Foods that cause miscarriage in second trimester

Risks and causes beyond your control

There are some things that increase your risk of miscarriage that are beyond your control. This includes one-off genetic abnormalities, placental problems or problems with the baby, such as spina bifida or heart defects. The risk of miscarriage also increases as both you and the father get older.

Find out more about the causes of miscarriage.

Lifestyle choices that do affect your risk of miscarriage

There is clear evidence that your lifestyle can affect your chance of having a baby, so there are things you can do to try to limit the risk of miscarriage.

Smoking

Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage, as well as premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.

There is some evidence that suggests that men can also increase their partner’s risk of miscarriage by smoking during their partner’s pregnancy or even during the time leading up the pregnancy.

Quitting smoking can be challenging, but there is support available.

Drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs

Using illegal drugs or drinking heavily during pregnancy increases your risk of miscarriage.

There is no amount of alcohol that is considered ‘safe’ to drink during pregnancy, so the Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that pregnant women don’t drink any alcohol at all. It can be difficult for some women to avoid alcohol – you might find our tips for an alcohol-free pregnancy helpful.

If you do decide to drink alcohol in pregnancy, try to avoid alcohol completely in the first 3 months. This is when the baby’s brain is developing.

Not managing health conditions properly

Many women with long-term health conditions have healthy pregnancies and babies, but there can be some risks. For example, most women with diabetes have a healthy baby, but if you don’t take care of yourself and your symptoms are not managed properly the risk of miscarriage increases.

The best thing you can do to make sure you and your baby stay well is to talk to your healthcare professional before you start trying for a baby, or as soon as possible if you’re pregnant now.

Not being a healthy weight

Your BMI (body mass index) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is in a healthy range. Having an overweight or underweight BMI before pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.

Find out more about managing your weight during pregnancy.

Not eating well

You can eat most things during pregnancy, but there are some things that you are advised to avoid because there is a small risk that you may get an infection that could increase your risk of miscarriage.

Read more about what foods to avoid in pregnancy.

Consuming too much caffeine

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, some soft drinks and energy drinks.

High levels of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. There is also some medical evidence that consuming too much caffeine while you are trying to conceive can also increase the risk of miscarriage. The evidence suggests that this applies to both women and men.

If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you and your partner may find it helpful to get into the habit of limiting your caffeine intake to 200mg a day. This is the same as two mugs of instant coffee a day or one mug of filter coffee.

Use our caffeine calculator to check your daily caffeine intake. 

Myths about the causes of miscarriage

The following things are not linked to an increased risk of miscarriage:

• stress
• having sex (unless your doctor has advised you not to)
• working
• flying
• eating spicy food
• lifting or straining
• exercising
• your emotional state, such as being stressed or depressed
• having a shock or a fright.

What can I do to live a healthier lifestyle in pregnancy?

It’s important to remember that there is nothing you can do that will guarantee that you won’t have a miscarriage. However, we have lots of information about what you can do to reduce the risk and stay as healthy as possible before you try for a baby and during pregnancy.

Finding out the reasons for miscarriage

Our National Centre for Miscarriage Research is dedicated to finding the reasons for miscarriages that are not caused by lifestyle, or chromosomal abnormalities. This animation describes how we are doing it.

A balanced, nutritious diet during pregnancy is vital for a healthy mother and baby. A healthful diet ensures the fetus gets the nutrients it needs to develop correctly.

Eating well also prevents pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia.

During pregnancy, women should ensure they are getting enough vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to encourage healthy growth. However, the body needs slightly more calories during the second trimester.

In this article, we list the most important foods to eat during the second trimester and discuss how much weight a woman might gain.

During the second trimester, people should continue eating a balanced diet. The following nutrients are the most important for someone who is pregnant:

Iron

Iron helps to carry oxygen around the body. During pregnancy, iron supplies oxygen to the developing baby.

If a diet is lacking in iron, it could cause anemia, which increases the risk of complications, such as premature birth and postpartum depression.

The recommended daily iron intake during pregnancy is 27 milligrams (mg).

Sources of iron include:

• lean meat
• cooked seafood
• leafy green vegetables
• nuts
• beans and lentils
• whole grains, including bread and oatmeal
• fortified breakfast cereals

The body absorbs iron from animal products more efficiently than iron from plant-based sources.

So, people who do not eat meat can boost absorption rates by eating foods that contain vitamin C at the same time.

Sources of vitamin C include oranges, orange juice, strawberries, and tomatoes.

People should try to avoid eating iron-containing foods and calcium-rich foods or supplements at the same time. Calcium reduces iron absorption.

Protein

In the later stages of pregnancy, women should aim to eat 1.52 grams (g) per kilogram (kg) of body weight each day to help the baby’s brain and other tissue grow. For example, a woman who weighs 79 kg (175 pounds) should try to eat 121 g of protein daily.

Protein is also necessary for the growth of the mother’s uterus and breasts.

Good sources of protein include:

• lean meats
• nuts
• tofu and tempeh
• eggs
• fish (cooked, not raw)
• peas, beans, and lentils

Calcium

The recommended dietary allowance for calcium during pregnancy is 1,000 mg. Anyone who is less than 18 years old, who is pregnant, should aim to consume 1,300 mg of calcium daily.

Calcium helps the baby’s bones and teeth form, and it plays a role in the smooth running of the muscles, nerves, and circulatory system.

Calcium-rich foods include:

• dairy (milk, yogurt, pasteurized cheese)
• eggs
• tofu
• white beans
• almonds
• sardines and salmon (with bones)
• greens, such as kale, broccoli, and turnip greens
• calcium-fortified fruit juices and breakfast cereals

Folate

Folate is a B vitamin. The synthetic form of folate is called folic acid.

Folate is essential during pregnancy as it helps prevent neural tube defects, including spina bifida, and reduces the risk of premature labor.

An analysis of 18 studies also suggests that folic acid significantly decreases the risk of congenital heart defects. However, more research is still needed.

During and before pregnancy, women should consume 400 to 800 micrograms (mcg) of folate or folic acid daily. The best sources include:

• black-eyed peas and other legumes
• fortified cereals
• dark green leafy vegetables, including spinach, cabbage, and collard greens
• oranges
• whole grains, such as rice

It is a good idea to take a folic acid supplement or prenatal vitamin before and throughout pregnancy, as there is no guarantee that a person can get enough folate from food sources to meet the daily requirements.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps build a developing baby’s bones and teeth. The recommended intake during pregnancy is 600 International Units (IU) a day.

The body can make vitamin D from the sun, which allows many people to meet some of their needs. However, estimates suggest that more than 40 percent of the adult population in the United States have vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure and other factors.

Vitamin D is not present in lots of natural foods, but fortified foods, such as cereal and milk, contain vitamin D.

Food sources of vitamin D include:

• fatty fish, such as salmon, fresh tuna, and mackerel
• fish liver oils
• beef liver
• cheese
• egg yolks
• UV-exposed mushrooms
• fortified juices and other drinks

Vitamin D supplements are also available and can be important for people who do not live in a sunny climate.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Both mother and baby can benefit from omega-3 fats in the diet. These essential fatty acids support the heart, brain, eyes, immune system, and central nervous system. Omega-3 may prevent early delivery, lower the risk of developing preeclampsia, and decrease the likelihood of postpartum depression.

An adequate daily intake of omega-3 fats during pregnancy is 1.4 g. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in:

• oily fish, including salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna, herring, and sardines
• fish oil
• flaxseeds
• chia seeds

Seeds contain a form of omega-3 that the body needs to convert before it can use it. How well the body can do this varies from person to person.

Vegans and vegetarians may need to take an algae-based supplement to meet their omega-3 requirements during pregnancy.

Fluids

Pregnant people need more water than those who are not pregnant to stay hydrated. Water helps form the placenta and the amniotic sac. Dehydration during pregnancy can contribute to complications, such as neural tube defects and reduced breast milk production.

Anyone who is pregnant should drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration and its complications.

A person should avoid the following foods throughout their pregnancy:

• raw meat
• raw eggs
• raw fish
• fish with high levels of mercury, including swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel
• unpasteurized dairy products
• soft cheeses, such as Brie, blue cheese, and feta
• ready-to-eat meats and seafood

A person should avoid alcohol throughout pregnancy, as there is no known safe level. All types of alcohol can be harmful and may cause:

• miscarriage
• stillbirth
• fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)

FASDs are conditions that cause physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities.

Pregnant women can consume caffeine in limited amounts. Experts state that it is safe to consume 150 to 300 mg per day, although the American Pregnancy Association suggest that pregnant people avoid caffeine as much as possible.

An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains between 95 to 165 mg of caffeine, and a 6-oz serving of black tea contains approximately 45 mg. Cola drinks, chocolate, green tea, and some medications also contain caffeine.

It is perfectly natural and healthy to gain weight during pregnancy. A person’s weight increases due to a higher blood volume in the body, the presence of amniotic fluid, and the baby’s weight.

The body needs 300 extra calories each day during the second and third trimesters to manage this weight gain.

The Institute of Medicine recommend the following weight gain:

• 25 to 35 pounds if average weight (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9)
• 28 to 40 pounds if underweight (BMI of 18.5 or less)
• 15 to 25 pounds if overweight (BMI of 25.0 to 29.9)
• 11 to 20 pounds if obese (BMI of 30.0 or more)

Those who were an average weight at the beginning of their pregnancy will typically gain 1 to 2 pounds per week in the second trimester. Gaining more weight than recommended increases the risk of complications, such as high blood pressure, a larger baby, and cesarean delivery.

The basic principles of healthful eating are similar whether a person is pregnant or not. But during pregnancy, it is vital to focus on some essential nutrients, including iron, protein, calcium, folate, and omega-3 fats.

Weight gain during pregnancy, especially the second and third trimesters, is typical and healthy. To avoid gaining more weight than recommended, people should not eat more than 300 extra calories per day.

What increases risk of miscarriage in second trimester?

What should be avoided during second trimester of pregnancy?