4th Month Pregnancy Diet – Which Foods To Eat And Avoid?
After getting done with the first trimester now it is time to enter the second trimester of pregnancy. The symptoms of nausea, headache, vomiting tend to go away by now. Hence you tend to feel more energetic and active. During this time it is essential to take care of your diet.
What To Eat?
Dairy Products:
Calcium is an essential nutrient for the proper growth and development of the baby. Milk is one of the nutrients providing maximum amount of calcium. You should incorporate good amount of dairy products on a regular basis. Food items like milk, curd, low fat cottage cheese are good supplements of calcium. You should check the amount of fat before consuming them.
Meats:
Consumption of meat is only possible in absence of nausea. Include meat in the daily diet in 4th month of pregnancy after it is gone. It is very important to consume meat which is cooked very properly under hygienic conditions. Meats which are undercooked can carry various bacteria at times. The most important nutrient supplied by meat is iron. Intake of iron is very beneficial for the baby’s growth.
Fiber:
It is very important to add optimum amount of fiber in your daily diet. Food items like whole grains, wheat bread and oats contain good amount of fiber. You can include fiber in your diet during 4th month of pregnancy’s it is very advantageous. It is recommended to have fibereach day of at least 25 grams. It helps in reducing constipation and also lowers blood pressure.
See More: Diet During 5Th Month Of Pregnancy
Fruits:
They are all high in their content of vitamins and important minerals. There are instances of acidity or heartburn during this month. Hence it is most advisable to consume fresh fruits of all kinds. Fruits like cantaloupe, strawberries, apricots, grapes etc provide the baby with optimum vitamins and minerals. It helps in keeping your baby healthy. Fruits also induce development of your baby.
Food Items Rich In Iron:
Iron facilitates growth of your foetus and this month demands increased amount of this nutrient. Iron also helps in the production of blood in your body. It is very important for your body to produce extra 3-6 litres of blood during pregnancy. Thus consume meat, green leafy vegetables, whole grain in large number to facilitate blood production.
Fatty Acids:
Along with the above mentioned food items, you should also have food items having fatty acids like olive oil, nuts and fresh fish. This is one of the most important 4month pregnancy food which is highly important for reducing pregnancy risks. Risks related to premature labor, low weight during birth are reduced due to the intake of these acids. Risks associated with any kind of cognitive and mental retardation is also reduced.
Protein:
We get amino acids from protein and this is the main constituent in the development of body cells. Optimum quantity of food items containing protein like chicken, beans and eggs should be eaten regularly. This will ensure optimum supplement of amino acids to your body. Thus include protein in your regular diet.
Whole Grains:
Whole grains are responsible for supplying energy to the body. You also get fiber, B Vitamins and iron from whole grains. Include it in the diet of 4th month of pregnancy food for your well being. They are real sources of energy for your baby and also help in building the placenta. You should try having whole grains of at least 48 grams each day.
Vegetables:
Consumption of vegetables during pregnancy leads to a number of long term benefits. It should be included in the 4th month of pregnancy diet because of its health benefits. It also helps in reducing any risks associated with health complications or any kind of diseases. Vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, spinach, broccoli, turnip etc are great for pregnancy period.
See More: 3 Month Pregnancy Food
Beans and Lentils:
Beans and lentils are well known for their nutritional value. They contain folic acid, iron, protein and fibre in large numbers. It helps in preventing birth defects. A common problem during pregnancy is constipation and this can be tackled by lentils as they have fiber. It also reduces migraine pain and stress during the period of pregnancy.
What Not To Eat?
Soft cheese:
One of the most important food items that should be avoided in pregnancy is soft cheese. As they are made from milk which is unpasteurized, they might contain bacteria. As they have water content low, thus there are less chances of any disease caused by microorganisms. You can have foods which contains hard cheese.
Junk Food/ Street Food:
Having junk food or street food is one of our bad habits and while pregnancy it is the worst. The hygiene factor is low and contains excess amount of fat. Controlling your weight during pregnancy and post pregnancy is very important. Consumption of street food can also induce food poisoning and also other diseases.
Sea Fish:
You should avoid consuming sea fish during this period because it contains methyl mercury. This is a compound which often causes mental retardation. Thus sea fish should be avoided to prevent any kind of birth related risks. Fishes like white tuna should be avoided completely as they have high level of mercury.
Caffeine:
This often crosses the placenta and has adverse effects on the heart rate of the baby. It majorly gets injurious to the health when you have more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day. Though moderate amount of caffeine does notaffect your health but prolonged consumption in large numbers is harmful.
Alcohol:
Alcohol affects your baby much more than it does to you. Consumption of alcohol gives rise to disorders like fetal alcohol spectrum. It can cause various birth defects and thus should be avoided at all costs. The alcohol enters in the blood of your baby and thus causes adverse effects on your child.
See More: Diet During First Month Of Pregnancy
It is thus very important to take care of yourself and your baby in the entire stretch of pregnancy, and 4th month is no exception. It is advisable to follow the diet guidelines provide for a healthy child. It is very essential to consume the right amount of food items to ensure a healthy delivery.
