Diet · Month 2 · Weeks 5–8
2nd month pregnancy diet chart
The second month is when morning sickness, food aversions and tiredness usually arrive. The aim is not a perfect diet but keeping food and fluids down. Small, frequent, bland meals work best; the baby's needs are still small, and your own stores carry you through this phase.
Reviewed by Garbh Katha editorial team · updated
Many mothers feel guilty about eating so little or so plainly this month. There is no need: nausea usually passes by 12 to 14 weeks, and your baby is drawing on stores you already have. Keep taking your prenatal vitamin if you can tolerate it, and let family members handle strong-smelling cooking such as tadka and frying.
Nutrients to focus on in month 2
- Fluids and electrolytes: Vomiting can dehydrate you quickly. Sipping often matters more than any single food.
- Vitamin B6: Food sources such as banana and chana may ease nausea for some women.
- Carbohydrates: Plain starches are easier to keep down and stop the empty stomach that worsens nausea.
Indian foods to eat this month
- Khakhra, dry toast, plain murmura — Bland and easy to keep beside the bed for the morning.
- Coconut water and nimbu paani with a pinch of salt — Replace fluids and salts.
- Banana — Gentle on the stomach and a source of B6 and potassium.
- Ginger in small amounts — in tea or grated in food — Some women find it eases nausea.
- Curd rice or plain idli — Cool, soft foods are easier when smells trigger you.
What to avoid or limit
- Greasy, deep-fried and very spicy foods that worsen nausea
- Lying flat straight after eating
- Large meals — they often come back up
- Raw sprouts and unwashed salads, which carry infection risk
Sample vegetarian meal plan for month 2
| Time | What to eat |
|---|---|
| Before getting up | Two plain biscuits or a khakhra, then rest five minutes |
| Breakfast | Soft vegetable upma or idli with a little coconut chutney |
| Mid-morning | Coconut water and a banana |
| Lunch | Moong dal, soft rice and lauki sabzi; curd if tolerated |
| Evening | Ginger-lemon water and roasted makhana |
| Dinner | Curd rice or dal-roti, kept small and early |
Tips for this month
- Eat every two hours rather than three big meals
- Drink between meals, not with them
- Cold foods smell less than hot ones
2nd month diet: common questions
What should I eat when I can't keep anything down?
Try small sips of fluid every few minutes and bland foods like dry toast or khakhra. If you cannot keep fluids down for 24 hours, contact your doctor — severe sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) needs treatment.
Will morning sickness harm my baby?
Ordinary nausea and vomiting does not harm the baby. Severe, persistent vomiting with weight loss or dehydration should be treated promptly.
Should I stop folic acid if it makes me sick?
Do not stop without speaking to your doctor; taking it at night or with food may help.