What To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Eating During Pregnancy?
6 min readWritten by Pradeep
If you have always associated pregnancy with cravings and loads of cream and cheese, you might be in for a shock when you get pregnant. The general image of a pregnant woman portrayed on the big and small screens is of someone who is allowed to “eat for two people” and who wants to eat all the time. A steady weight gain in a pregnant woman is a cause for celebration. However, the reality is not always that rosy, thanks to the loss of appetite and nausea a good many pregnant women go through. What to do when you don’t feel like eating during pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, and if you do not feel like eating, it can be a major cause of concern, mainly because pregnancy is that phase of your life when good nutrition is of the utmost importance. So, what do you do? Read on to know more.
In This Article
- Why Don’t You Feel Like Eating During Your Pregnancy?
- How Can I Get Enough Nutrition When I Do Not Feel Like Eating During Pregnancy?
- Loss Of Appetite During The First Trimester Of Pregnancy
- Loss Of Appetite During The Second Trimester Of Pregnancy
- Loss Of Appetite During The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy
- What Will Happen to My Baby’s Growth If I Don’t Eat?
- FAQ’s
Why Don’t You Feel Like Eating During Your Pregnancy?
Loss of appetite and nausea are very common during the first trimester of any pregnancy. The reasons can be multiple. It can be:
- Your body’s way of ensuring no harmful food reaches the fetus.
- Your body’s response to all the hormonal play that happens in your body during pregnancy.
- The aftermath of your hypersensitivity to smell and taste (which is again a result of hormonal changes).
- Loss of appetite because of frequent and all-day (and night) morning sickness (whoever coined that word??).
- The metallic taste seems to be sticking to your palate.
How Can I Get Enough Nutrition When I Do Not Feel Like Eating During Pregnancy?
Of course, it is important that you do get enough nutrients in your body to support the needs of your growing baby. Though it is not all significant to put on pounds during the first trimester, the later trimesters have to be accompanied by substantial weight gain so that the baby grows and develops properly. Some tips to combat the issue of loss of appetite are:
1. Keep Yourself Hydrated
It is more important to ensure that you drink enough water than to meet your target calorie for the day. Ensure you drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily. You can also drink fruit juices or green tea if it helps with nausea. Lemon juice is supposed to help nausea, but for some women it leads to acidity
2. Keep Your Portions Small
Do not literally try to eat for 2 people. Remember, the second person is extremely tiny. If you try to stuff in too much, it might all come rolling back soon. Instead, try small portions of meals more frequently throughout the day.
[Read: 12 Indian Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy]
3. Avoid Strong Masalas
Extremely spicy food, loaded with chilies and garam masala, is not great during pregnancy. Chinese food, which again has many spicy sauces, should also be avoided.
4. Eat Light Foods
Try to eat simple foods like grilled chicken, dal, yogurt, bananas and so on. Protein and complex carbohydrates are the way to go. They will keep you fuller for longer and will also keep your blood sugar from spiking.
5. Eat Foods That Do Not Trigger Nausea
Do not worry about eating a variety of fruit and vegetables. If you are able to eat only bananas, then so be it. Do not force yourself to eat foods that you cannot keep down.
6. Try Foods in Different Temperature
If you don’t like it hot, try chilling it! We mean it. Some pregnant women claim that food that they could not stomach when hot, they could enjoy when chilled. And vice versa.
[Read: Iron tablets for pregnancy]
7. Ensure You Take Your Vitamins
Ensure you take your prenatal vitamins every day. This might include tablets or capsules containing folic acid, multivitamins, iron and calcium. If you are having severe nausea, discuss with your doctor if you need any additional supplements to compensate for the nausea
8. Do Not Stop Eating
It might feel counterproductive to eat only to puke it out later. But do not stop eating for the fear of nausea. Even if a small amount of food stays inside, then that makes eating worth it.
We hope you follow the above tips and ensure good nutrition throughout your pregnancy, whether you have nausea or not. However, we know this is not easy.
Loss Of Appetite During The First Trimester Of Pregnancy
It is quite common for new mothers to experience loss of appetite during the first trimester. During the early stages of pregnancy, the body of the pregnant woman goes through many changes. During the first trimester, pregnancy hormones, an intensified sense of smell, and morning sickness contribute to a loss of appetite.
Some pregnant women may experience a general lack of interest in all foods or disinterest in eating as a result of losing their appetite. It’s important to keep in mind that appetite loss can be caused by a few specific kinds of foods and that it differs from person to person. Women who lose their appetite and hunger during pregnancy may experience intense fatigue in their first trimester.
Loss Of Appetite During The Second Trimester Of Pregnancy
For many women experiencing morning sickness or food aversions during their first trimester of pregnancy, the second trimester is a welcome relief. However, some women experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and food aversions well into the second trimester.
Women lose their appetite in the second trimester for a number of different reasons than they do in the first. Some reasons, such as morning sickness, may carry over from the first trimester. On the other hand, new issues in the second trimester such as heartburn and constipation can also contribute to losing your appetite.
Loss Of Appetite During The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy
It is common for pregnant women to experience a decrease in appetite and a decrease in cravings during the third trimester. A growing fetus puts pressure on the stomach during the third trimester, which is the primary cause of loss of appetite. Simply put, there isn’t enough space for food. Indigestion, frequent heartburn, or constipation may also cause appetite loss during the third trimester.
What Will Happen to My Baby’s Growth If I Don’t Eat?
There is some room for relief here. When you are pregnant, your baby becomes your body’s first priority. This means that whether you eat or not, your baby takes all that it requires from your body. Your body has a lot of stored nutrients that act as a reserve for the fetus. This will last till your nausea phase passes, and you are back at your dining table again.
So, no, your baby’s growth is not impacted by your loss of appetite. The only person who will suffer if you are unable to eat is, unfortunately, you. You will feel tired and lethargic all the time, which is why we hope you can follow the tips we mentioned in this article.
Have a safe pregnancy!
[Read: Best Energy Foods During Pregnancy]
FAQ’s
1. Should I be Concerned About My Loss of Appetite in My Final Trimester?
Yes and no. Pregnancy causes a lot of changes in your body. Just consult your doctor instead of getting worked up.
2. Why Am I Not Able to Eat Despite Being Pregnant?
Your digestive system might be out of sync. This can suppress your appetite. There is not much space left for the food to go either.
3. Should Pregnant Women Eat For “Two”?
No, it’s not necessary. Though this is a common saying, it is not advisable. You should not take it in literal sense.
4. Could Pregnancy Constipation Lead to Loss of Appetite?
Yes, it can. When you are unable to digest what you eat, you may feel full longer. Eat fiber-rich food to improve digestion.
Read Also: How To Get Proteins In Pregnancy In A Vegetarian Diet?
Pradeep,
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