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
Hi Faith, am so happy to find your website as iam a chinese brought up in england and have no idea how to type or write chinese. I would like a recipe for turtle soup for my husband as he always has a lot of spots on his back and face. Can you reccomend a recipe please. He had it before in a restaurant and felt that it helped a bit.
regards
nancy
you know how the chinese says no seafood during pregnancy, but how about seafood in soup, like abalone or conch in the soup?
Dear,
I am 15 weeks pregnant and lately i have joint sore in the middle of the night around the wrists and ankle…is there any soup that can help me to combat this? thanks
Dear Lee,
Congrats! I’m sorry but I don’t know any soups that can help with the soreness. Apologies here sincerely, but will try to ask around the vendors (meat & veggies) to see if they come up with anything and let you know! Lisa
Hi!
This is a great site. I’m 14 weeks pregnant and this has been really helpful. Thanks for all the tips and info. Would like to ask if it’s ok to use black chicken for the herbal chicken soup? I’ve been feeling lethargic and I’ve been told that black chicken soup can help. Any other tips you have for more energy will be great too. Thanks again!
Hello LadyTong,
Is there any soup to promote general wellness for women? I have irregular menses and am trying to conceive. Please advise.
Thanks!
Hi Snowy,
Loose Red raspberry leaf tea is said to work wonders on a woman’s menstrual cycle!
Hi Lady Tong,
Is it alright to use dried squid in place of dried scallops for pregnancy soups?
Thank you.
Hi JJ, dried squid is perfect OK as a replacement for pregnancy soups. I find most dried Chinese seafood produce a similar taste in soups and squid is safe to consume during pregnancy. Hope this helps, Lisa
Thanks for the tip, Natasha.
Thanks Lisa. I made the lotus root soup with dried squid instead of dried scallops but my pregnancy taste buds decided that we didn’t fancy it after all so I didn’t end up having much at all! Great page though, thank you.
I’m interested in making the Chicken Soup. Is Chinese dried yams safe to have during the first few weeks of pregnancy or after IVF? Also, I don’t have dried squid….are dried shrimps and dried scallops safe to have or should I omit them completely? Thanks!
Dear Lilacs,
Chinese dried yams are OK for the first few weeks of pregnancy (regardless of method). Both dried shrimps and dried scallops are perfectly OK as well. These actually form the soup base for chicken soup (especially the confinement ones) – which are ALL ideal for the first trimester. You want to keep with warmer foods and avoid cooler foods is a general rule of thumb. HOpe this helps and good luck! Lisa
Can pregnant women in their 2nd trimester drink salted vegetable duck soup?
Hi are all these soups safe to drink during breastfeeding as well?
Hi Cheng, yes, safe for breastfeeding. My sisters and I were drinking these soups during our first month and were all breastfeeding as well. If you’re concerned, take less herbs and more vegetables and natural ingredients. Hope this helps! Lisa
Hi Lisa, I read somewhere that ginseng is best avoided during pregnancy but I had some chicken ginseng soup yesterday. I had just a small bowl. Is it safe? Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks!
Hi,
Can I eat plums during pregnancy?
Hi Carolyn, sure plums are relatively neutral fruit, in both dried and fresh form and can be consumed during pregnancy. Congrats! Lisa
Thanks Lisa for the response! Really appreciate it!
Hi, is it ok to replace pork with chicken for the soups above?
LOve the receipes!
I’m curious to know if the apricot kernels north and south (sweet and bitter) are safe to have during pregnancy. I’ve always put the 2 together and never one without the other because that’s what I was always told to do and no one’s ever really told me why! Recently, I went on one of pages where you talk about this ingredient and mention that the bitter one is consider poisonous and must be accompanied by the sweet one, although the sweet one can be used on its own. I didn’t even realize there was a ratio to use. I’ve always used the 1:1 ratio. I recently put some in some tong sui and concerned it’s not good or safe during pregnancy. Any insight?
i drink hot chicken soup in my 2nd month of pregnancy i m so worried is it good or not?
Faith, tong sum is good..
Hi,
Is there any soup that helps conceive? Thks.
Dear Babe, I don’t have any that would help you conceive per say, but soups that will help your body to heal it, nourish it etc.. You can try any of the pregnancy soups. I will also check with my herbalist and get back to you! Lisa
Dear Shah, chicken soup is totally OK as a meat base, however it does also depend on what ingredients are in it. During your 2nd month, try to avoid cooling soup ingredients such as ginseng, watermelon, snow pears. If you check the ingredients, it will tell you if it’s risky for pregnancies (especially first trimesters). I hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions. Lisa
Dear lilacs, please see my response to the ratio for apricot kernals here. It’s actually a very good question and lots of people were wondering as well, so I went and basically harassed my herbalist to explain it as thoroughly as possible! Lisa
Dear irene, totally OK to replace pork for chicken (especially for pregnancies). Chicken is considered a heatier meat than pork, which is completely OK. In fact, lots of Chinese soups use both chicken and pork together. G’luck! Lisa
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my users would definitely benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Appreciate it!
Not at all, please do and thanks. Lisa
Hi – I’m into my 12th week & 3rd pregnancy. This time round get body chills & am always cold. Can I take pau sum soup?
Dear Yling, pau sum soup – as in with ginseng (because of the sum)? Let me know if my assumption is right or not. If it is, I’d avoid ginseng until maybe your third trimester. If you’re always cold, drink chicken soup and things that are more heaty, ie: any of the winter soups are a good choice. I found I got body chills and always cold after my 2nd pregnancy and it’s just like that ALL the time now. Eating the ginger and pig’s feet is a very good warming dish and also sweet potato dessert (with ginger). Any of those two are super warming. Hope this helps! Lisa
Is Korean ginseng 高麗參 ok to drink for pregnancy since it’s heath and not cooling?
I meant heaty.. Not health… sorry for the typo error.
What warmth it brings to me to find such a blog as yours, Lisa and Tracy! I am a consummate foodie, ever searching for good stories and insight into culture and family traditions –especially their foods.
I was on-line today, for another reason –looking for help, guidance and comfort, for something that I can’t solve on my own–and then I found you. I’ve had two miscarriages in the last 8 months, and now, fearing that I might have a third (all in the first trimester). I have Western doctors and a homeopath working on my case, but what I need now is something I lost 10 years ago — my mother. While she was Korean, not Chinese, she held a deep regard for the wisdom of Chinese medicine and food remedies. She would always know what soup one should consume to sooth whatever ailed us. Her knowledge of herbs and ingredients was amazing and while I tried very hard to learn all that I could from her before her passing, there just was not enough time. Now in my search to find a way to carry a child to full term, I am at a loss to know what I should and should not eat. I recall my mother saying there are soups, foods that help a child stay…I would very much love it if you would share whatever knowledge you would have in this area. For Koreans, seaweed soup is highly recommended after the birth of a child to help with detoxification and iron replacement –in our home we always had it for breakfast on our birthdays…as we ate, our mother would tell us of her thoughts and feelings that she had on the day we were born and how that first sip of hot soup, after the birth was so soothing for her…thank you for being there and doing what you do. Sincerely, AeRan
Hi Lisa,
I’m about 8 weeks pregnant , and found to have brown discharge.
Is there any soup to help to help to get rid of discharge? I have been to doctor have have been given hormone jab and pills
Cheers
Vin
Hi Vin, unfortunately, I haven’t heard of any soup that can target that specific condition. I find Chinese soups are for more well rounded things (like overall body functions). In addition, Chinese soups aren’t really meant as medical substitutes. I see them as natural, healthy lifestyle supplement. Sorry that I can’t be of more help! Lisa
I noticed there are a few fish soup in this pregnancy section. Bit as far as I am aware fish typically have high mercury content and is not suitable for women during pregnancy. At least that is the information I got from health unit of Ontario. Just wanted to give you guys a heads up. I’m sure one or two bowls is not going to cause much harm but if someone were to drink the listed fish soup day after day for the entire pregnancy, there might be more harm than good for the baby.
Thank you for taking time to answer my question.
I m 9 weeks pregnant. I went to the Chinese doctor yesterday, he prescribe me red ginseng (石柱蔘) with chicken and ginger once a week. Do u think it’s safe to drink it?
Thank,
Dear Bonnie, I’m inclined to say that with the ginger, it balances out the “coolness” of the ginseng. Just be sure to not overdo the ginseng during your first trimester. Congrats and all the best! Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I’m on my 7th week pregnancy and I am craving for pig’s trotter in ginger and vinegar. I understand that this dish is good for confinement, however is it safe to consume during pregnancy especially early pregnancy? Is black vinegar safe for pregnancy? Thank you
Hi Lady Tong, I’m now 10 weeks pregnant, can I know when it’s a good time to consume bird’s nest soup? How often should I take it? And what’s the benefits of taking bird’s nest soup? Thank you.
Hi, I am 5 months pregnant. I cook lotus root soup with pork bone (add in Red dates & dried cuttle fish). i usually cook it at night and will keep inside the fridge over night and re-heat it again the next day for lunch and sometime for the subsequence day also. is it ok for me and my baby as the soup keep over night. Thank you.
Hi PP, what I’ve heard (and scientifically it makes sense) is that if you keep it in the fridge, it slows down the speed of bacteria (if there are any in the soup). To drink it the day after, just make sure you re-boil it (over 100 degrees celcius) for at least 10 minutes to ensure any “living organisms” who have happened to find their way in is dead. I sometimes actually just boil it and don’t open the lid and can leave it in the thermal pot overnight. That’s how they actually make canned food. They process it at extremely high heat and seal it immediately in jars and then let it cool. The assumption is that since it’s boiling, no living bacteria is inside and once sealed, nothing gets inside until it’s opened. Same theory applies for using a clean spoon to scoop out things out of a jar. Sorry, getting too scientific, but to answer your question, it’s cool as long as you reboil it the day after. Hope this helps! Lisa
Hi Tracy, honestly, as a western raised Chinese, I’m neutral on the bird’s nest thing so I probably am not the best person to ask. Chinese say that it’s supposed to make you white and bright and have skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom, but again, I suspect these are unfounded and not scientifically proven. Similar to Shark’s Fin, I have some reservations regarding its benefits. But, if you like the taste and texture, why not. The one thing I would say is just to eat a balanced, regular diet while pregnant. Nothing fancy, nothing over the top, nothing lacking. Take all the necessary supplements (as recommended by your doctor) and stick to your four food groups. All the best and sorry I couldn’t give anything more definitive. Lisa
Hi Rain, still safe during pregnancy because it’s a warming food and your concern is with “cooling” foods according to the Chinese. Just take it in moderation, but it’s a safe bet. G’luck and all the best. Lisa
Hi, saw the post on ginseng and pregnancy. There are actually 2 types of ginseng, the red ginseng has heating properties while most other ginseng have cooling properties. Being brought up in a Chinese household, we do follow diets based on body heat and foods which has always proven helpful.
Personally I have had 3 healthy babies with no problems during my younger days, lived in US then and never bothered about old Chinese beliefs or pregnancy diets. However, with my current pregnancy, probably due to age, I noticed brown spotting, and it scares me, as I had a miscarriage a few years ago. First time at 8 weeks, I had craving for grass jelly (one of the most cooling foods), I succumbed to eating a whole tub and immediately after a few hours started having spotting for 2 days after. I was so fearful and had to immediately call my doctor for progesterone pills. Second incident, at 11 weeks, I had 2 slices of watermelon, then thereafter, had 5 spoons of cold ice jelly (which is not regular jelly, it’s a cooling dessert that my mum has already warned me never to eat!). And again, when I woke up in the morning, I had spotting! I do believe now that old Chinese sayings and practices are not baseless, and founded by Chinese doctors the old tech way. While many experiencing generally healthy pregnancies may not need to worry, it may just make a difference to those who are at high risk.
I am 8th pregnant. What kind of soup, food, or diet should I be drinking, eating or keeping? Is there any food that I should avoid in specific?
Ny sister in law just gave birth. Chinese tradition, I’m suppose to go over her house and drink chicken with wine. Can I drink this?
Dear mommy2be, that is an interesting tradition, I’ll have to ask about it! How many months are you? If you’re towards your final trimester, I’d say it’s OK, but avoid it during your first. As well, the Chinese wines used are quite strong, so my gut feeling would be to say to just take one sip out of politeness and not drink too much. Err on the side of caution with your baby, but if this is tradition and there are lots of people who you know do it, then why not? I’m sorry I’m not very concrete, but some traditions to some people seem strange, while to others, completely normal! Lisa
Hi,
I am detected with Gestational Diabetic at month 5, and i start avoid chicken soup with red dates until now (month 6.5) as people said red dates very sweet. My question is, should i totally avoid chinese herbal soup? What kind of chinese herbal soup is actually ok for diabetic control? i feel like weak now with all the diabetic control diet
Hi CS,
I’m currently pregnant, but the thing is i contacted hyperthyroidism. I have an overactive thyroid and too much iodine rich food is a no-no for me. Are there any soups that would fit me? thank you
Dear PP, agree with avoiding the sugary soups. There are many that don’t have such high sugar contents – such as http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/coconut-chinese-yam-and-fresh-conch-in-chicken-broth/ or anything with chicken, conch, Chinese Yam is OK. Avoid the fruit soups (such as snow pears, apples and watermelon) and focus on the more savory soups. Also pork based soups are good with veggies. G’luck! Lisa
Hi, Is it safe to drink ching bo leung during your 1st 3 month of pregnancy?
What kinds of soup is recommended for the last trimester? I am about 2 weeks away from my due date. I am a first-time mom.
Dear Suzanna, there are plenty of soups for the 3rd trimester and you can actually drink more “cooling” soups. To be frank, the Chinese actually promote eating Watermelon or Green Bean Soup when you’re close to giving birth to help progress that quicker! You can also drink confinement soups as well, as that’s good for you in general, so your choices are quite broad.
Try these (I’d also try more natural soups, less preservatives or preserved ingredients):
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/vegetarian-snow-pear-and-corn-soup/
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/snow-pears-and-apples-in-chicken-broth/
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/quick-boil-wintermelon-beef/
Congrats! and hope this helps! Lisa
Dear Hen, maybe not. Ching Bo Leung is considered “cooling” and in general, it’s good to avoid cooling soups in the first trimester (ie: ginseng, watermelon, wintermelon, green bean soup) because they can potentially cause contractions and then lead to miscarriage. So better safe than sorry. Hope this helps, Lisa
Hi,
I love ur blog.
Is it safe to have old chicken ‘low gai’ and abalone soup during first trimester ?
Hi Lady Tong, I am 16 weeks 3 days and had 2 small bowls of a chicken stewed with hua qi shen (花旗參). What are your thoughts on this kind of ginseng chicken soup for pregnant women in their 2nd trimester?
Hi Lady Tong,
Hope you are well.
I am almost 6 months pregnancy and have fibroids.
Can you recommend what food / soups to avoid:-
a) during pregnancy
b) during confinement
Also the recommend time scale to take the food/soup?
Thank you very much.
Regards,
Lotus23
Lady Tong, due to my fibroids, I am cautious what I can eat for my growing baby without nourishing the fibroids. Fibroids has increased 2 cm since 8 months ago.
Also, it was recommended that I will have Caesarean section due to fibroids and can you advise what and when to take to nourish my body.
Thanks again for your support.
Hi, I read from some forums that lotus root is not safe for pregnancy. Have you heard about this before? Thanks!
Is it OK to drink lerng cha, or something cooling when yeet hay. I’m breaking out in acne. Face is oily. And my gums hurt alot. But I’m scared to drink anything or eat anything cooling. I’m only during first trimester
Dear Suzy, The Chinese do recommend not drinking “too cooling” things during your first trimester because it is a potential risk for miscarriage. I wouldn’t say it’s a hard, fast rule, but it doesn’t hurt to wait. The acne is normal as the hormones in your body are changing and adjusting and everyone handles pregnancy differently. Hope this helps and congrats again! Lisa
Dear FTMother, no I haven’t heard that before. It’s a pretty neutral ingredient (neither cooling nor heaty) and doesn’t have any dangerous or strange contents. I’d say lotus roots is completely safe – safe enough for young children as well! Lisa
Dear Lotus23, I’m sorry that I can’t make any recommendations given your condition. I’d recommend seeing a Chinese doctor and/or your Western doctor to ask about ingredients to avoid and/or increase consumption. Of course, neutral soups are always the best (ie: soups in this category: http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/pregnancy-soups/). Apologies I couldn’t be of more help. Lisa
Dear 16w3d, no problems for 2nd trimester for ginseng chicken soup. I’d say after the 2nd trimester, it’s safe to consume “more cooling” foods, although, everything in moderation. Hope this helps! Lisa
Dear Marble, both ok for old chicken and abalone – they are actually more neutral/slightly heaty ingredients. Congrats! Lisa
I’m 2 months and a little more pregnant. And I feel that I am “yeet hay”. And I know I’m not suppose to drink herbal tea. Or anything “lerng “. But it’s really irratating me because when ever I’m “yeet hay” my gums are swollen and I burp and pass gas alot. What should I do?
Dear LadyTong,
Thank you for setting up this meaningful site to us preggies.
I’m a vegetarian and have been browsing through your recipes and realise most of it contains meat or fish. If I do not input any meat or substitute with my vegetarian meat, would that make it less nutrients or even not having the effect after? Perhaps you might have other remedy for vegetarians during confinement? Thank you in advance.
Dear LadyTong,
Thanks for your receipes and tips! Your website is a wonderful find for me, as I’m in the 2nd trimester with our first baby, and unfortunately, my mum is no longer around to make all the wonderful, nutritious soups for me… I’d like to try making some of the fish soup, but note that the recipes require some frying of the fish before cooking in the soup.
1) Is it ok to just put the raw fish in the soup bag (without frying) and cook the soup right away, maybe add some ginger to remove any fishinesss? (For ease and less cleaning post-cooking as frying usually entails more cleaning of the kitchen and floor after that!)
2) During pregnancy, if ginger is used in cooking the fish soup, would this affect milk production after delivery? I was cautioned from taking ginger for this reason. Is there a link between the two?
3) Is it ok to fry more fish at a go, say for 2 portions of soup, and keep some in the refrigerator to use in the next round of soup-making? How long can the fish keep without losing too much of its freshness?
Thank you in advance.
Dear Happy Magnet,
Thanks for your comments.
1. you can just put fish in a bag, but the frying and ginger does lessen the fishiness and also has a “refreshing” and unique taste because of the frying. I can’t explain it, but try both and you should be able to tell the difference. But I agree that it is more trouble to fry it and clean.
2. Actually, ginger is recommended after delivery and I don’t think it affects milk production at all. I was eating ginger like vitamins and still managed to breast feed. Just read up breastfeeding and how to increase milk supply – which mainly is make it appear to increase demand and your body will increase supply.
3. Totally OK to fry more fish – just keep it fresh (or even freeze it). Even better is to make the soup base (with fish) and freeze that!
Hope this helps and congrats!
Lisa
Dear Amanda,
Here’s the link to the vegetarian soups – I have many! Hope this helps!
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/?cat=63
As for confinement soups – I agree that most confinement soups have meats – you can try some of them without meats – like:
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/papaya-fish-soup/ (with just the papaya and no fish)
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/chicken-herbal-soup/ (without the chicken)
Hope this helps and your suggestion is a good one. I will consider adding more soups for confinement for vegetarians! Lisa
Hi,
Can I know if first trimester can drink ginseng Qing bu tang?
Hi Lady Tong,
Thank you for all the recipes and great tips on your website. It is definitely a go-to guide for me.
I am 22 weeks pregnant. Is it safe to consume black silkie chicken soup?
Hi there,
Are there any good soups that expel dampness but not cooling?
And any that expel dampness okay to consume during pregnancy?
Thanks
Dear Tangerine – yes black silkie chicken soup is totally OK. What other ingredients are you mixing it with really depends on whether you should drink it. At 22 weeks though, the Chinese say you’re beyond the “3 month” delicate period – so in general, you can eat/drink anything. Just stick to the basic recommendations from your docs, ie: small fish (avoid mercury), avoid sushi – but everyone is different when it comes to their pregnancy, so I say eat what you’re comfortable with! G’luck, congrats and all the best! Lisa
Hi Becca, it’s cautioned from the Chinese to avoid drinking “too cooling” drinks/teas/soups during the first trimester. Every woman is different though and will process it differently depending on her condition, physical healthy. location, diet and overall well being, but to be safe, maybe avoid until second trimester. Hope this helps and congrats! Lisa
Hi Lisa!
Love your site, I’m so happy that I found this!
I’m 5 wks, 3 days preg..is there a list or on your website about too cooling, or different properties of food that pregnant woman should avoid?
Thanks in advance!
Dear Baby Angels,
You can read our post on Confinement #6 where there is a section of foods to avoid! But you give us a great idea for a separate post (which we will do shortly!). Congrats! Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your resourceful website. May I ask whether a pregnant women in her 1st trimester can drink Chicken Soup with Ginger and Wine that is usually prepared for confinement?
Just had 2 bowls before I realized it.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Heidi
Dear Ms Thong,
Truly happy to have found your website! I’m a Dutch born Chinese (and can’t read Chinese). I can’t wait to make your recipes! I’ve missed them from my mum so much!!!!!
Also, thanks for the confinement subject on your site. I spoke about them just recently and had no clue how to prepare them! But now I can with your recipes! Very thankful!!
Cheers,
Cin
Ps) I love how you also show the photo’s and Chinese characters with the ingredients (that I can show at the Chinese supermarket!)
Hi,
Thank you for all the soup recipes. Love em!
I am just curious, can we boil these soups without meat. I’m a vegetarian. I’ve been using a little bit of organic vegetable bouillon for my soups so far. I know it doesn’t give as much taste as meat or bones. Do you have any suggestions on what to substitute meat/bones/seafood for people like me?
Thanks!
Hello,
We are planning for a pregnancy..is there any soup that I can take/cook to enhance the inner health(you know) before the beautiful day? Thank You
Hello ladytong,
Im in my first trimester and im feeling sick with congestion and phlegm. Can you recommend what soups are suitable for the first trimester, the second and third. Thank you.
Hello Lady Tong,
I’m in my first trimester. Can I drink Black Bean Soup? Thank you.
Dear kimchi, it’s perfectly OK to drink black bean soup during your first trimester! Black beans are considered a postpartum friend, so drink away! Lisa
Hi Lady Tong,
I wish I have come across your article earlier. I am 6 weeks pregnant. 2days ago, I went to drink a bowl of Ginseng Chicken double boiled soup. That night, I broke up in sweat and had a bad headache. I was running a fever too. I am sure it wasn’t any virus or flu as there was no symptoms.
Yesterday, I was so weak that I couldn’t bring myself out of bed. Thankfully, there isn’t any spotting. Hope everything is ok. I will be visiting the gynae next week.
Will not drink ginseng again for the next few weeks.
Dear Lady Tong,
Is old cucumber soup suitable for pregnant during 3rd trimester??
Dear Summer, yup! By the third trimester, you should be pretty OK on any foods (cooling or warming). Some people even promote eating watermelon once you’re full term! Lisa
[...] Herbal soup pack [...]
Dear lady tong,
I had very bad vomiting during my 1st tri. And now im going to enter 16weeks. I always want to have soup for my daily meals. But I not sure which type of soup should I consider. I love lotus soup, chicken Herbal soup, black bean soup, and chicken feet with snow fungus soup. I not sure is it ok for me continue drink those soup, pls advice. Is there any other soup can be recommend to me? Tq
Hi Lady Tong,
Im 6 weeks pregnant. Is it recommended to drink snakehead fish soup (sang yu soup) during this time? I read from internet sources, snakehead fish soup has lots of proteins, omega and its nutricious. On the other hand, i also heard this fish is for healing internal wounds. Please advise.
Thanks a lot.
Dear Michele, should be OK to drink snakehead fish soup at any time of your pregnancy (depends also on the ingredients used inside). It’s better in general to have heaty foods vs cooling foods and the fish is neither. Hope this helps and g’luck! Lisa
Dear Eve,
All the soups you mentioned are perfectly safe for you to drink during your pregnancy (first trimester). You can consider these two soups (that contain salted mustard greens – which help bring back some appetite and allow you to eat better or more after the vomiting).
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/salted-mustard-greens-with-tofu-in-fish-soup/
http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/preserved-mustard-greens-in-pig-stomachs-soup/
But going into your 2nd trimester, most things are safe for consumption (vs the 1st trimester). Hope this helps and all the best!
Lisa
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