{"id":10489,"date":"2021-02-22T11:33:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T16:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10489\/appetite-decrease-during-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T17:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T22:17:17","slug":"appetite-decrease-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10489\/appetite-decrease-during-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Appetite decrease during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An appetite decrease during pregnancy is very common, particularly in the first trimester. If you are feeling thrown off by the change in appetite, know that you are not alone and there are some solutions you can try to help you get the nutrients you need and feel better. This is one of the most commonly discussed pregnancy symptoms, yet when you\u2019re going through it, it can feel totally isolating and solution-less. We\u2019re here to help you understand what is going on in your body and what you can do about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four main causes of decreased appetite during pregnancy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning sickness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This involves nausea and for some, vomiting. Morning sickness<\/a> may cause a decrease in appetite because it is (understandably) very difficult to eat when you aren\u2019t feeling well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aversions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is not well understood why, but for some people, certain foods become intolerable during pregnancy. Even if you enjoyed them before! Food aversions can make it harder to eat a diverse diet, or sometimes, entire food groups (commonly, meat).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heightened sense of smell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This involves sensitivity to smells of all kinds, environmental, culinary, and even personal. For some, their partner\u2019s natural scent becomes difficult to tolerate. Often going hand-in-hand with morning sickness and food aversions, a heightened sense of smell can easily contribute to a loss of appetite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The growing baby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most common later in pregnancy, as your uterus starts to take up the majority of your abdomen, it will begin to press upwards on your stomach. This can cause you to feel full sooner than normal so it may be helpful to eat smaller, more frequent meals. It can also cause reflux which can decrease your appetite for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many ways to stay nourished even with decreased appetite while you are pregnant. Here are a few tips to get your started:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people worry that they\u2019re not getting a balanced enough diet in early pregnancy because of food aversions. Often, vegetables and meat sound terrible while fruits and breads are calming to the stomach. Rest assured that baby will take what is needed from you during this time. And your tastes and preferences won\u2019t be limited forever \u2013 they may even change week to week. So eat what sounds good because an empty stomach makes the nausea and fatigue worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drink fluids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Staying hydrated can be challenging when water doesn\u2019t sound good or your stomach feels constantly full. Put some flavoring into your water, shake it up with some bubbly water, and add ice. Cold drinks tend to soothe sick stomachs better than room temperature ones. Sometimes a splash of fruit juice is enough to jog your hunger cues. And ginger tea with a spoonful of honey can be the perfect bedtime drink to calm your stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prenatal vitamins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Try to continue taking your prenatal vitamins<\/a> if you can tolerate them. For many, taking them at night is better because they can be hard on your stomach. So first thing in the morning is not great timing if you\u2019re looking to increase your appetite. Often if taken at night, you\u2019ll sleep through any stomach upset and still get the benefits of taking the vitamins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider if you are consistently:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n