Pregnancy
Many readers have asked and suggested we extend our Soups for Children and Confinement Soups section to include a unique (but temporary) group of individuals - the expectant mother.
In Chinese traditions, it is commonly known that the first three months of pregnancy are the most critical. I think western medicine will echo this too because the baby is just beginning to develop most of the critical pieces and there can be lots of instability. You will too often hear people announce their pregnancy after the 3 month incubation period is over and be cautious of what they eat.
Here is a straight forward guide and list of soups safe to consume during pregnancy. The basic concept of the Chinese soups is that none of them are extremely cooling, healing or potent in herbal additives. Enjoy!
Chicken Herbal Soup
Fish Tail Soup with Lily Bulb and Carrots
Ham Bone Sour Vegetable Soup (The sour soup will probably really hit the spot in your early months)
Orange Vegetable Fish Soup
Papaya Fish Soup
Pork Bones and Arrowroot Soup
Pork Bones with Lotus Root Soup
Red Dates and Young Coconut with Fish Tail Soup
Seabed Coconut, Carrot and Corn Soup
Tomato Fish Soup
Turkey Bone Sour Vegetable Soup
In general, I would recommend fish soups. Although be careful of not using fish that are too large (due to the increased level of mercury in larger fish compared to smaller fish).
Can I drink “Dong Sum” (type of ginseng) or “Dong Quai” soup during pregnancy? Thanks.
Faith, I read somewhere that Dong Quai is “too powerful” for pregnancy so better avoid…Not sure about Dong Sum.
Hi Faith,
Why is it bad to have soup that is healing or potent. I made chicken soup with ginger. Is that too potent to drink in the first trimester?
Thank you.
Ginger with chicken soup is fine during the first trimester. In fact, ginger with any trimester is fine as ginger is more a “warming” ingredient. Caution should be taken with “cooling” ingredients instead - such as watermelon, winter melons, ginseng etc. Hope this helps! Lisa
Thank you very much Faith!
Thank you for this site. I am learning so much. I would love to make your pregancy soups, however I might be missing some ingredients. Is it okay to still make the soups even though I might miss one or two ingredients? I’m just concern if I’m not drinking something right if I am pregnant.
Baby, I suppose it depends on what ingredients - but in general it’s OK as most ingredients aren’t “cooling” anyways and you should avoid these cooling items during the first trimester and post partum of your pregnancy. Hope this helps. Lisa
Leave your response!
Soup of The Day
Search Soups
Most Commented
Most Viewed