The first trimester

The first trimester is the first 3 months of your pregnancy. Your body will undergo a lot of changes as your baby is slowly starting to grow in your womb. This time of the pregnancy can be hard for moms-to-be.
In between the food cravings and morning sickness, you need to keep eating a healthy diet. There are also some foods to avoid in the first trimester of your pregnancy. This is important for you and your baby’s health.
Foods to avoid in the first trimester of pregnancy
The first trimester is a crucial time for your baby’s growth. Some types of food can be harmful to you and can affect your baby’s health and development.
You should avoid the following foods in your first trimester:
Seafood Containing Mercury
Eating fish with high levels of mercury can cause mercury poisoning. If you eat fish that contain mercury during pregnancy, it can pass on to your baby. Mercury is a metal that can delay your baby’s development, cause brain damage, and affect their hearing and sight.
Avoid eating fish like:
- Swordfish
- Tilefish
- King mackerel
- Shark
- Marlin
- Ahi and bigeye tuna
- Orange roughy
Raw or Undercooked Seafood and Meat
Raw foods can contain harmful bacteria that can cause infection and food poisoning. This infection can pass on to your baby during pregnancy. Eating undercooked seafood and meat can increase your risk of toxoplasmosis, salmonella, or listeria infection.
Make sure you cook these foods properly. Heat seafood and meat to over 145 Fahrenheit, and cook poultry to over 160 Fahrenheit. This will help kill the bacteria and prevent you and your baby from getting infected.
Avoid eating these foods:
- Smoked seafood
- Refrigerated seafood
- Raw deli meats
- Undercooked shellfish
- Sushi
- Pâté
Raw or Undercooked Eggs
Raw or lightly cooked eggs may contain salmonella. Try and avoid eating foods containing raw or undercooked eggs.
Avoid eating these foods:
- Raw cake batter
- Raw cookie dough
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Lightly cooked omelets
- Salad dressings or mayonnaise with egg
- Eggnog
Unpasteurized Milk and Other Dairy Products
Before use, milk is often pasteurized or heated to kill germs and improve its shelf life. Unpasteurized milk and dairy products like cheese may contain bacteria such as listeria. Consuming unpasteurized milk can cause food poisoning like listeriosis. This can affect you and your baby and can even lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Check the label to ensure that the product you’re buying is pasteurized. You should avoid having unpasteurized soft cheeses like:
- Moldy blue cheese like Danish blue or gorgonzola
- Brie
- Feta
- Camembert
- Chevre
Raw Sprouts
Raw sprouts may contain bacteria inside, which can be difficult to wash away. Avoid having raw sprouts to prevent any infection. Before you eat deli sandwiches or other prepared foods, check to see whether they contain raw sprouts. Make sure you thoroughly wash and cook the sprouts to destroy any infection-causing germs.
Avoid these raw sprouts:
- Alfalfa
- Mung beans
- Radish
- Clover
Unwashed Vegetables or Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are an essential part of your diet. Before you eat them, make sure that they are properly washed. Unwashed vegetables and fruits may contain dirt and germs such as toxoplasmosis, which can harm you and your baby.
Also, avoid having pre-packaged salads, buffet salads, or those at open salad bars, as they can be contaminated with listeria.
Excess Caffeine
Although a moderate intake of caffeine is allowed during pregnancy, high caffeine intake can affect your baby’s development. Research has shown that excess caffeine can increase the risk of a miscarriage during the first trimester.
Your daily caffeine intake should be less than 200 milligrams, which is equal to a 12-ounce cup of coffee. Check the labels of sodas, energy drinks, teas, or chocolate, as they may contain caffeine.
No amount of alcohol is safe for consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Completely avoid alcohol throughout your pregnancy. Exposure to alcohol can affect your baby’s development and result in fetal alcohol syndrome.
Excess Vitamin A
In your first trimester, avoid having vitamin A supplements and liver products like pâté as they may contain high vitamin A levels. A high dose of vitamin A can be toxic for your baby and cause birth defects. This is because your baby’s liver has still not developed and can’t process a lot of vitamin A.
Other Foods
Avoid having nuts if you are allergic to them. Limit your intake of herbal teas and licorice. And drink only pasteurized fruit juices.
Foods to eat in the first trimester of pregnancy
During pregnancy, you should eat well-balanced, healthy meals that are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fluids, and fiber. Add the following to your diet to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy:
- Vegetables like spinach and broccoli that are rich in folic acid and iron
- Colorful fruits like avocados, bananas, apples, pears, cherries, grapes, and watermelons, and vegetables like peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, asparagus, and sweet potatoes
- Citrus fruits like grapefruits, oranges, and sweet limes, which are rich in folic acid
- Well-cooked lean meat and eggs
- Seafood with low levels of mercury like shrimp, lobster, salmon, catfish, and canned light tuna
- Pasteurized dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and low-fat milk
- Whole grains like wheat, oats, barley, corn, millet, and rice
- Lentils and nuts, provided you are not allergic to them
- Lots of water and other fluids for hydration
- Prenatal vitamins and supplements
In summary
If you are in the first trimester of pregnancy, take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. Talk with your doctor to know more about the foods you should avoid or include in your diet while you are pregnant.

QUESTION
Nothing can relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
pregnancybaby&birth: "First Trimester."
American Pregnancy Association: "Foods to Avoid When Pregnant."
NRDC: "Mercury Guide."
MARCH OF DIMES: "FOODS TO AVOID OR LIMIT DURING PREGNANCY."
NHS: "Foods to avoid in pregnancy."
pregnancybirth&baby: "Foods to avoid when pregnant."
SANFORD HEALTH: "Do's and don'ts during the first trimester of pregnancy."
Top Foods Avoided During the First Trimester Pregnancy Related Articles
What Blood Tests Are Done in First Trimester of Pregnancy?
When you are pregnant, your doctor will do blood tests to check complete blood count, blood type, Rh factor, infections, birth defects, and more.Can You Travel in the First Trimester of Pregnancy?
What to know about traveling in your first trimester of pregnancy. Learn the risks of traveling while pregnant and considerations for travel during pregnancy.What Are the Do's and Don'ts During the First Trimester of Pregnancy?
The first trimester of your pregnancy is the first twelve weeks that you're pregnant. The do's during the first trimester of pregnancy include getting prenatal care and maintaining your health, rest and mental health; the don't include drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, eating dangerous foods and engaging in risky behaviors.How Do You Get Rid of Pregnancy Gas Pains?
Having gas during pregnancy is a normal and common thing, but sometimes, it may cause you discomfort and pain. Get rid of pregnancy gas pains by lying on your side, wearing loose clothing, wearing loose clothing, and avoiding stress, chewing gum, and smoking.How Much Weight Should I Gain During My Pregnancy in the First Trimester?
Weight gain during pregnancy supports the developing baby. You should gain less than five pounds during the first trimester of your pregnancy. Check out the center below for more medical references on pregnancy, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.Is It Normal to Lose Appetite in 2nd Trimester Pregnancy?
What to know about losing your appetite in pregnancy. Learn about the risks and how you can make sure you're eating a healthy diet.Is It OK to Exercise and Workout in the First Trimester of Pregnancy?
You should talk to your doctor to make sure it's safe for you to exercise during pregnancy. However, in most cases, exercising during pregnancy will benefit you and your baby.Bleeding During Pregnancy (First Trimester)
Bleeding during pregnancy is never normal. Causes of bleeding during the first trimester of a pregnancy may be caused by implantation bleeding, ectopic or tubal pregnancy, subchorionic hemorrhaging, infections, and miscarriage. Bleeding during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can be caused by a variety of factors.Pregnancy Diet (Menu Plans)
When a woman is pregnant, she needs more vitamins, minerals, and other foods in her diet to stay healthy and deliver a healthy baby. A healthy pregnancy diet menu plan should consist of lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats (unless you are vegan or vegetarian), and dairy. Examples of healthy pregnancy diet meal plans include holistic pregnancy diet, vegan or vegetarian diet, and low-carb diets. Begin your healthy eating plan around three months before you begin trying to conceive, and follow the same eating plan until after you have stopped breastfeeding. If you are overweight or obese, being pregnant is not the right time to try to lose weight. Discuss your options with your health care professional.What Foods Should I Eat During My First Trimester of Pregnancy?
What to know about diet during the first trimester. Learn more about how to protect and fuel your body and baby during this exciting time.What Vitamins and Supplements Should I Avoid During Pregnancy?
You should always clear it with your obstetrician before taking any vitamins or supplements while pregnant.What Are the 3 Prenatal Tests?
Prenatal tests are medical procedures performed during pregnancy to assess the health and development of the fetus and to help identify any potential problems or abnormalities. The three most common prenatal tests include ultrasound, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Other prenatal tests include pregnancy test, first trimester screening, second trimester screening, noninvasive prenatal testing, fetal ultrasound, genetic counseling, biophysical profile, Group B streptococcus (GBS) test, glucose tolerance test, anomaly scan, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test.What Does Early Pregnancy Cramping Feel Like?
Many people experience cramping early in their pregnancy. Learn the signs of cramping, what causes it, when to see a doctor, and what you can do to treat it. The first week of the pregnancy is when the egg has been released from the ovum, the egg then combines with sperm and conception occurs. Progesterone and estrogen hormones, which are a part of the normal menstrual cycle, rise dramatically. A new hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) begins to be produced as well.Which Trimester Do You Gain the Most Weight During Pregnancy?
You don't need to gain much weight during the first trimester, however, during the second and third trimesters your weight gain should be pretty steady.Why Do Pregnant Women Get Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness, though exact cause is unknown, may be related to hormonal shifts and the increase in or presence of certain hormones.