Not eating enough?

SparklingJules23

Hi everyone!!

I am a first time mom and just about 7 weeks along now - due on St. Patrick's day! 

I just found out last week that I am pregnant. Normally, I  am notorious for skipping meals (mainly breakfast). I'm sure I skipped some and wasn't eating enough when I was first pregnant and didn't even know it. In fact, I started the 21 day fix July 1st, lost 8 pounds and then found out I was pregnant. .

Since I found out I have been conscious to make sure to eat, but I still don't think I am eating enough. I don't have much morning sickness thankfully, if anything I'd say a lack of an appetite..

I'm worried I am harming my sweet baby. I know this is a crucial time for baby's development and I am scared. 

Anyone else feeling like this?

AnonnAni

It's a common misconception that you're supposed to eat for two people when your pregnant the actual calorie intake that you need to sustain a healthy pregnancy is not that much different it's mainly based on the amount of good nutrients you're putting in your body not so much the amount of food.  As long as you're maintaining a healthy diet I wouldn't worry so much unless for some reason your doctor believes your missing key nutrition. 

datalover13

I was really worried about this when I was pregnant with DS... I had pretty bad nausea and couldn't stomach much. I lost quite a bit of weight which supported what everyone told me - the baby will take what it needs! Like PP said, just keep putting nutrients into your body and make sure you're taking your prenatal. 

Saracp78

Exactly what they said above. Don't worry your baby will take what it needs. Just maintain a balanced diet. As your pregnancy progresses your body will tell you what you need.

SparklingJules23

Thanks, ladies. It helps to know I am not alone. I'm scared about this entire pregnancy and am so glad I found this forum.

 I don't have my first appointment until September 1st....it is killing me to wait so long! I may call the doctor this week though if things don't get better. I know being exhausted is pretty normal, but I feel down right weak. Like, I've had the flu for weeks and can't do anything, weak. I had a 3 day weekend from work (after a 10 day straight, stretch) and I haven't left my bed or the couch at all. Just the idea of having to get ready and go to work tomorrow makes me tired. I don't know if this is because I'm not eating enough, or its normal, or what.. 

girlmama83

I can relate. I'm not much of a breakfast person either but of course now I am trying to make sure I eat more. I just don't have the appetite for anything though and then I feel guilty. But it's really hard to force yourself to eat when you feel so nauseous.

PattersRN

I lost about 3 pounds since getting pregnant, possibly more but the bloat is cancelling it out.  Like others have said (and my Dr also said), baby will take what it needs from your stores, so no need to worry.  

Bluebird2318

I'm right there with you. I normally skip breakfast and since getting pregnant I've lost 5 pounds due to nausea/food aversion. It's really no big deal! 

onefootinthebayou

I posted about this at 5 weeks. I had a virus and didn't eat real food for over a week. Mostly liquids. It took my appetite a long time to get back and even still I'm not eating a lot. I lost 10lbs from the virus and have only gained about 3 back. I'm not worried. I agree w/PP who mentioned that the "eating for two" is an overstatement.  I think you only need like 300 extra calories per day. 

SparklingJules23

Thanks for your responses, ladies! I can't wait to get past this 1st trimester.

Knottie59802221

My first pregnancy I lost 17 pounds during my first trimester. I didn't eat anything and was working hard and had moderate morning sickness. My baby was born big and healthy and strong! As long as you take your prenatals, you have nothing to worry about. Also, the fatigue is totally normal too. The whole first trimester I felt like I could lay down and sleep at any time and then you have this wonderful burst of energy!

EnglishTeacherMama

I was told that in the first trimester you don't need any extra calories (and if you're sick, whatever you can keep down is fine to eat, even if it's way more carb-heavy than a normal diet), in the second trimester you need 300 more than your usual, and at the end you need 500 calories more per day. There are lots of free calorie-counter journals you can download on your phone, like MyFitnessPal, to help you keep track. I think if you really weren't eating enough, baby would let you know! 

SparklingJules23

Thank you, ladies!! This definitely makes me feel better. I was just so worried i am harming the baby's development some how. I'm keeping up on my prenatals and make sure to drink water, it's just the food I'm not handling well. Things will sound gross, or sound good so I'll start to eat, but then I either no longer want it or don't want much of it. I have a hard time eating the recommended calories anyways...I can't imagine eating 300 -500 more than that as I go on! Hopefully it will be easy! 

kjd291

@SparklingJules23. Don't worry at all about baby!! Everything will be fine.  Your body takes all that it needs for baby first-which may also be why you lost weight well... You provide for baby just fine first tri not getting enough food.  And don't worry! The food and gaining pounds will be easy in a few more weeks

chrstna618

What everyone is saying is exactly right. Right now the yolk sac is supporting baby's nutrition and it's normal to struggle the first trimester. I've already lost at least 10 pounds from not wanting to eat anything, some days are better than others. Keep up with prenatals, try to drink your nutrition of you can (juice and Pedialyte, not empty calories) and hopefully there's one thing you can consistently eat...I can do potatoes, and I'm usually low carb so there's irony lol. 

Let us know what works for you! This too shall pass...

Burrberrymum

As long as you're feeling okay, baby will get everything it needs right now. You don't want to wear yourself out but you will feel it if you need it, if so maybe just an extra protein snack here and there for yourself if that happens but either way baby is still going to grab everything it needs. 

Saracp78

I managed to choke down about 600 calories yeaterday and 3 glasses of water. I had bad MS last time but this is overwhelming.

not being able to drink water is what scares me. I already got 2 glasses down this morning, fingers crossed!

SparklingJules23

Aw, @Saracp78 I hope you feel better soon! how far along are you? 

SparklingJules23

chrstna618 said:

What everyone is saying is exactly right. Right now the yolk sac is supporting baby's nutrition and it's normal to struggle the first trimester. I've already lost at least 10 pounds from not wanting to eat anything, some days are better than others. Keep up with prenatals, try to drink your nutrition of you can (juice and Pedialyte, not empty calories) and hopefully there's one thing you can consistently eat...I can do potatoes, and I'm usually low carb so there's irony lol. 

Let us know what works for you! This too shall pass...

Lol, @chrstna618 isn't it funny what we start to crave! The only thing that sounds good to me is pizza (which I'm not normally a huge fan of) and alfredo. I'm afraid to eat much of that though because it's so unhealthy and 1. Baby needs healthy food and 2. I don't want to gain a lot more weight than I have to! Everything else, I'll start to eat and then am no longer interested in it or I start to feel sick. 

I hope it's instantaneous and I feel a lot better the day trimester #2 starts lol. 5 more weeks of feeling like this is going to be rough!  

chrstna618

@SparklingJules23 it is funny! I've thrown healthy out the window for now, Bean only wants McDonald's and I usually hate the stuff! I'm 10 weeks tomorrow and having more got days lately, I worry about the day I feel better though cause my PGAL brain will have a field day!  At the moment I'm glad to be sick...

Wishilivedinflorida

I just stocked up on V8 juice/veggie drinks and those sqeezie fruit/veggie pouches intended for small children. Some days I am fine, but other days like today, I unfortunately drink most of my calories. 

vprod

I've had some intense "all-day-sickness" since week 6.5 (~2.5 weeks ago). My usual go-to is to NOT eat when I feel sick, because that's what I've always done. But if you don't keep your stomach slightly full all day long I can assure you, you will feel 10x worse. I've have had to completely overhaul my thinking about food and push through my comfort zones to just try to eat stuff, and it's been working really well.

The #1 thing that helps me is protein. If I don't have enough throughout the day, I just feel like a pile of gross mush. So starting the day out with something like 1 plain egg or even 1 single piece of sausage or whatever you can stomach will help immensely. When I do that, and keep it up consistently, the next day is SO MUCH BETTER. If I fail to eat enough the day before, I am right back in my mush phase.
& honestly, eggs (& smoothies, & meat, & EVERYTHING) sound so disgusting to me every single morning, until I actually eat it. So just try to push past it and try to get something in your system.

Try it out for a couple of days, I hope this helps you & other ladies who have a hard time wanting to eat.

SparklingJules23

Thanks @vprod! This morning I actually made myself eat a slice of toast with peanut butter before I went to work (silly me thought I could eat 2 pieces ... my golden retriever got the other piece), and I have felt great all day..a lot more energy than I've had the past few weeks. I'm not sure if that's why or it was just a coincidence, but it was nice to get home from work tonight and not feel the need to pass out on the coach until bedtime lol. 

Although, dinner was a different story. I could only stomach a piece of corn on the cob .. everything else made me nauseous. Poor hubby wasn't too happy. Lol

chrstna618

Forcing myself to eat doesn't help me, I have to get sick in the morning and then I'm good the rest of the day. I just dread the day I don't need to get sick anymore but fear I can't eat if I don't! Is that a thing?