Being a mother is a blessing for every woman. Once you get pregnant, there are a number of natural changes, which your body undergoes automatically. Though they might be a little unnerving in the beginning, they will ease out as your pregnancy progresses. Apart from the changes that your body will make to accommodate the baby, you will have to make certain alterations on your own too. This includes the size and type of your diet, especially during the first trimester, as it is the formative time. It is very necessary for a pregnant woman to take care of her health, as it determines the health of the child. To know more about 1st trimester diet, read on.
Diet during First Trimester
- Energy is a prime requirement during pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant women should increase their daily intake by 100 calories in the first trimester.
- Folate or folic acid is required to support the increasing maternal blood volume and decrease the risk of baby having Neural Tube Defects (NTD). Thus, a folate supplement is recommended to be taken in the first trimester of the pregnancy.
- Take ample iron supplements to provide rich blood supply to the growing baby. You can do this by eating more iron-rich foods like lean red meat, fish, poultry, dried fruits, whole-grain breads and iron-fortified cereals.
- Calcium is required for healthy teeth and bones of the baby. Thus, calcium as well as Vitamin D supplements are highly necessary for the mother.
- Limit the intake of caffeine, in the form of tea and coffee.
- Limit the intake of fish, especially high mercury fish such as Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish.
- Use artificial sweeteners in moderation.
- You can drink some herbal teas, which are safe during pregnancy. These include citrus peel, ginger, lemon balm, orange peel and rose hip teas. Avoid chamomile tea.
