Pregnancy: Is it normal to not want to eat in early pregnancy?
Is it normal for my wife to lose her appetite in the early months of pregnancy? How can I ensure that she is getting the right nutrients?
Question:Peg Plumbo CNM
Peg Plumbo has been a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) since 1976. She has assisted at over 1,000 births and currently teaches in the... Read more
My husband often remarked during our pregnancies that he never felt so powerless over something that was so important to him. Someone else is in control!
Yes, it is so normal to feel full and on the edge of nausea for most of the first trimester. Weight gain is only three to five pounds during this time, while the baby is being sustained mostly on your wife's lifetime of good nutrition.
The best thing to do is eat several small meals instead of three large ones. Supplement the meals with lots of high-fiber, high-protein snacks such as raw veggies, whole-grain breads, granola, string cheese, graham crackers, hard-boiled eggs and yogurt. If she smokes, she must stop immediately.
If you feel there is really a problem with her getting the essential nutrients, you could ask for a referral to a dietician. They are a wealth of information.
Many good books discuss antepartal nutrition. Anything by Sheila Kitzinger is excellent, such as the "Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth." "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is another good reference.
Her appetite will undoubtedly return just when it's needed. Trust her to take good care of your baby.
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