Welcome to the final trimester of your pregnancy, which begins at 28 weeks. Now you start your way through the last stretch of your pregnancy. It’s time to know about food to eat and avoid during the seventh-month of pregnancy. Your body and your baby also will go through lots of changes during this month. You will probably start seeing your specialist once every two weeks. You should start counting and tracking the baby kicks from this month onwards. You should likewise be very alert, to make out the signs of preterm labor.
The seventh month is the month you will be able to relax in comparison to the upcoming two months. Therefore, this is the best time to search and find a good childbirth class and sign up for it. You can also talk about your birth plan with your physician during this month. Now let us get into food to eat and avoid during your seventh month of pregnancy.
In This Article
- What Should be Included in the Seventh-Month Pregnancy Diet?
- Foods To Be Avoided During 7th-month Pregnancy
- Diet Tips To Follow During Seventh-Month Pregnancy
- Seventh Month Pregnancy Symptoms
- Development of the Baby in the Seventh Month of Pregnancy
- FAQ’s
What Should Be Included in the Seventh-Month Pregnancy Diet?
Here is the list of food that should be included in your 7th-month pregnancy diet:
1. Iron and Vitamin C Rich Food
You ought to make sure to intake no less than 27 mg of iron a day. Anything lower than this implies you can be anemic, which can increase your chances of having a preterm delivery.
Intake of vitamin C is also equally important. Vitamin C is essential for the body to assimilate iron from food.
Here is the List of Iron Rich Food
- Dark green vegetables like kale, spinach, turnip leaves, etc.
- Dried fruits like raisins, apricots, etc.
- Food fortified with iron like cereals, pasta, etc.
- Poultry
- Soybeans
- Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, etc.
Here is The List of Vitamin C Rich Food
2. Food Rich in DHA
Do you want your baby to have a strong, smart brain? Then eat a lot of DHA- enriched food from this month onwards. DHA, an essential fatty acid, is vital for the healthy development of the baby’s brain. You will need to get around 200 milligrams a day. You can achieve this by including these in your diet:
3. Foods Rich in Calcium and Magnesium
Excluding calcium and magnesium-rich food during this month will bring about issues. Calcium is key for the development of the skeletal system of your child. And, magnesium is essential for the assimilation of calcium from food.
That is, if you include food loaded with 1000 grams of calcium, you ought to make sure to consume no less than 400g of magnesium to make utilization of all the calcium you devour. Magnesium additionally gives alleviating leg cramps (by helping to unwind your muscles) and helps in preventing premature delivery.
Therefore, it is important to include the following food in your seventh-month pregnancy diet. Dairy products are rich in calcium. Remember to take low-fat products for controlling the pregnancy weight:
Here is the list of Calcium-Rich Foods
Here is the List of Magnesium Rich Foods
- Barley
- Pumpkin seeds
- Oat bran
- Almonds
- Black beans
4. Food Rich in Folic Acid
Utilization of folic acid is an absolute necessity to each pregnant mother, prior to and in the course of pregnancy since it decreases the chances of neural tube defects. Eat 600 to 800 micrograms of folic acid per day. Include the following in your pregnancy diet:
- Dark leafy vegetables
- Oranges
- Oatmeal
- Whole grain bread
- Fortified Cereals
5. Fiber-Rich Food and Water
To keep constipation (which is one of the normal indications of the third trimester) at bay, you ought to ensure the intake of a lot of fiber-rich food. Bear in mind that the water in your digestive tract is quickly absorbed by fiber, so drink a lot of water and different liquids to avoid the consequences of dehydration. Here is the list of food rich in fiber:
- Legumes
- Food items made with whole grain
- Vegetables and fruits
6. Food Rich in Proteins
The growth rate of your baby during the third trimester will be the highest. Therefore, your diet should include protein. The amino acids that you get from the protein, you feast on will aid in the rapid growth of your little one. Include the following items in your diet to ensure enough protein intake when you are seven months pregnant:
Foods To Be Avoided During Seventh-Month Pregnancy
It is equally important to know what not to eat when you know what to eat during this period. During this stage of pregnancy, most expecting mothers experience heartburn, edema, fatigue, and constipation.
You should eliminate certain foods from your diet, since consuming them will certainly worsen these problems.
1. Foods High in Sodium
At this stage of pregnancy, it is critical to keep a close eye on your sodium intake. A high sodium intake aggravates swelling and bloating. Chips, pickles, sauces, canned food, and ketchup are loaded with sodium. Therefore, these foods should be eliminated from your menu. Also, increase the intake of fluids and water to keep your sodium levels in check.
2. Junk Food
Try to avoid processed foods like pizza, burgers, etc. Rather than eating junk food, try making homemade snacks instead.
3. Spicy and Fatty Foods
The consumption of spicy and fatty foods, particularly fried foods, will cause heartburn. You may not be able to sleep well after eating them. This is because spicy and fatty food will take more time to digest properly. It is mandatory to avoid eating fried foods at night during this stage of pregnancy.
4. Caffeine and Fizzy Beverages:
It is important to minimize caffeine intake during pregnancy. Pregnant women should refrain from drinking coffee or tea. If you feel like having it, limit it to one cup a day. These beverages can bring about constipation.
Likewise, avoid all fizzy beverages. They contain zero nutrients and to make things worse, they are loaded with artificial sugar and sweeteners
5. Alcohol:
It is a well-known fact that alcohol consumption is a big no at any stage of your pregnancy. At this stage, you should not even think about consuming it since it might impede the process of delivery.
Diet Tips To Follow During Seventh-Month Pregnancy
Given below is a list of useful dietary tips for the seventh month of your pregnancy.
Breakfast
Have a heavy breakfast as your body has all day to digest it.
- Fresh fruits and a glass of milk should be part of your morning breakfast.
- Include some iron-fortified cereal in your diet.
- To meet your protein needs, include some boiled legumes and beans.
- Daily consumption of eggs, dry fruits, and milk is also recommended.
Lunch
During the seventh month of pregnancy, lunch should be well balanced
- Lunch should consist of a variety of cooked vegetables and salads.
- Along with it you can have bread, chapati, or rice.
- Concentrate on starchy foods rather than sugary foods.
- Include protein-rich foods.
4 PM Snack
Pre-dinner evening snacks are very important for expecting mothers, especially during the 7th month of pregnancy. Your 4 pm snack should not be heavy. If you feel hungry, eat something light like makhana. You can also have:
- Whole-grain cereal with milk
- A handful of Peanuts, walnuts,
- Dried fruits
Dinner
Keep your dinner light as you will want to avoid symptoms of heartburn and constipation.
- Avoid fried and spicy dishes.
- Stick to salads and fresh fruits to get a good night’s sleep
Seventh-Month Pregnancy Symptoms
Before starting about the food to eat and avoid during the seventh month of pregnancy, let us evaluate common pregnancy signs of month seven.
You start to feel larger than before. You may not be able to bend (easily) any further. Here are the most common symptoms experienced by the expecting mother during the seventh month of pregnancy:
1. Weight Gain
You are going to experience a lot of weight gain, especially from the middle of this month. There will be a chronic feeling of clumsiness that is attributed to this quick weight gain.
You may start to waddle like a pregnant woman from now onwards. Your tummy continues to increase in size more quickly than the last trimester, making it inconvenient to move faster
2. Tiredness and Sleeplessness During Seventh-Month
The fatigue and tiredness increases as you go on to experience sleep issues during the night
3. Pain and Swelling
During the seventh month of pregnancy, women experience increased swelling and pain in their joints and muscles. Because of the growing womb, you can undergo frequent back pain.
There is another perspective for this pain and discomfort. The production of the relaxin hormone starts to increase during this trimester.
As a result, your pelvic joints and other joints will start to loosen upbringing about pain in the joints. Swelling is mainly due to water retention
4. Hot Flashes
This is another common sign during this phase of pregnancy, which is caused by the constantly changing hormone levels. You feel excessively hot, irrespective of the weather.
These hot flashes are generally experienced in the chest, head, and area around the neck. The ideal approach to managing hot flashes is by staying in a comfortable environment and wearing cozy garments
5. Vaginal Discharge
Your white vaginal discharge will become increasingly heavy during this month
6. Breasts
Your breasts will become denser and heavier in comparison to the second trimester. The veins on your breast will become more noticeable and your areola becomes darker. Your breast will begin to release colostrum
7. Gastric Issues During Seventh-Month
Digestive issues like gas formation, indigestion, constipation, and heartburn increase as the baby and the womb put increased pressure on the digestive tract
8. Varicose Vein
The possibility of varicose veins increases
9. Shortness of Breath During Seventh-Month
Breathlessness or shortness of breath will be more eminent during the second half of this month
10. Braxton Hicks
False contractions, also called Braxton Hicks will be more frequent and noticeable from this month onwards
Development of The Baby in the Seventh-Month of Pregnancy
From this month onwards, the baby starts to get ready for its life outside the womb. The pace of growth will be more rapid during this month of pregnancy. The baby will be gaining height and weight and its body is forming well too.
You should keep all these factors in your mind while evaluating food to eat and avoid during the seventh month of pregnancy
After this month, the chance of the baby surviving an unforeseen premature birth is high. Here are some important developments your baby undergoing during this month:
1. Lungs
The lungs are almost fully developed and partially functional by the end of this month, though it will take some more time to mature and start working independently
2. Skin
The skin becomes reddish and the fat deposits are higher than last month, giving it a puffy look
3. Brain
Your baby will achieve lots of neural and intellectual advancement during this month. A great many neurons are quickly formed in your child’s brain. At this point, the child will start to respond inside your womb in the same way that a baby would respond once it is out of this world.
Hence, it is no big surprise that your baby will now respond instantly to different sounds, jerky movements, and the brightness of the light. Here is another good news, from now onwards your baby can distinguish your voice from other voices and noises, that are happening around you
Now you know about the food to eat and avoid during the seventh month of pregnancy. You should also remember that you will start to feel heavy during this trimester, so exercise is a must. Be physically active, unless the doctor advises against the same. Eat healthily and eat right, as your little chum is also putting on weight this month onwards. A healthy, well-balanced and nutritious diet will ensure that your baby arrives in this world all hale and hearty. All the best!
FAQ’s
1. What Foods Should I Avoid During the Seventh-Month of Pregnancy?
Pregnant women should avoid heat-inducing foods. Papaya, sesame seeds, etc, can trigger contractions. This can harm the pregnancy.
2. What Foods Should I Include in the Seventh-Month of Pregnancy?
Include nutritious foods. Follow a balanced diet with sufficient fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of fluids too.
3. Should I Avoid Fats in the Seventh-Month of Pregnancy to Reduce Weight Gain?
No, don’t. You cannot stop weight gain as the baby grows. Healthy fats are essential for a safe pregnancy.
4. Should I Have a High Protein Diet in my Seventh-Month of Pregnancy?
Protein is very important during pregnancy. Consult your doctor for quantity recommendations. The requirement varies from person to person.
