Can I eat plums during early pregnancy?

It is best not to eat too many plums in the early stages of pregnancy. If you feel that you don’t have much appetite, you can eat some appropriately, but you must remember not to eat too much, otherwise it will be harmful to your body. You must not be picky about food, as this will only lead to symptoms of malnutrition, which will cause some abnormal reactions in the fetus.

The nutrients needed for the growth of the fetus come from the pregnant woman. Pregnant women must get enough nutrition from food to meet their own nutritional needs and the growth and development of the fetus. Pregnant women should eat appropriately, 25% more than usual, but should control their food intake appropriately in the late pregnancy to prevent overnutrition, as eating too much can lead to indigestion, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension, etc., especially excessive fat can easily lead to dystocia during delivery.

At the same time, we must prevent malnutrition in pregnant women, which is mainly caused by severe early pregnancy reactions, picky eating, or dieting due to fear of affecting their appearance. If the weight gain during the entire pregnancy is less than 6 kg, it will lead to some adverse consequences, such as anemia, osteoporosis, and even miscarriage, early pregnancy, and symptoms such as poor development, poor health, and mental retardation after the baby is born.

The most important thing to note in early pregnancy is folic acid supplementation, because expectant mothers' demand for folic acid throughout the pregnancy is 1.5 to 2 times that before pregnancy. Taking 0.4 mg of folic acid per day in early pregnancy can greatly reduce the incidence of fetal neural tube defects and prevent newborn birth defects. To supplement folic acid, drink oral liquid, two bottles each time, twice a day. Each bottle of oral liquid contains 0.1 mg of folic acid. So 4 bottles a day means 0.4 mg of folic acid, which is enough to meet the daily folic acid requirement of pregnant women.

Folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy can prevent neural tube defects, and folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy can prevent gestational hyperlipidemia. The folic acid in folic acid supplements is easier to absorb than the folic acid in food, so it is recommended to start supplementing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily at least 3 months before pregnancy and continue throughout the pregnancy. [1]

Self-care

1. Don’t do strenuous exercise.

During pregnancy, pregnant mothers need to maintain proper exercise. However, in the early stages of pregnancy, the development of the fetus is unstable and the mother's physical condition is also unstable. At this time, the mother should not engage in strenuous exercise to avoid miscarriage.

2. Pay attention to personal hygiene.

For women who have just become pregnant, due to changes in their bodies and increased demand for nutrition, their metabolism will be very fast and their vaginal secretions will increase, making them vulnerable to bacterial invasion. Therefore, after entering the pregnancy period, pregnant mothers should pay special attention to their own hygiene, take a bath frequently, and change underwear frequently.