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Pregnancy

Is it normal to feel so hungry in the first trimester??

50 replies

bubblesincambridge · 04/06/2009 09:11

Hi

I'm only at 8 weeks but I'm absolutely ravenous! Is that normal? When I get really hungry I start to feel sick so have to eat which relieves the sick feeling. I'm probably having to eat every 2 hours! At this rate I will be the size of a house before I even go for the first scan!

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littleboyblue · 04/06/2009 09:15

Sounds normal. That little baby will be growing at such a fast rate, you'll need a bit of extra food to keep up.
I had the same the second time, felt really sick unless I was eating, so try to do little and often, not anything too big. No big meals, aim for little, healthy snacks.
Keep a pack of biscuits by the bed so you can have one first thing and keep the sickness at bay. I liked ginger ones or shortbread.

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 04/06/2009 09:27

I'm sure I remember having to have a few midnight snacks when I was pg with DS cos I woke up starving! Same after he was born when I was bf, I used to sneak downstairs for oatcakes and cream cheese after his night feeds...

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AliGrylls · 04/06/2009 10:03

I remember being ravenous in first trim and ate like a pig. I didn't put on any weight either during this period of pregnancy.

In fact I would say make the most of it because by the time you get to end of tri 2 / 3 indigestion kicks in and I found I couldn't eaet as much even though I wanted too.

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princessmel · 04/06/2009 10:07

Totally normal

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staylucky · 04/06/2009 12:19

Yup as above!

I ate constantly through 1st trimester, like you said when I started feeling sick I took it as my cue to eat and it always made me feel better as soon as I did.

Am sure will settle down hun, go with it!

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Longtalljosie · 04/06/2009 13:32

Normal? - God yes! Just go with it - now's not the time for dieting. But if you are really eating vast amounts, I can recommend rice cakes, which are very good for morning sickness

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AvonBarksdale · 04/06/2009 14:09

Absolutely normal, and a wonderful excuse to stuff your face! If you make sure you have enough healthy things to get you through the day you won't put weight on either. With both my pregnancies I'd make sure I had enough fruit on my desk/in the kitchen to munch on as and when. Also good were Holland and Barratt nuts/dried fruit, yoghurts, and a nice box of cereal/museli (I ate a whole box of Special K in one day once). Of course I did (and still do!) occasionally give in and have a Twix as there's no need to stay off the treats completely! Remember, you are feeding your rapidly growing little baby, so get as much good stuff in there as you can!

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Momtobeof3 · 05/06/2009 16:07

Normal normal normal!! That happened to me with both of my children and i didnt gain too much!! Lol Good Luck and Congrats!!

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EffieGadsby · 05/06/2009 16:25

I have been ravenous, particularly for utter rubbish, and found out this week that I've gained 6lbs already (and am only 12 weeks tomorrow). I'm pretty shocked it's been so much! My belly is getting so big from all the food that I probably won't be able to see my baby bump when it starts to grow. God, now I'm thinking about food again. It seems baby wants crumpets, and who am I do deny her/him.

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KatyS36 · 05/06/2009 16:59

Hi,

I was the same. My midwife said that this happened to some women and they just grew into their bump (I was showin at 8 weeks!)

Now 20+1. Stopped feeling starving at around 14 weeks, and whilst i did put on weight at the start I have only put on a 'normal' amount in the last 6 weeks.

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bubblesincambridge · 11/06/2009 12:19

Cool! Its good to know I'm not the only one!

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bevlin · 11/06/2009 21:02

Oh god i could eat a horse covered im mayo on a large bap with extra fry's. Ive just been moaning about this on another thread. I have to eat every two hours and have rich tea biscuits on my bedside cabinet or im in the loo wretching until im purple and bruising ribs in the process. I was exactly the same with DS and I put on 3.5 stone onto my usually petite 5'2 frame. I was like a weeble and coupled with odemea I resembled princess Fiona from Shrek but much fatter. This time im TRYING to eat healthy stuff but when your nauseaus and can only picture eating certain things without throwing up, the biscuit wins over the banana. It's ok to go with it in the beginning but take it from me, when the feeling passes, don't carry on the habbit of eating for two or you'll be struggling to walk by the end!

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smokeandshad0w · 27/10/2014 23:28

Hi ladies! I will be 9 weeks on Wednesday and my Mom told me this morning that it is NOT normal for someone to be hungrier in the first trimester as they aren't really hungry from being nauseous. I haven't had any morning sickness or any cravings or aversions from food since I have learned of my pregnancy, I have just noticed an increase in my appetite. I know that every woman's pregnancy is different, and my mom had night sickness when she was pregnant with myself and my brother, I guess I just wonder that since I haven't had the "classic" symptoms of pregnancy if my pregnancy is considered "normal." I have had slight cramps (they feel like menstrual cramps) but the nurse I talked to said that it is normal to feel this during the pregnancy as it is everything growing and expanding. I have not had any spotting or bleeding, or any sharp or stabbing cramps, so I assume everything is ok. I go see the doctor in about a week. Has anyone else had any of this during their pregnancy? This is my first one, and as I am trying not to be a little bundle of nerves and fear, it is hard not to wonder if my pregnancy is normal or not.

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peasandlove · 27/10/2014 23:31

Yes I ate about 6 meals a day

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Laundryangel · 27/10/2014 23:45

Officially, I think the only extra calories you need during pregnancy are 300 a day in the third trimester (so a slice of toast & an apple). In the first trimester with both of my pregnancies I would often wake up at 3am and have to have some toast, have a breakfast when I woke up at 7am and another when I got to work at 9.30. After that, I would have "normal" lunch and supper.

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ELA88 · 28/10/2014 07:58

I was sick or incredibly nauseous till about 12 weeks, then for the next 4 weeks I just ate solidly, I was so hungry! I'm almost 19 weeks now and seem to be back to my normal food consumption! Xx

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WingsClipped · 28/10/2014 08:11

I'm a firm believer that it's important to learn to listen to your body during pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different and what your mum or best friend went through won't be the same as what you are going through. If you are hungry then listen to your body and eat! When I was pregnant with DD1 I had to keep crackers by the bedside table because I would wake up in the middle of the night and be absolutely ravenous to the point my stomach was growling and hurting. No way could I ignore it and go back to sleep! When I found out I was pregnant this time I stocked up on cereal bars and crackers which are currently sitting in a cupboard uneaten...

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pippinleaf · 28/10/2014 08:33

I put on loads of weight in my first trimester as I was only not feeling sick when I was eating. It's slowed down now a bit. Don't worry about it. Someone told me that breast feeding uses up 400 calories a time so I'm pinning my hope on that!

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RetroHippy · 28/10/2014 09:32

Yup, I was getting up for a 4am bowl of cereal and having daily 4pm Nutella on toast Grin I didn't need to eat huge amounts, but I did get that empty, gnawing feeing if I didn't eat often.

Went off food a bit after that, I got nauseous from weeks 9-12 and just couldn't face food. Then ate totally normally until around 20 weeks.

I now know when the bump is going to have a growth spurt as I get that same first tri peckishness a few days before. I am also eating a ridiculous amount of cake and ice-cream.

Sod it, I'll bf it off again Grin

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lucylousecondtimemummy · 03/11/2014 17:30

im 8 weeks im feeling hungry all the time today hasn't been so bad but other days im feeling so hungry that I feel sick I hope it dyes down soon or im gonna be like a whale by time babys here I don't remember it been this bad the last time I was pregnant going to speak to midwife next week when I go lol x

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AnythingNotEverything · 03/11/2014 17:39

I think some women feel such whenever they eat, some women feel sick unless they eat constantly. The latter are the lucky ones!

I'm 7 ish weeks and starving and shattered and drinking water by the gallon. It'll pass soon enough.

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lendi · 03/11/2014 18:11

I was ravenous too, have twins on board and it hasn't really settled down (now 17 weeks).
Also for whoever asked about cramps.. I'm getting lots of stretching pains again but got loads of cramping stretching pains weeks 6-9 especially. Was so bad a times was convinced something was wrong but as long as there is no bleeding try not to worry. All normal as far as I know. When v uncomfortable I took paracetamol and rested, which helped. Smile

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kittehkatkitteh · 05/09/2015 10:34

I'm 6 weeks now. I'm hungry all the time. Ate about 1hr ago and i'm super hungry now. Is there any tips that can stop me from feeling this way?

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TenForward82 · 05/09/2015 13:12

I ate all the things. It's settled down now I'm in the second trimester.

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BadgerFace · 05/09/2015 14:11

I was starving all the time weeks 6 - 10 and also had low level all day nausea unless I was eating (which was a great excuse to eat!). And all I wanted to eat were carbs. I put on 4 pounds in the first month, but then none in the second so it starts to even out... I'm now 22 weeks and back to (fairly) normal levels of hunger.

It's different for everyone and I didn't have any changes in appetite in my first pregnancy. I echo the person above on following your body's cues. If you are hungry eat! It'll pass. (Until the breastfeeding hunger strikes if you're going to feed that way. That made me crave sugar last time. Pass the cakes!).

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