So hard to be healthy

[MissTwister]

I'm just coming to the end of my first trimester and really struggling to eat healthily. I started off well, loads of fruit and veg, smoothies etc, but over the last few weeks those things are the last things I want, I just feel yuck thinking about them.

I have had nausea but nothing too bad and no actual sickness - its just the only food I want is carbs....cheese and pickle sandwiches, cheese on toast, pizza, pastries, bagels, cereal etc. Will this stop or do I need to force myself to eat better!

Also finding it hard to keep up fluid uptake as liquid makes me feel icky....

[CarrotPuff]

Oh hun don't beat yourself up, it's very normal to crave carbs. It's hard work to grow a human, and your body needs fuel to do this! Just eat whatever gets you through, hopefully you'll start feeling better in second trimester, so you can think of healthy eating then.

Try cold drinks, or fizzy water instead of tap

[skyra13]

I am obsessed with cheese toasties i just eat what i want but still try an have fruit an yoghurt.

[pinkie87]

Totally agree!! The past few days all I want is bread and butter, pastry, cheese and pickled onions right now. I'm 6wks 2 days. It's so difficult. :(

[Beggy15]

I know a girl who only ate fast food for her entire pregnancy she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Sunday!

[MissTwister]

I guess the good thing is I haven't even put on a pound in weight!!! I don't know how, I even ate coco pops when I woke up at midnight last night

Am 11+1 now so just waiting to feel a bit better and stop having the nausea/nausea/nausea/starving/starving/starving/nausea cycle to end!!

[MissTwister]

There's definitely a calcium thing going on too - milk, cheese etc

[eurochick]

That point was the peak of my beige diet - if it wasn't beige, I wasn't interested!

It passed.

My take on it is: look at what happens between week 2 (when sperm meets egg) and week 12 of pregnancy (when you see something that looks like a baby on the scan). You are growing a heart and limbs and a brain - everything. My body just wanted the energy from carbs to do all that.

[m33r]

I had this too but about week 14, it went away and I started 'fanying' broccolli, turnip and other healthier things.

I also didn't gain any weight (and did midnight rice krispies!).

I think that means that baby made me want what it needed. I'm 30+1 now and all I want is spicy soup... so that is what I am having!

Hope you feel better soon (but don't feel bad!)

[pinkie87]

Oh god I agree about the starving starving nausea thing too! End up pigging out then feeling nauseous for the rest of day. Feeling nauseous now actually and pondering what I should eat for lunch!

[losthermind]

im 8+1 and have just managed a cereal bar after not being able to eat for 27 hours. the only things i can barely keep down at the minute is toast,plain crisps and special k bars. the thought of any eating other foods makes me want to cry. just eat what you feel like right now

[specialsubject]

complex carbs are not bad for you! Eat your toast.

simple carbs do need to be taken in moderation. That means sugar: pastries, cereal bars, diet food, commercial smoothies. Special K is normally fit only for the bin but if it is all you can keep down, eat it. It does contain some nutrition.

[MissTwister]

I never thought it was possible to feel sick and starving at same time before getting pregnant! It's such an odd feeling

I have been exhausted for weeks so you're right I obviously need the calories. I had a scan yesterday and everything looks great so far!

I want rice krispies now.....

[MissTwister]

Sorry you feel so ill lost her mind, hoping you feel better soon xx

[comeagainforbigfudge]

When ever I managed to eat it was cheese and crackers, cheese toasties, cheese and pickles.and it had to be cheddar.

Orange juice every day, even if it came back up I had to have some EVERY day oh and salt n vinegar crisps - twirls in particular.

Now at 18 weeks I have to make myself eat meat. Still can't face chicken. And have to make myself drink at least 1.5litres a day. If i manage that i do end up drinking over 2l.

Appetite is so poor and I just don't know what to eat. I am eating regularly, just not enjoying food as much at moment.

I keep persevering though and hope cravings kick in soon to make up for it

[pinkie87]

I've gone for crisps and an apple (trying to still get some form of nutrition!) for lunch.

[losthermind]

thanks miss twister im hoping it soon passes,i havent had a real meal for 3 weeks now,everything i do eat is literally force fed. i dont recall feeling like this with dc xx

[sleepwhenidie]

Without going crazy with it, I'd worry less about eating rubbish and more about including some good stuff along with it, answer the cravings for calcium rich food, make sure you get fruit and veg every day, relax about the other food. Baby will be fine as long as you are eating (even if you were to eat very little babies leech everything they need-at your expense if necessary).

[Cornberry]

Wow, snap! I started an almost identical thread after shortly after this. I should have just scrolled down a bit! This is exactly my problem. I can only eat carbs and bananas and the occasional Apple and I feel so unhealthy. Completely sympathise with feeling starving and sick at the same time. It's very frustrating and tiring. I feel constantly at a loss to know whether to eat and what to eat and how much. Helps to know this is a common situation :) good luck with it. At least you don't feel too sick :)

[LIG1979]

I found that once the nausea went I could eat better again. Till then it was carby/fatty/beige/yellow food that I wanted. Unfortunately I am now able to enjoy chocolate again so having lots of fruit, veg, chocolate and ice cream. (But at least they can balance each other out!)

[Wonkyparsnip]

I pretty much just ate sugar and crisps for the first 3 months. Meat, vegetables, fruit made me feel sick. Are a bit of bread and pasta. I have a lovely baby. I did put on 4 stone though and still have a stone to shift!

[birchwoods]

I'm exactly the same! 9+4 and pretty much since I found out I was pg at 4 wks I've totally fallen off the wagon. Anything goes! Mainly mini cheddars, bagels, crumpets, muffins etc... And in much bigger portions than usual! Unfortunately I have put on weight, about 5lbs all around my tummy and hips. I've had to by jeans a size bigger . I'm trying to get back into clean eating though so still carbs but healthy substitutions. I just had buckwheat pancakes for breakfast and it was amazing!

[MissTwister]

My waistline has definitely expanded a bit but my overall weight has stayed the same, someone even thought I looked slimmer the other day - I think no alcohol has depuffed my face!!

[PregnantAndEngaged]

I was exactly the same but that has improved somewhat. However carbs are not bad for you as they give you and the baby energy (you're both growing now!).

Try to eat cereals that have been fortified with vitamins, then they are not too bad for you either and go for skimmed milk.

Cheese, although fatty, is good for you in pregnancy (just ensure you check the types of cheese to avoid on NHS website) because it contains calcium. Ensure to have plenty of calcium where possible (yoghurts, cheese and milk).

However just to reassure you, this is perfectly normal and I'm a strong believer that it is to do with what your baby needs in these early stages to form.

I'd advise though, if you're concerned about your lack of veg at the moment, maybe take a pregnancy multivitamin. I take pregnacare plus and I feel quite good now :)

I was concerned about craving crisps all the time but I only ate 1 packet a day and I balanced this by eating more of my normal food groups e.g. carbohydrate, frozen veg, snacked on fruit when hungry and had meat. I think these naughty cravings subside as time goes on. I'm definitely craving them less now I'm in second trimester (17+1).