What to eat during the second trimester
- lean meat.
- cooked seafood.
- leafy green vegetables.
- nuts.
- beans and lentils.
- whole grains, including bread and oatmeal.
- fortified breakfast cereals.
Contents
How much should a pregnant woman eat in the second trimester?
Pregnant women should eat a balanced diet. Making a baby is hard work for a woman’s body. Eating right is one of the best things you can do to help your baby grow and develop normally. Eating a balanced, healthy diet can help prevent:
Too much weight gainGestational diabetesThe chance of needing a C-sectionAnemia and infections in the motherPoor healingAn early birth of the babyA low birth-weight baby
The amount of healthy weight gain in pregnancy varies. These are general guidelines:
Normal total weight gain for a healthy woman is 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 16 kilograms).Overweight women should gain only 10 to 20 pounds (4 to 9 kilograms) during pregnancy.Underweight women or women with multiples (twins or more) should gain 35 to 45 pounds (16 to 20 kilograms) in pregnancy.
Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain. Eating for two does not mean eating twice as much food. Pregnant women need about 300 extra calories a day. But, where these calories come from matters.
If you eat sweets or junk food, the extra calories do not provide the nutrients your baby needs.As a result, your growing baby will get the vitamins and minerals it needs from your own body. Your health could suffer.
Instead of junk food, choose foods that are:
High in proteinRich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fats and lower in trans fats and saturated fats Low in sugar (sugar provides only empty calories) or refined carbohydrates high in fiber
Other nutrients your baby needs are:
Calcium, for healthy growth.Iron, for the baby’s blood supply. It also prevents anemia in the mother.Folic acid, for reducing the risk for spina bifida (incomplete closing of the spinal column), anencephaly (defect of the brain), and other birth defects.
Eating a well-rounded diet with all of the right nutrients and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day is important for a healthy pregnancy. For most normal-weight pregnant women, the right amount of calories is:
About 1,800 calories per day during the first trimesterAbout 2,200 calories per day during the second trimesterAbout 2,400 calories per day during the third trimester
Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta:
Eat 9 to 11 servings a day.These foods give you carbohydrates. They turn into energy for your body and for your baby’s growth.Whole-grain and fortified products have folic acid and iron.
Vegetables:
Vegetables are a good source of vitamins A and C, folic acid, iron, and magnesium.Eat 4 to 5 servings a day.Try to get at least 2 of your daily servings from green, leafy vegetables.
Fruit:
Eat 3 to 4 servings a day.Fruit gives you vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. Choose fresh fruits and juices. They are better for you than frozen or canned fruits. Eat plenty of vitamin C-rich foods, like citrus fruits, melons, and berries. Try to avoid juices that have sugar or sweeteners added.
Milk, yogurt, and cheese:
Eat 3 servings a day.Dairy products are a great source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus. If you need to limit calories and cholesterol, choose nonfat dairy products.
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts:
Eat 3 servings a day.Foods from this group are good sources of B vitamins, protein, iron, and zinc.
Fats and oils You need moderate amounts of fat in your diet for you and your growing baby. Fats provide long-term energy for growth and are needed for brain development. Women with special diet needs should plan their meals carefully to make sure they get the nutrition they need. Talk to your provider or a dietitian if you have a special diet, such as:
Vegetarian or veganLactose intolerantGluten-free
Pregnant women should also drink plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine and sugar. Ask your provider how much fluid you should get each day. You should also take a prenatal vitamin that has folic acid, iron, and the other vitamins and minerals that all women need.
Your provider may give you a prescription for vitamins. You can also get prenatal vitamins over-the-counter. Though no one knows why, many pregnant women have cravings for certain foods. It may be because of hormone changes. These cravings will often pass after the first 3 months. As long as you are getting all the nutrients you need for you and your baby, it is fine to have some of the foods you crave every now and then.
Sometimes, pregnant women will get strange cravings for things that are not food, such as dirt, clay, laundry detergent, or ice chips. This is called pica, and it may be caused by too little iron in the blood, which leads to anemia. Let your provider know if you have these cravings.
- Prenatal care – eating right Berger DS, West EH.
- Nutrition during pregnancy.
- In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds.
- Gabbe’s Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies,8th ed.
- Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.
- Cline M, Young N.
- Antepartum care.
- In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds.
- Conn’s Current Therapy 2021,
Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2021:1209-1216. Gregory KD, Ramos DE, Jauniaux ERM. Preconception and prenatal care. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe’s Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies,8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 5.
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What trimester do you start eating more?
When does appetite generally increase during pregnancy? – An increased appetite is a common pregnancy symptom. Some women notice that their appetite increases as soon as the first trimester of pregnancy, However, most women feel a shift in their appetite during the second trimester, around the time morning sickness ends.
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How do I know if I’m eating enough during pregnancy?
Have You Lost Your Appetite During Pregnancy? Back to Top Always associated pregnancy with a voracious appetite for everything from pepperoni pizza to ice cream and pickles? Pregnancy is indeed that one special time of your adult life when gaining weight is applauded and eating every two hours is encouraged (lucky you!).
But just as you begin stocking your refrigerator with healthy foods (and yes, sometimes those cookies you’re craving), loss of appetite — plus its common sidekick, — strikes, turning your nose at the sight and smell of your favorite foods. is the major signal that you’re eating enough to support your baby’s needs.
Depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, most normal-weight women should aim to tack on between 25 and 35 pounds. During the first trimester, when morning sickness (known to many as all-day sickness) is at its worst, it’s common to only gain one to four pounds (or sometimes even lose weight).
That’s okay. At this point your fetus is so tiny, it has fewer nutritional requirements — so as long as you’re taking your prenatal vitamin, you and baby-to-be should be covered. Trusted Source Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy After the first trimester, gaining about one pound per week is advised.
If your appetite is still nowhere to be found by early in your second trimester, or if you aren’t meeting the in your third trimester, consult your doctor. Still worried? Don’t be. You’re going to have easy days and difficult days — the big picture is what’s important.
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What happens if I eat too much during second trimester?
During Pregnancy and Delivery – Your urge to binge eat might go away during pregnancy. It does for a few women. But studies say the patterns of overeating often continue. Many women get the disorder for the first time during pregnancy. Many people who binge eat are overweight or obese.
High blood pressure and too much protein in the urine ( preeclampsia )High blood sugar while expecting ( gestational diabetes )Needing a C-sectionInfection after the baby is delivered
Studies also show that binge eating raises your risk of:
Losing the baby before birth (miscarriage)Long labor time, which can increase birth complications Having a baby with birth defectsGiving birth to a premature baby
A premature birth can put your baby at risk for:
A breathing disorder called respiratory distress syndrome Lung diseases Eye diseasesYellow skin and eyes due to a liver problem ( jaundice )Other health problems
Sometimes, babies born to moms with binge eating disorder weigh more than other babies born at the same term in pregnancy. It can happen if you have gestational diabetes – but your binge foods can play a role, too. Your baby gets nutrients from what you eat or drink.
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What should I stop eating while pregnant?
Avoid raw, undercooked or contaminated seafood – To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood:
- Avoid raw fish and shellfish. Examples of raw or undercooked foods to avoid include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams.
- Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood. Examples include seafood labeled nova style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky. It’s OK to eat smoked seafood if it’s an ingredient in a casserole or other cooked dish. Canned and shelf-stable versions also are safe.
- Understand local fish advisories. If you eat fish from local waters, pay attention to local fish advisories — especially if water pollution is a concern. If you are uncertain about the safety of fish you have already eaten, don’t eat any other fish that week.
- Cook seafood properly. Cook fish to an internal temperature of 145 F (63 C). Fish is done when it separates into flakes and appears opaque throughout. Cook shrimp, lobster and scallops until they’re milky white. Cook clams, mussels and oysters until their shells open. Discard any that don’t open.
