Lack of appetite, commonly accompanied by nausea and vomiting, is a nuisance symptom which many women experience in early pregnancy. Each of these symptoms is typical of "morning sickness", which usually peaks around the eighth week of pregnancy and subsides by the sixteenth week. Decreased appetite is often one of the earliest symptoms felt during pregnancy. Going without eating for an extended time is not recommended, however, and an empty stomach can often trigger nausea. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to encourage appetite, nourish yourself and help hold nausea at bay.
Boosting Your Appetite
Step 1
Keep a package of saltine crackers next to your bed. Decreased appetite during early pregnancy is commonly related to morning sickness, even when you don't feel nauseous. This feeling is often quite strong in the morning when you first wake up. Although eating may be your last desire, slowly eating a few plain crackers may help your appetite reappear. The exact reasons for morning sickness aren't clear, but it is believed that changing hormones play a part. Other factors, such as lower blood sugar upon awaking, may also influence how you feel.
Step 2
Sip cold ginger ale, which may also help to stimulate your appetite. According to the American College of Nurse Midwives, ginger can decrease the severity of nausea. Of course, the sugar in ginger ale may also help to raise waning blood sugar levels when you haven't been eating. Once you feel that crackers or ginger ale have settled your stomach, try progressing to a small meal of bland food, or according to your appetite.
Step 3
Stock small, nutritious snacks in places like your purse, car and coat pocket. Healthy, portable choices like dried fruit, granola bars, raw almonds and crackers with peanut butter are good to have on hand when your appetite increases. Having snacks available is also a real help if nausea strikes.
Step 4
Eat several small meals throughout the day. Few things have the potential to kill your appetite and provoke nausea as quickly as a large meal eaten in haste. In contrast, eating a nutritious, palatable snack or mini-meal every three hours during the day can prevent indigestion help to stimulate your appetite.
Step 5
Avoid offensive odors. During early pregnancy, many women experience a heightened sensitivity to smell. It's typical for women to develop aversions to smells which never bothered them before. Whatever the cause of this phenomenon, exposure to unappealing smells will understandably kill your appetite. If the smell of certain food groups suddenly bother you, it will likely resolve by sixteen weeks. If you have difficulty eating from a certain food group as a result, it's a good idea to speak to your midwife or doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Ginger ale
- Saltine crackers
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