Pregnant women may experience loss of appetite periodically during pregnancy. In most cases, this is only temporary and doesn’t pose any risk to the mother or child. Only in extreme cases when nutrition is affected is it a big problem.
Morning sickness can be responsible for loss of appetite. When you are feeling nauseated, food is the last thing on your mind. Fortunately, for the vast majority of women morning sickness is a temporary issue and not severe enough to cause nutritional deficits.
If you are experiencing loss of appetite due to morning sickness, there are a few things you can do. Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Keeping food in your stomach can actually reduce the symptoms and help you feel better. If you just can’t eat in the morning, but feel better later in the day you can make up the calories. Eat later in the day and choose healthy foods to make up for the nutrients lost in the early part of the day.
Some women experience loss of appetite again in the third trimester. This is due to the growing baby pressing up on the stomach. You may not feel hungry and when you eat, you may feel full faster. This makes eating difficult and uncomfortable.
The best way to handle this loss of appetite is similar to that of morning sickness. Eat smaller meals during the day and stop eating when you feel full. You can get the same amount of nutrients in six or seven small meals as you would in three larger meals. This can help you give your baby what he needs to grow without making yourself sick.
If your lack of appetite is a continual problem or is severe enough that you fear you aren’t getting adequate nutrition, talk to your health care provider. Your doctor or midwife can assess your diet and either reassure you or recommend an evaluation. This could be testing for health related problems that can cause a loss of appetite, such as diabetes or a thyroid problem. If there is a problem, the sooner it is detected the better for you and your baby.