Notes on the menu for pregnant women in the last 3 months

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

The third trimester of pregnancy is the time when the fetus develops the fastest in both weight and brain. Therefore, having a reasonable diet for pregnant women in the last 3 months will help the fetus develop optimally, pregnant women also have enough health to nourish and prepare for the labor process.

Many studies from experts show that the health and nutrition status of pregnant mothers directly affects the development of their children from the time they are in the womb to adulthood. Many cases of fetuses are born with low birth weight due to lack of energy and micronutrients from the mother.
During the period in the womb, the only source of nutrition that the fetus has is from the mother. The nutrients will follow the blood through the placenta to provide the developing fetus. Having adequate nutrition helps pregnant women have good resistance, minimizing the possibility of infection during pregnancy. Mothers will have enough strength to give birth, recover quickly after giving birth and have enough milk to breastfeed.
Women with good nutrition before and during pregnancy will prevent the baby from fetal malnutrition, fetal distress, mental and motor retardation.

The end of pregnancy is the period when the fetus develops the brain and weight most rapidly. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure adequate and diverse nutritional sources to meet the needs of the fetus.
Below is the menu for pregnant women in the last 3 months
2.1. Menu for pregnant women in the 7th month The 7th month is the time when the pregnant mother's body needs the most iron. Mothers can supplement this iron from food sources such as: lean meat, vegetables, fruits, animal liver, legumes...
Along with that is adding more calcium, phosphorus, i. -odine and zinc. Foods rich in these substances include: seaweed, red apple, jellyfish, soybeans, tofu, vegetables, black ear fungus, peanuts, chicken eggs, animal head bones,... and fish and shrimp. , sea mussels..
In July, mothers also avoid overeating to limit heartburn. Eat meals several times a day. Avoid eating fried, greasy, and spicy foods.

2.2. The menu for the 8th month pregnant mother In the 8th month, the mother also needs to add food sources of high nutritional value. The foods that experts recommend to eat during the 8th month of pregnancy include: rice, cereals, eggs, meats, fish, animal liver (1 time a week), green vegetables and other foods. fruit.
This is the period when the baby's brain develops strongly, so supplementing with omega-3 in the last 3 months of pregnancy is essential. This substance can be supplemented from foods such as natural fats such as nuts (walnuts, chia seeds, peanuts, pistachios...), seafood (especially fish). anise),...
Pregnant women should avoid eating soybeans and persimmons to avoid bloating. Also do not overuse nutritional supplements such as fish oil, multivitamins, ginseng...
2.3. Menu for pregnant women in the 9th month This is the last month of pregnancy to prepare for the birth of the baby. It is also the period when the baby perfects all the functional organs in his body, the period when he develops rapidly to dizzying. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to meet enough nutrients for the fetus in this month.

Tips on how to eat in the last 4 weeks are as follows:
Should divide meals into 5-6 meals instead of 3 main meals. Do not skip meals or fast for a long time. Add more calcium-rich foods to keep your bones strong, and at the same time help the process of "producing" breast milk after giving birth more smoothly. Need to drink a lot of water, should not eat salty foods to avoid edema. Do not eat fatty or greasy foods to avoid gaining too much weight. Add fat to the body from natural foods. Eat more vegetables and fruits to prevent constipation. Adding iron in the daily menu to avoid anemia and iron deficiency. Add fish to the menu (2 meals a week) to add more omega 3 for the baby's brain to develop comprehensively. Take vitamin supplements as directed by your doctor. Eat cooked and drink clean, avoid eating raw food, unpasteurized cheese to avoid the risk of miscarriage, premature birth.

The last 3 months is the period when the fetus develops the most, especially in terms of weight. However, this is also a matter of concern because the fetus can be overweight or underweight, causing dangerous complications such as difficult birth, fetal growth retardation. Therefore, during this period, you should have regular antenatal check-ups to monitor the weight of the fetus, thereby making appropriate adjustments in the diet. This is also the time when pregnant women are very likely to give birth prematurely, so it is important to pay special attention to abnormal signs and go to a medical facility early for examination and treatment.
To protect the health of the mother and baby comprehensively as well as help the mother feel more secure during labor, Vinmec provides a full Maternity service. With this package, the mother will have regular antenatal check-ups and routine tests to monitor her health. The fetus is monitored for fetal heart rate and uterine contractions with an obstetric monitor at 37-40 weeks of gestation to predict the exact time of delivery. After each examination, pregnant women are analyzed by specialist doctors and advised on nutrition and rest suitable for the mother's condition and the development of the fetus.
If premature babies will be cared for and raised with international standard procedures. Premature births are organized in a methodical manner under the coordination of many specialties: obstetrics, anesthesiology, and especially neonatology and paediatrics. This helps to reduce the risks and increase the effectiveness of treatment for health problems that premature babies may have.
If you have a need to use maternity services at Vinmec, please register directly at the website to be served.