this may cause future complications in the mother and the child. Hence most of the calories during the first trimester that are required from meats should come from lean meats such as chicken and fish which provide the body with the required amount of protein while ensuring that the expectant mother does not become overweight.  Some of the most important considerations pertaining to diet during the first trimester are getting sufficient amount of folate and also preventing dehydration and malnutrition. During pregnancy, pregnant women tend to require 300 additional calories more than usual every day. The pregnancy diet during the first trimester should include plenty of dairy products and other foods that are rich in calcium as calcium is required for the skeletal development of the child and also to replenish the calcium deposits of the mother. Additionally foods that are rich in fiber should also be consumed during the first trimester and throughout the pregnancy as fiber helps in the formation of stools and also prevents constipation which is one of the common problems during pregnancy. Fiber is also required to maintain the good health of the digestive system of the mother. Foods that are rich in fiber are fruits, vegetables and whole grains and are a necessary part of a pregnancy diet during the first trimester. The first trimester is considered to be the most critical time during the pregnancy and hence special attention should be given to nutrition as although the fetus might be just around four inches in length and also may weigh almost an ounce, most of its major organs are beginning to develop. Additionally all of its functions would have also begun to form such as nervous system, heartbeat, fingers, arms, toes, legs and even buds for future teeth. Thus the development of the baby is taking place at a rapid pace and this puts added pressure on the mother’s body to meet the growing nutritional demands of the baby.


Submitted on September 25, 2010