As your second trimester begins, you will begin to notice rapid changes in your body. The first likely (and very welcomed) change is that your morning sickness will go away. Your baby is growing very quickly during these three months, and you will begin to feel him moving around inside you. He will begin to recognize, and may even respond to, your voice. You will begin to show, and will have to make some wardrobe changes to accommodate the little one growing inside of you. During this time, you will inevitably be told that you’re “eating for two”. Since you will also feel hungrier than you have up until now, you will probably find that advice easy to believe, but the truth is that the baby inside of you only needs about 300 Calories more than what you would normally eat for yourself. Rather than focusing on eating more, focus on eating better, making sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables. And, during your second trimester, avoid the following foods:
- Alcohol. The effects of alcohol on developing babies are widely known and publicized. If you’re pregnant, don’t drink it.
- Undercooked Fish, Raw Meats, Deli Meats, Fish high in mercury or PCB. Basically, the same foods you should avoid throughout your entire pregnancy
- Foods that cause constipation. During your second trimester, constipation can be a problem that causes a great deal of discomfort. IF you find a particular type of food tends to stop you up, don’t eat it. Instead, make sure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink lots of water, as doing so will decrease your chances of constipation.
- Caffeine. If you drink caffeinated beverages at all, limit your intake to 12 ounces during your second trimester. That’s one can (not bottle) of soda or 1 ½ cups of coffee. Regular coffee cups. If you use coffee mugs, as most of us do, limit yourself to one.
- Artificial Sweeteners. While it has not been proven conclusively that artificial sweeteners will cause harm to your baby, pregnant women are advised to eliminate or limit their intake of artificial sweeteners. So far, tests are inconclusive, but it is believed artificial sweeteners may be harmful to your baby.
- Sugar. Too much sugar can lead to excessive weight gain. While you should not be trying to lose weight (or even keep from gaining it) during your pregnancy, gaining excessive weight isn’t good for you or your baby, either. So, limit the sugar
- Junk Food. You will likely be eating several times per day. Your nutritional intake is important to your health and your baby’s. Choose snacks that are healthy. Sweet fruits make an excellent snack.
