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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

My wife is hardly eating at all

43 replies

Griff1983 · 21/12/2014 15:23

Hi I'm after some advice. My wife is hardly eating at all she seems to have gone off all types of food and can't even get past the smell on some of them. We've read that eating plain digestive biscuits help but this is all she has been eating the past 2 days. Is this normal and is it safe? Should I try force feeding her?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BigCatFace · 21/12/2014 21:41

I had severe morning sickness and aversions but could manage most drinks, maybe try that? My husband made me veggie smoothies and yoghurt and fruit ones and I mostly kept them down.

buttercupbear · 21/12/2014 21:51

I don't think the op means actually force feeding her surely maybe more wrong phase to use

Betrayedbutsurvived · 21/12/2014 22:08

WTAF! Exactly how do you plan to force feed her?

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 21/12/2014 22:12

Depends. Would you normally think it's ok to assault your wife

motleymop · 21/12/2014 22:28

A sort of Foie Gras Mama?

AlpacaYourThings · 21/12/2014 22:29

MyNameIsButterfly · 21/12/2014 22:52

hehe, don't worry, she'll soon get pass that fase of pregnancy and then she'll eat more than you can carry home x

Original poster

Griff1983 · 22/12/2014 07:05

Wow I have been told haven't I. I wasn't serious about the force feeding I was asking for advice, I was asking if it was a good idea to do, which, obviously I know it isn't now. This will be our first child we have been trying for a while, this is the first time she has got this far in her pregnancy as there have been a few suspected miscarriages and I am just scared that I am not doing enough to support her. I admit that I do not know what I am doing and I want to help her but I don't know how. It is very frustrating and I am terrified. DisneyDivoWoo said her husband did the same thing and I realise that I was indeed being a "twat" even thinking of the idea but I think a little bit of understanding needs to come our way as well.

OP posts:

EhricJinglingHisBallsOnHigh · 22/12/2014 07:10

If you were asking if it was a good idea to do then you clearly were serious about it.
Force feeding is a disgusting, violent, abusive thing to do. Just for a second try to imagine holding your pregnant wife down and forcing food down her throat. How do you think she would feel? What do you think would happen? She would gag and vomit and choke and feel terrified like she couldn't breathe. And you would be doing that to her.
It's a disgusting thing to even think about and the fact that you asked about it here means you were thinking about it.

livegoldrings · 22/12/2014 07:19

I guess what you really mean is encourage her to force herself to eat something even if she doesn't feel like it. I dont think she should do that, but lately I have been ill and I have supplimented my food with a cup of complan. It is milky but easy to drink. If she can face a milky drink you could try that.

LynetteScavo · 22/12/2014 07:29

If you are that worried get some advice from the gp.

When I was pg even drinking water was difficult at times.

As your wife if there is anything she feels she could eat...I could stomach veg soup/ souper noodles/ tomato sandwich when the hunger got me but very little else.

I really think your wife should take advice from a gp.

Timeforabiscuit · 22/12/2014 07:46

You sound very worried, especially after miscarriages - but lack of eating due to morning sickness isn't linked to miscarriage.

The baby takes all the nutrition from mum at this stage, so your wife will be feeling the effect of lack of food not baby. All you can do is provide options, so plenty of blandish picky things oat cakes etc and that drinks are on hand.

Most important - divert her, help her laugh, go for a walk together if she can.
I wouldn't push the issue of food, if your wife could eat she would.

Good luck!

icklekid · 22/12/2014 07:51

Try salty food? Crisps were what I lived on. Ice lollies if can't cope with water help get liquids in. I could only eat at midday- breakfast and tea would just come back up...

StripedCandycaneOss · 22/12/2014 08:01

my second pregnancy i lived off cup a soup and ritz crackers for several weeks.

I'm going to ignore the forcefeeding comment because its just ridiculous, but really.. go and google, this isn't unusual, morning sickness (which doesn't just occur in the morning, it can be an all day thing) puts us off food.

What she needs to worry about is that if she isn't eating, her body will start using her own fat stores, which will show out in her urine samples she takes to the midwife. One thing to try is to keep something like crackers or gingernuts on her bedside and eat BEFORE she gets up.. doesn't always work, but it sometimes does.

It should only last up to about 14wks or so, although in some cases it can last longer.

HSMMaCM · 22/12/2014 08:09

I ate shortbread and honey nut loops for at least a few weeks. I moved onto minuscule portions of veggie meat and veg. Lost weight during my pregnancy and DD was fine. Definitely talk to the midwife or GP about this.

BikeRunSki · 22/12/2014 08:30

I think the OP is a genuinely worried DH, as was mine in both my pg. maybe a clumsy use of words too.

Griff I was the same as your wife in both my pregnancies from weeks 8-16 or so. It is an utterly, utterly miserable feeling. Everything I ate or drank came back up within minutes. Both my babies were born full term and normal weights.

Staying hydrated is the most important thing. I couldn't even jerp down sips of water, but I found that I could melt an ice cube in my mouth! Ice lollies helped sometimes, but sometimes I found them too overpoweringly sweet.

There is medication that might help (antiemetic drugs), so I'd suggest seeing your GP/walk in clinic or even A&E. It's worth preparing your self for the idea that your wife may be admitted to hospital to be rehydrated on a drip.

This website is very helpful too
Pregnancy Sickness Support.

Encourage her to have some fluids, but don't force feed.

DisneyDivaWoo · 22/12/2014 08:40

Griff I know it's a worrying time and I think you should read up. It's also nice to be asked how you're feeling during pregnancy a lot because it's hard growing another person inside of you. I'm sorry if I came across as harsh. My own husband is constantly worrying which is nice but annoying. This baby is our second and he knew what I was like last time but this pregnancy is so much harder and I can't deal with his tantrums too. If something is worrying you talk to your partner. If it's worrying her too talk to the midwife. Trust me there is nothing better than a well informed, helpful partner

elfycat · 22/12/2014 09:30

Hi Griff, ignoring the force feeding comment

I lost half a stone in my first pregnancy (from pre-pregnancy to the day I went into labour). I wasn't quite at the medical need point with my nausea/vomiting but it only because I could keep fluids down (most of the time).

By the time I had DD1 I had lost a stone and a half. Not everyone glows through pregnancy. Some of us vomit, faint and look grey.

By all means encourage her to speak with her midwife or GP and in the meantime take a breath and relax. Maybe see if there's anything else she thinks she could manage. Maybe some very juicy fruit or fruit smoothies. Maybe something like horlicks/ovaltine - the only time I've ever had the stuff was while in the throws of HG and don't ask how that worked. For every woman it will be something different so see what kind of thing you could add to biscuits. But don't pressure her to eat, only encourage and support.

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