Pregnancy is a major event in a woman's life, and it is also a matter of great concern for the whole family. There is no room for sloppiness, especially when it comes to eating. So what should you eat during the early stages of pregnancy? Let's take a look at what traditional Chinese medicine has to say.
During the early stages of pregnancy, women may experience mild dizziness, nausea, and food cravings. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this is due to the closure of the menstrual cycle, causing the Qi (energy) of the Chong Mai (the sea of blood) to flow upwards instead of downwards, affecting the stomach and descending function. These symptoms are generally considered to be normal reactions to pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting refers to the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, chest tightness, and even aversion to certain smells or food intake followed by vomiting that occur during the first to third month of pregnancy.
The main causes of these symptoms are weak stomach Qi or liver heat Qi counterflow. The Qi of the Chong Mai flows upwards after conception, leading to the dysfunction of stomach Qi descending, or the stimulation of liver heat Qi rising. Since vomiting is the main symptom of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting, a light, soft, easily digestible diet is recommended, avoiding strong-smelling, fishy, rotten, and highly seasoned foods, and consuming less or avoiding greasy and heavy foods.
For those with weak stomach Qi, it is recommended to consume milk, soy milk, egg custard, rice porridge, soft rice, and soft noodles. For those with liver heat Qi counterflow, it is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits. It is also recommended to eat small meals frequently instead of large meals.
