Why am I eating like a toddler?

[RoseHippy1]

Hello all, I’m just wondering if anybody has any experience with this… I have 6 month old and a 22 month old and I am generally very rundown and sleep deprived. I am quite happy though.

I’ve also just gone back on the pill, about 2.5 months ago. I’m not sure if there’s any other background information that is relevant here. Basically I am eating like a toddler at the moment… I have no appetite for anything with flavour, I can’t even bear the thought of tomato pasta for tea tonight. All I really want to eat is mashed potato, biscuits, chips, cheese scones ..... I have always been a very healthy varied vegetarian eater. I am definitely not pregnant!

I do feel hunger, but not as much as usual, and the thought of most foods (e.g. anything not totally bland and stodgy) makes me feel really sick and completely put off eating. This has never happened before except during pregnancy but , I repeat , I am definitely not pregnant!

My husband made a curry last night and attempted to tempt me with it and I couldn’t even look at it and had a piece of toast.

Is this the effect of long-term sleep deprivation ? I don’t feel particularly nauseous.

I am drinking a lot of caffeine at the moment…

Have a word with your gp. hope it is ok!

You might have health issues (not a practitioner, so can't offer advice)

Having said that, when I was severely sleep deprived (two young DC one with ASD who sleeps 3 hours a night) I was constantly craving carbs for energy, just like you. I constantly wanted stodgy, carby food.

I noticed a difference in my appetite and cravings every time I rested a bit more.

I had visions of you having one hand in your food and the other hand holding some mash aloft .

Sorry I can not be of more help, I hope you get your appetite back soon.

Yes craving carbs can be a sign of insomnia

I think it's fine to eat beige food if that's what you fancy. Take a multivitamin as well. I think it would be worth going to the doctor for a health check. Try to cut down on caffeine as that won't help you sleep. Can it reduce your appetite?

Yeah, I get it. I pretty much only want macaroni cheese, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, potato waffles and lots of ketchup right now.

I have pretty bad insomnia. Think it's sleep deprivation making me want easy carbs. There might be a deeper medical reason, but I'm not sure

Get your iron checked. I was very anaemic with my first and couldn't stomach eating big meals.

That’s a good point @ohmygod

Health check up maybe a good idea, often your body can be lacking things after birth especially as you have two close together it may be your body saying I need a rest, it's not uncommon for things like coeliac disease to become apparent after a pregnancy so best getting it checked out.

Thanks butterfly x

When I went back on the pill after baby no 1, I felt nauseous all of the time. After baby no 2 I had a copper coil fitted and I feel great now.