Serious lack of appetite, worried about baby's development

[chillisbopper]

Hi, I'm 16+6 weeks with my first baby and experiencing very little appetite. Just wondering if anybody else had this.

I did better eating the first 12 weeks, no a lot but i think more than i have since. I visited family and was made to eat a bit more than i was doing. The 12 week scan was fine, everything seemed alright, and at 16 weeks the heart beat was heard and 'regular'.

But I don't think i'm eating anywhere near enough, most of the time i don't have a proper meal in a day and when i try to eat i feel really full really quickly. I mentioned this to the midwife and she said to just try to eat small and often, but sometimes i find that that means i have only had a yogurt and some cereal all day, or other days a jacket potato and some chocolates.

DH says the baby will just draw all of it's nutients from me and that's probably why i am quite tired lately. And apparently next month we are going to do a 'big shop' and have lots of healthy 'snack' foods in (this month we just moved house and everythings been a bit up in the air really). But I am so worried because I keep thinking, what if i go to the 20 week scan and the baby hasn't developed properly and it's because i've not been eating properly?! I really hope that's not the case :(

Has anybody else experienced such a lack of appetite these early weeks and everything been okay at the 20 week scan??

I had terrible sickness and nausea for the first 14 weeks and lived on a bowl of cereal or two a day. Midwife told me as long as I was keeping fluids down I should be ok, as baby just takes what he needs from my stores like your OH said. Maybe try taking a pregnancy multivitamin to try and replenish your nutrients if you can stomach it.

Your appetite should improve... I was ravenous through last half of second trimester until recently, now 29+5 and my stomach is so squished up that I'm back to little meals. Baby is very healthy and reminds me every day with his gymnastics :).

Good luck and try not to worry, just keep chatting to your midwife and she will tell you if there's any cause for concern.

Unborn babys are parasitic, your bloke is right it'll take everything it needs from you. You're still quite early on and the baby is more apart of you than of itself. I'm pretty positive your appetite will come roaring back at some point. Try not to worry.

I couldn't eat hardly anything for first 20wks, I lost a stone n half in that time and was already petite, I ended up 4ib heavier full term then my pre pregnancy weight. Baby was born 9ib and absolutely fine. They just take your stores which does make you feel abit rubbish, don't worry babys still getting everything it needs xx

Thanks everybody, this has helped me feel much better ...can't wait to get an appetite again though, I miss food !