What should I eat during the 5th month of pregnancy to ensure nutrition for the baby?

Discover the best foods to eat during the 5th month of pregnancy to ensure proper nutrition for your baby. Learn about essential nutrients, foods to avoid, and tips for a healthy pregnancy diet.

The fifth month pregnant woman needs to pay more attention to the diet because this is the stage where the fetus begins to grow and develop very quickly.

To have a  healthy  and safe pregnancy, pregnant mothers need to be supplemented with adequate nutrition. A balanced diet during the 5th month of pregnancy is very important for keeping the baby healthy and developing well.

However, the question is what should pregnant women with 5 months of pregnancy need to eat? Please join aFamilyToday Health to continue to share the following to get some more useful information.

The importance of a nutritious diet for 5 months pregnant women

One of the reasons that the diet is so important to pregnancy is because during pregnancy, the mother's caloric needs will gradually increase very high. Not only that, the mother's body also needs more iron to produce enough blood to meet the needs of the mother and baby.

Therefore, the diet of the fifth month pregnant woman should include iron-rich foods  to help the fetus develop healthy.

What foods should be included in the menu of 5-month pregnant women?

In the menu of pregnant women of the 5th month, certain foods must be included:

Fruits and vegetables:  Each day, you need to eat about 5 servings of fruits and vegetables to provide enough vitamins and other essential nutrients for the body. In addition, the natural sugars found in fruit will also help you have an energetic and joyful day.

Foods high in protein  such as tofu and soy products. Protein is not only important for the health of the mother, it is essential for fetal growth . This nutrient works to strengthen the muscles, skin and other organs.

Starchy foods  such as rice, noodles, pho, noodles, sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes and bread are indispensable foods in the daily menu to provide energy for pregnant women.

Drink enough water:  Pregnancy is the time when you need to take care of both yourself and your baby. In addition to eating well, pregnant mothers also need to pay attention to the amount of water they drink each day to keep their body moist and avoid  constipation , this is a common problem in many pregnant women.

Salad  is a very good dish for pregnant women because the ingredient of this dish includes a variety of green vegetables such as lettuce, crab, sprouts, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes. Green vegetables contain lots of minerals and fiber, good for your health and your baby's development.

Milk is one of the very important foods in the diet of 5 months pregnant women because this drink is high in calcium, essential for the development of bones, teeth and muscles. Many people feel uncomfortable drinking milk during pregnancy. If you are in this situation as well, choose dairy foods instead.

Chicken  is a very good food for pregnant women. If you feel sick, you can eat a little chicken for protein. Compared to other meats, chicken will be safer for pregnant women.

Fish is  very rich in protein, but when using fish for cooking, you need to prepare it thoroughly and cook it. Because if not, fish can cause poisoning and affect the baby. You should avoid eating marine fish containing mercury to avoid harming your baby's development such as tilefish, mackerel, halibut, yellow thread fish, tuna ...

Grains  also play an important role because they contain vitamins E and B, which are essential for the normal development of the fetus. In addition, the cereal contains iron and magnesium, nutrients that are essential for children's growth.

Legumes  such as soybeans, green beans, black beans, kidney beans, peas ... are all rich in protein. If pregnant mother is a person who likes vegetarian and frugal dishes, she cannot help but add this food to her menu.

Pregnant women 5 months pregnant should avoid eating?

The fifth month of pregnancy is an extremely important stage for your baby's development, so you need to pay more attention to your diet. In the daily menu, you should absolutely avoid the following foods:

Fruits are very healthy, but not all fruits are good for pregnant women. Pregnant 5 months pregnant should avoid eating tropical fruits such as raw papaya, pineapple, pomegranate ... because if you are not "alkaline", but eating too much of these fruits can lead to  miscarriage . In addition, you should also absolutely avoid canned fruits because these foods often contain many preservatives, which are not good for pregnancy.

Avoid soft drinks . Soft drinks are the favorite drink of many people, however, these are very unhealthy foods. Pregnant women who drink a lot of carbonated soft drinks will easily encounter  digestive problems  and  uncontrolled weight gain . If you are overweight while pregnant, you are more likely to experience  dangerous pregnancy complications  . 

Commercial food  can make you feel very delicious, but it's best to avoid eating at this stage. Because the dishes are often not thoroughly processed, unhygienic. Pizza and burgers are two dishes that pregnant women should absolutely avoid. No matter how delicious these foods, you should think about your baby's health before eating. 

Avoid tea and coffee  as they contain a lot of caffeine. Pregnant women absorb an excess of caffeine that can be dangerous for both mother and baby.

Absolutely do not touch alcohol and alcoholic drinks because alcohol and alcoholic beverages are considered the most dangerous drink during pregnancy.

Avoid junk food  such as cookies, chips and candies during pregnancy because they are bad for your body. Most of these foods are high in sugar and unhealthy fats, and if you eat a lot, you will easily gain weight.

Avoid raw eggs,  although eggs are essential food in the diet of 5 months pregnant women. This is because when you eat raw eggs, you have a  very high risk of catching  salmonella . You should only eat eggs that have been thoroughly cooked, not boiled eggs or lightly fried eggs.

Avoid eating excessively salty foods during the 5th month of pregnancy to minimize the risk of kidney damage,  high blood pressure , and gastrointestinal disturbances, which will greatly affect the development of the fetus.

Several nutrients 5 months pregnant women need additional attention

5 months pregnant women fully supplement the following nutrients:

Iron  is one of the most important substances for women with 5 months of pregnancy. Every day, you need to consume about 2mg of iron from foods.

Folic acid  is also another important nutrient to supplement. You need to take about 400mcg of folic acid per day until  the 12th week of pregnancy .

Zinc:  Do not ignore zinc-rich foods in the diet of 5 months pregnant because zinc deficiency can lead to negative effects. You can get more zinc through foods like red meat, beans, nuts, shellfish such as clams, clams ... 

Calcium is  not only important for the formation of bones and teeth, but is also involved in the formation of the nervous system. Every day, the calcium requirement of pregnant mothers in the second trimester is about 1,000mg.

Fat is essential for the brain development of the fetus during the 5th month of pregnancy. You should supplement fats from plants and fish instead of animals because fats from plants and fish are good for  cardio  more.

Some tips when building a diet for 5-month pregnant mothers

The daily menu of 5 months pregnant women needs to have a reasonable balance to ensure adequate supply of energy and nutrients for the body. Avoid overeating certain foods, including foods that are considered healthy, as this can lead to undesirable side effects.

You can have a menu ready, show your doctor and ask for advice. Your doctor will advise and adjust what you should and should not eat. In addition, you should also eat enough meals, at the right time to avoid unusual cravings. You can also prepare healthy, light meals to avoid getting hungry again for snacking.

The fifth month is the time when many of the baby's vital organs begin to develop. Therefore, pregnant mothers try to eat well for the best development of the baby. Even if it's something you don't like but it's good for health, you should still try for your baby.

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