Learn about the foods to avoid in the early stages of pregnancy, along with the dietary supplements that you can take for your and your unborn baby’s health.
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases in a woman’s life. A woman goes through many changes in her body and ends up learning a lot about healthy eating. In this article, you will specifically learn about the foods to avoid in the early stages of pregnancy along with the ways in which they hamper the growth and development of your baby in the womb. Additionally, you will be knowing about the dietary supplement that you can consume for a healthy pregnancy experience.
Foods to Avoid in the Early Stages of Pregnancy
As you already know that you should keep extra care of what you eat during your pregnancy so as to keep yourself and your baby inside healthy, here is a list of foods that you should avoid eating along with their reasons for not taking them during the early phase of your pregnancy.
1. Caffeine
Chocolates and cold coffee are very tempting and you can’t say no to them. But, during your pregnancy, it is harmful to you to take caffeine as it absorbs in no time and is directly passed on to your placenta. Moreover, it is responsible for restricting fetal growth. Caffeine also increases the risk of low birth weight of the child at the time of delivery. These are some valid reasons for you to avoid taking caffeine at least during the first trimester of your pregnancy.
2. Organ Meat
For all the ladies who are big fans of organ meat, the first trimester of pregnancy can be a heck. Consuming organ meat can lead to congenital malformations and even miscarriage in the early status. It is so because it contains extensive amounts of vitamin A which is not healthy for a pregnant woman.
3. Raw Sprouts
We usually eat sprouts like alfalfa, clover, radish, Mung Bean sprouts, and many more for breakfast considering that it is a healthy meal. Undoubtedly, it is healthy, but not for a pregnant woman. You should make a note of the fact that these sprouts are harmful to a pregnant woman who is going through her first trimester.
4. Herbal Tea Or Green Tea
It is not a good habit to consume more than 4 cups of herbal tea during pregnancy as it contains a certain amount of caffeine which is not healthy for a pregnant woman.
5. Peanuts
Peanuts are healthy, tasty, and a complete package of protein. If you are pregnant, then you can consume peanuts only if you’re not allergic to them. Additionally, peanuts can cause gas formation in pregnant women, therefore you should always consider taking a low amount of peanuts.
6. Potluck Foods
A potluck is a kind of get-together where people cook food and bring it together to eat. If you are invited to any such potluck party, then you should not eat the food items that have been kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
7. Junk Food
Junk food including pizzas, burgers, pasta, etc. contains various things that a pregnant woman should not consume like folate, a certain kind of protein, and many more. That is why you should avoid eating junk food during your pregnancy.
8. Alcohol
It is never a good option to consume alcohol during pregnancy as it increases the probability of miscarriage and stillbirth. Consumption of alcohol also leads to fetal alcohol syndrome which is responsible for causing face deformities, heart defects, and many other serious deformations in the newborn baby.
9. Unpasteurized Milk
It was taught in the school that the Pasteurization of Milk kills bacteria to a great extent. The same theory applies here. You should be in a habit of getting the milk pasteurized before consuming it so that the array of bacteria inside the milk is gone.
10. Unwashed Produce
This one is not only for pregnant women but for everyone who loves to eat fruits or vegetables. We never know at what stage of harvest the produce gets contaminated with other things. It is a good practice to wash the fruits and vegetables first and then eat them. The unwashed produce of fruits and vegetables causes serious eye and brain damage to the newborn baby.
11. Raw Eggs
Scientists have proven that raw eggs are contaminated with Salmonella bacteria which is the reason for pregnant women having fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and even diarrhea. The rawest form of egg is found in scrambled eggs, poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, homemade mayonnaise, salad dressings, ice creams, cake icings. You should avoid such food items at the early stages of your pregnancy.
12. Raw/ Undercooked/ Processed Meat
Consumption of raw or undercooked meat gives birth to the risk of infection from bacteria and parasites. Adding to the information, it increases the risk of a baby’s stillbirth, neurological illness, blindness, epilepsy, or intellectual disability.
14. Raw or Undercooked Fish
Consumption of raw or undercooked fish causes several infections including dehydration and weakness. This might also result in premature delivery, miscarriage, or even stillbirth.
15. High Mercury Fish
High Mercury fishes are generally found in polluted seas and contain huge amounts of Mercury which is highly toxic to the nervous system, kidneys, and immune system of a pregnant lady. Some examples of high Mercury fish are shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tuna, marlin, tilefish, etc. However, there are some fishes that are healthy to eat when cooked well, like anchovies, cod, flounder, haddock, Salmon, Trout, and tilapia.
These are all the food items that a pregnant lady should not consume during the early stages of her pregnancy. It is equally important for you to know about some dietary supplements that should be consumed to boost up your health and help you to stand strong during tough times.
Dietary Supplements for Pregnancy
The early stages of pregnancy are the most sensitive and you should be very cautious about the food items that you consume in your daily routine. Along with the medications, your body requires certain nutrients and supplements that ease the pain and immune the body to take care of the young one. Here is a list of all the supplements that a pregnant woman can take in the early stages of her pregnancy.
1. Choline
The consumption of choline helps in the development of the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
2. Probiotics
Consumption of probiotics is safe during pregnancy as it reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, dermatitis, and eczema.
3. Fish oil
Fish oil contains DHA and EPA, two acids that are quite essential for the development of a baby’s brain. It helps you to decrease your maternal depression and protect against preterm delivery. Fish oil also takes part in fetal eye development.
4. Ginger
Ginger is generally consumed as a spice and is a herbal supplement for pregnant ladies. It helps pregnant ladies to cure nausea and vomiting that they experience in the first trimester of pregnancy.
5. Magnesium
It is responsible for playing multiple roles to keep your immune system, Muscular System, and nervous system strong. If you do not happen to take enough magnesium in your diet, then you might suffer hypertension and premature labor.
6. Vitamin D
The richest source of vitamin D is sunlight and it is highly recommended for pregnant ladies to take sunbathe to protect themselves from preterm birth and gestational diabetes during the pregnancy. However, don’t be under the sun for a too long duration as it can cause more harm than good. A good half-hour sunbathe under the morning sunlight is healthy for you and your baby.
7. Iron
A pregnant lady should significantly consume iron as it helps in the growth and development of her baby and protects her from preterm delivery, maternal depression as well as infant anemia.
8. Folate
It helps in the production of red blood cells and reduces the risk of neural tube defect along with congenital abnormalities and heart defects in the newborn baby.
9. Prenatal Vitamins
It is a kind of multivitamins that helps to formulate the increased demand for micronutrients in the body of a pregnant woman. Prenatal vitamins are responsible for reducing the risk of preterm birth.
End Thoughts
The whole period of 9 months is significant because it is the time you take care of your child’s growth and development. Your eating habits put a direct impact on your young one. Therefore you should eat a nutritional diet, take maximum sleep and rest and minimize your stress to experience a healthy pregnancy for both you and your baby. These were all the foods to avoid in the early stages of pregnancy along with certain dietary supplements. Inherit all these changes in your lifestyle during the early phase of your pregnancy to experience a great start to your journey of motherhood!