While you should eat healthfully throughout all stages of your pregnancy, your second trimester is especially crucial for your future child’s development, according to MayoClinic.com. You probably will gain the most weight during your second trimester, but you must be careful not to gain too much weight or you place yourself and your developing child at risk for health problems including gestational diabetes.
Nutrition Basics
During your second trimester, you should eat about 300 additional calories daily unless your doctor advises otherwise, notes the March of Dimes. You can add more calories to your diet by eating healthful snacks such as a glass of skim milk and fig bars. While you do not have to give up all of your favorite foods, you should consume most of your calories through grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and lean proteins.
Second Trimester Basics
The second trimester of your pregnancy begins 11 weeks after conception, according to MayoClinic.com. During this phase, your future child’s gender will become apparent and your doctor might be able to perform an ultrasound to confirm this information. Urine and fat cells also form during the second trimester. Your growing baby also will be able to hear and can make sucking motions. You also might notice kicking motions in your womb. The second trimester ends 25 weeks after conception.
Foods to Avoid
You cannot safely drink alcohol during the second trimester or any other stage of your pregnancy, warns the March of Dimes. Do not drink unpasteurized milk or juice. You should not eat undercooked meat, poultry, seafood or unheated deli meats and hot dogs. Also do not eat soft cheeses such as feta or Brie or refrigerated, smoked seafood. Limit your caffeine intake to 12 oz. or less daily of caffeinated beverages such as coffee.
Additional Tips
Take a multivitamin with at least 400 mg of folic acid during every day of your pregnancy, especially the second trimester, advises the March of Dimes. If you do not get enough folic acid, your future child might suffer from birth defects such as spina bifida. Eat as little sugar and added fat as possible; eating a nutritious diet and exercising 30 minutes most days of the week will keep you and your future child healthy and also make it easier for you to shed excess weight after delivery.
