Beli Prenatals are HSA/FSA eligible!

Pregnancy Nutrition: The Most Important Nutrients in the First Trimester—And How to Get Them

Early pregnancy is a whirlwind of highs and lows. On one hand—you’re having a baby! It’s a blessing, a gift, a miracle! On the other hand—your breasts have never been so sore, you’re nauseated like you’re out to sea with no sea legs, and you *may* have already thrown up today. Twice. Oh, and you’re so tired you could fall asleep standing up.  

Blame it all on the hormones. The worst symptoms of nausea and vomiting are linked with hCG and estrogen, while surging levels of progesterone are likely behind those digestive woes. Whatever the cause, it’s a tricky time to be eating anything—let alone a varied, nutrient-focused diet. Still, you’re going to do the best you can for your growing baby, and that starts with understanding which nutrients matter most—and when. For all you brand new mamas-to-be, we’re sharing the most important nutrients in the first trimester, and what you can do to make sure you’re getting them. 

Key First Trimester Milestones 

The first trimester is a busy time for your baby, with so much critical growth happening in these early weeks: 

  • The neural tube closes 
  • Spine formation occurs 
  • Basic organ systems and facial features begin forming 
  • The heart begins beating 
  • Arms, fingers, toes and legs begin to develop and form 

First Trimester Nutrients 

While there are prenatal vitamins out there that are packaged for specific trimesters, it’s largely a marketing gimmick. That’s because your growing baby will benefit from the same nutrients throughout your entire pregnancy. What’s important is ensuring that your baby is getting those nutrients during key windows of development. 

During the first trimester, your baby needs support for critical early growth from these nutrients: 

Folic Acid or Folate 

Folic acid, or folate (the natural form of vitamin B9 found in food), is the most critical micronutrient in the first trimester because of the role it plays in preventing neural tube defects and reducing later instances of infant and child allergic diseases. The daily recommendation during pregnancy is 600 micrograms, and you can get that with the right daily prenatal vitamin and the right foods. Green leafy veggies, oranges, strawberries, beets, nuts and kidney beans are all good sources of folic acid. 

Beli’s prenatal formulation for women uses the most bioavailable form of MTCF folate fur superior absorption, ensuring that you and your baby are getting the nutrition you really need. 

Choline 

Choline is a B-vitamin recognized as an essential nutrient back in 1998 by the National Academy of Medicine. It ensures the proper development of your baby’s spinal cord and brain and, like folate, it offers protection against neural tube defects. During early pregnancy, it’s also important for placental growth. Daily recommendations of choline during pregnancy are 450 milligrams and 550 milligrams if you’re nursing. A worrying number of the most popular prenatal vitamins don’t actually meet current nutrient recommendations. Fortunately, Beli isn’t one of them!

You can also get choline from food sources like egg yolks, chicken, beef, peanuts, and veggies like cauliflower, but hitting that daily recommending amount will be much easier with a good prenatal. 

Iodine

Iodine is an essential micronutrient that we can only get through diet or supplementing. It can’t be replaced by any other nutrient during development, and it’s critical for optimal neurodevelopment. Daily recommendations of iodine during pregnancy is 220 micrograms and 290 micrograms while nursing. 

Zinc 

Zinc aids in the formation of your growing baby’s organs, cell growth, and brain development. Daily recommendations of zinc during pregnancy are 11 milligrams. Good food sources include red meat, shellfish, pork, poultry, dairy, beans, and nuts. 

For mamas-to-be, certain nutrients can help ease digestion and keep your mineral levels high. Beli’s no-nausea blend is formulated with vitamins B6 and B12 to promote healthy energy levels, a minty essence to soothe nausea, and a chelated form of iron you’ll need to limit the risk of anemia as your blood supply increases. 

Tips for First Trimester Nutrition 

Try not to stress about the whole eating-for-two thing just yet. During the first trimester, your body is really busy, but your baby’s energy needs aren’t hugely demanding just yet. And if you started prenatals during the preconception window, you’re already ahead of the game, since all those nutrients are helping nourish your growing baby and supporting your body.  

Shooting for roughly 2,000 calories a day—the same as a typical, non-pregnant adult—is generally recommended, though your doctor may suggest more if you’re particularly active. That will typically shake out to three meals, with one or two snacks. If you’re struggling to get—or keep—anything down, focus on quality over quantity. But don’t beat yourself up if your cravings are anything but healthy (and impossible to ignore)! That’s where a quality prenatal vitamin becomes even more important. 

If morning sickness is plaguing you all day long and you think your prenatal vitamin is to blame, we’ve got a post just for youPro tip—switch to a prenatal vitamin that’s formulated with a no-nauea blend, and try pairing it with a high-protein snack—think greek yogurt or toast with peanut butter—just before bed. 

Additional Resources

For many of us, our twenties and even thirties are a time when the focus is on pregnancy prevention. And that’s okay! But even when the idea of motherhood is miles away there is tremendous value in understanding your fertility health and what you can do to support it during these young, carefree days.

Read More

We’re thrilled to introduce Beli Women Preconception, a complementary fertility supplement designed to support fertility health by promoting egg quality, supporting ovulation, balancing hormones, regulating your cycle and helping to manage symptoms of both PCOS and PMS.

Read More

Once a month, PMS symptoms make their unpleasant presence known. And while knowing what’s happening won’t make PMS magically disappear, it can help you manage symptoms by balancing hormones and supporting your reproductive health. Let’s review.

Read More

It’s an easy assumption, but you’re much better off thinking that every prenatal vitamin is wildly different in terms of composition, nutrient quality and, importantly, nutrient amount. Not only is that actually true, it puts you in the smart consumer mindset of understanding what matters in a prenatal vitamin—and why.

Read More

If you have endometriosis, you can already recite its lengthy list of pretty terrible symptoms. And the standard options for managing those symptoms — medications, hormone therapy, hormonal birth control, estrogen blockers, surgery —  aren’t always great. But there is evidence that a so-called “endometriosis diet” can help.

Read More

With the New Year upon us, there are all kinds of articles and videos making the rounds with predictions of the Zodiac signs most likely to get pregnant in 2024. But here at Beli, we take a much more scientific approach to conception. Here are the top eight things people will do to get pregnant in 2024.

Read More

Research shows that the overall health of both biological parents during the preconception window plays a huge role in everything from conception to pregnancy health to the lifetime health of their baby. Luckily, there are simple steps you can both take to improve your health together.

Read More

Preparing for a baby means doing everything in your power to nourish your fertility health. If you’re totally on board but wondering what that actually means, we’re breaking down the do’s and don’ts for planning a pregnancy.

Read More

There’s a certain magic to the holiday season, whether you’re all-in on the decorations and the family time or a self-proclaimed Scrooge from mid-November to the New Year. But when you’re trying to conceive, it can be a challenging time.  We’re sharing five tips for managing the holidays when you’re trying to conceive.

Read More

Everyone knows that alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix. But what about before you’re pregnant, during the trying-to-conceive stage? There’s no evidence that the occasional drink—i.e. one or two a week—is going to torpedo your chances of parenthood. But it is true that the more you drink, the greater the likelihood it will have an effect on your health. Here’s what the research says about alcohol and your fertility.

Read More

You’re clear on the mechanics of making a baby, but how much do you really know about conception and fertility? There are a lot of wild stories, downright falsehoods and notions that are actually rooted in a kernel of truth out there. In the interest of sticking to the facts, we’re debunking 15 of the most common myths about conception and fertility.

Read More

When you’re knocking boots in an effort to get knocked up, timing is everything. Your best chance of conceiving is during the most fertile time of your menstrual cycle—when you ovulate. The key is figuring out exactly when that happens. Fortunately, you have a few ways of detecting ovulation. Here’s what to know about understanding ovulation and timing sex for pregnancy.

Read More

You have big plans for parenthood in 2024, which means this is the time to start laying the groundwork for everything to come. While so much of conception is beyond our control, there are actionable steps you and your partner can take right now to support and nourish your fertility.

Read More

Welcome to our little corner of common fertility and pregnancy terms! We know that jargon can be overwhelming, so consider this your very own baby-making dictionary. Here, confusing medical terms transform into easy-to-understand facts that help you confidently navigate your family planning journey. 

Read More

Is there anything worse than the two-week wait? All the listicles out there sensibly advise keeping busy and journaling and talking it out, but we’re sharing more specific recommendations collected from the Beli community. Read on for seven tips for surviving the two-week wait without losing your mind.

Read More

As a society, we’re an impatient bunch, and that applies to pregnancy, too. The second you decide it’s time to try for a baby, you’re ready to see those two pink lines. If you’ve recently tossed the birth control and you’re wondering how long it should take to get pregnant, here's what to know.

Read More

There’s a persistent misconception that a woman’s egg quality is largely untouchable—you get what you get, and the rest is out of your hands. But for women actively planning on becoming mothers, there are a handful of best practices that can go a very long way. So, can you improve egg quality in 90 days?

Read More

Can weight loss improve your fertility? That depends on what you read. In today’s post, we’re running through all the latest data on weight loss and fertility, and clarifying why the focus should be less on pounds lost and more on prioritizing habits that support your health as a whole.

Read More

Optimal nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, lays the foundation for reproductive health.

Read More

Somewhere between the “let’s have a baby!” conversation and seeing those two pink lines, you’re going to end up researching prenatal vitamins. And trust us when we say you’re going to have a ton of options to wade through. Consider this your handy guide to the best prenatal vitamins for men and women in 2024.

Read More