Problem Statement: A pregnant woman’s dietary quality during the 1^st trimester of pregnancy has a profound effect on placental development and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. During the early weeks of pregnancy, successful placental implantation and development are influenced by the maternal supply of nutrients. Inadequate placental development can result in a diminished supply of nutrients to the fetus, thus inhibiting proper fetal growth and leading to intrauterine growth restriction regardless of gestational weight gain or maternal nutritional status in the 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters of pregnancy. Evidence supports the link between maternal dietary quality during the 1^st trimester of pregnancy and other perinatal complications However, minimal research exists that assesses low-income women’s dietary quality during the 1^st trimester when placental development is particularly susceptible to alterations in maternal nutrition. Study Aims:The specific aims of this study were to 1) examine the relationships between maternal psychosocial  factors (depression, social support, and emotional eating) and dietary quality; and 2) explore the relationships among dietary quality, selected nutrition biomarkers, and biomarkers of placental development [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1 (sFlt-1)]  Methodology: A descriptive design was used in a convenience sample of low-income women recruited from Planned Parenthood clinics in Central Texas.  Data Analysis: Spearman’s rho statistic was used to analyze data due to small sample size and skewed data. Women (N = 18) were, on average, 26 years old and 8 weeks pregnant. Most were unmarried, uninsured, and Hispanic. 1^st Study Aim Support from partner was positively related to vegetable intake (r = .54) and negatively related to intake of iron (r = -.68) and grains (r = -.67). Emotional eating in response to anger had a significantly negative relationship to intake of iron-rich (r = -.53) and folate-rich (r =-.75) foods and emotional eating in response to anxiety had a negative relationship to intake of folate-rich (r = -.51) foods. Depressed women had less support from their partner (r =-.58) but an increased intake of calcium-rich foods (r = .60). Intake of calcium-rich foods was related to an increased intake of iron-rich foods (r =. 53) 2^nd Study Aim Levels of VEGF had a negative relationship to maternal depression (r = -.56), intake of calcium-rich (r = -.53) and iron-rich (r =-.34) foods and a positive relationship to serum calcium levels (r = .60). VEGF had the expected negative relationship to sFlt-1 (r = -.56) Placental growth factor had a negative relationship with maternal serum levels of albumin (r = -.61) and calcium (r = -.65). Interpretation: Study findings should be interpreted cautiously, however findings suggest that low-income pregnant women who eat as a means of coping with anger and anxiety are likely to have inadequate intake of nutrients that contribute to positive pregnancy outcomes. Placental development in the early weeks of pregnancy may be influenced by maternal psychosocial and nutritional status. More research is needed to explore the relationship of dietary quality and placental development in the first trimester of pregnancy.