What should be my diet during the Second Month of Pregnancy?

If you are a non-vegetarian, then this is the right time to add some protein into your diet. You can add a fish curry or a chicken curry can add more protein even while keeping all the fat at bay. You can also add eggs to your plate, as pregnant women are protected to a certain degree to the harmful effects of cholesterol.

Their blood cholesterol will rise by almost 30 percent since cholesterol is needed for the development of the embryo. But be careful not to overindulge on a non-vegetarian diet, since a high fat diet can later lead to obesity. On the other hand, a pure vegetarian should be more vigilant about her diet. If you are a strict vegetarian, then you can continue to do so, however, you should get adequate protein from vegetable sources, like green leafy vegetables, cucumber, and fruits. It is recommended that you add a serving of salad to the food, to remove protein deficiency in your food. Another problem faced by strict vegetarians are Calcium based nutrients. Milk and milk based foods offer the highest amounts of Calcium.

You can substitute them with soya milk and soya based yoghurt. Calcium enriched fruit juices are also recommended for strict vegetarians. Avoid fasting, or even dieting, as these can have adverse effects on the developing foetus. Take vitamin and iron supplements, as required by your doctor. Stomach-aches, heartburns and indigestion are common during the second month onwards. This is partly due to the hormones secreted by the body that will relax the muscles of the digestive tract which cause the acidic half digested food to rise up back to through the food pipe.

Frequent vomiting can also cause heartburn. To counteract its effects, you can use antacids that are safe for pregnant women. Eat less food, but eat often. Do not go to sleep immediately after dinner, do some light chores while standing. This will allow the food to settle down in your stomach.

All I want is a scoop of ice cream

Aversion towards the food you typically like and craving some other food are common during the second month of pregnancy. Typically craving for unripe mangoes, oranges, ice creams, pickles and chocolate is seen as a normal during this time. Often, these are explained in terms of the changes in hormone levels in the body. It was traditionally thought that the body craves for food that is good for the body and has an aversion to the foods that are not good for it. But this is not the case. There is little correlation between the cravings and your nutritional needs.

In fact over-indulging in these cravings can be even harmful for your body. Scientist’s are still not clear about the causes of these cravings. So, it is not a good idea to give in to the cravings at all times. You can have an occasional scoop of the ice cream, but do not go overboard. You can distract yourself from the cravings by do something else that interests you. If you are good at knitting, then go ahead and stitch that sweater that you fancied for your baby. Do anything that will help you to forget the cravings. Sometimes, you will have aversions to certain foods that are good for your body. You might suddenly feel like avoiding cabbage or lettuce. Then, you have to find an alternative food item, which will supply the body with nutrients.

In Ayurveda, it is advised that pregnant mothers should avoid warm foods like dates, asafoetida and papaya.

Precautions to be taken during the Second Month

By the second month, you must be cautious at all times. In the second month, you may sometimes forget that you are pregnant. This can be disastrous for the baby that is growing inside you. Your bodies centre of gravity is changing slowly so you might be prone to falling while climbing stairs, ladders etc. Avoid bumpy rides in auto rickshaws, and avoid travel in crowded buses. You shoes and sandals must not have high heels which cause you to lose the balance. Avoid common household dangers like slippery surface, things that can easily cause you to stumble etc. Avoid any kind of heavy exercises. You might get easily tired and dehydrated during this time. You can ask other people in your family to do heavy jobs like lifting heavy bags, cleaning kitchen etc.

Your Baby During the Second Month of Pregnancy

Though your baby is still very small (about three centimetres long), it has developed more baby like appearance. It has lost its tail-like projections and its head, arms and legs can be seen through an ultra-sound scan. But, it is better to wait till the end of 10th week for an ultra-sound scan. Some of its organs will begin functioning from the second month.

The placenta, which is the connection between you and your baby, is nearly completely. It will play a vital role in the providing nourishment for the baby in the months to come. Your baby’s ears openings can be seen, however, it still cannot hear any sounds. It eyes are like small dark depressions in its head, and they are yet to be fully functional. The eyes already have a translucent eyelid.

The baby now has tiny hands that are folded near the heart. The fingers are web-like in appears. They cannot be individually. He can make an odd movement or two, and in the next two months you can feel the baby kick. The yolk which used to cover the baby is now slowly replaced by the amniotic fluid. The neurons have started making connections in the brain and neurological activities have started functioning. The brain has started controlling heartbeat, and other involuntary movements. Your baby has a steady yet fast heartbeat. It will beat at more than hundred beats per minute. It will slow down in the next few months.