I desperately want to eat but can't (7 weeks)

[ohherewegoagain]

7 weeks today and desperately want to eat but I'm really struggling.

Yesterday I was unable to eat my dinner, I tried to force myself but in the end it just went in the bin. This morning, I've tried to have a glass of water and bowl of Shredded Wheat but I just can't seem to finish it.

I'm really worried that I am causing harm to my baby. Any idea on when my appetite will come back? Or what I can do to get it back? If this has happened to you, how long did it last? I usually love food and think about it all day, so I'm actually upset with myself that I'm not eating. Sweet things I have completely gone off. I'm a vegetarian so this makes me even more worried that I'm not giving my baby any nutrients at all.

So far I've not been vomiting, although sometimes it feels like I'm about to. I just feel really queazy and also hungry.

Any tips or advice would be great.

@Anecdoche Nothing is really physically stopping me from swallowing the food, it's just I have no appetite to eat whatsoever. Yesterday it took me about half an hour to eat my dinner and half of it ended up in the bin. My desire for food has just vanished.

Good idea about the soups, maybe taking sips of something may help me get the nutrients in. However, even drinking water has been a struggle, but I'll give your suggestion a try. Thanks.

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do to encourage it back and no way of knowing when it will end, it's your hormones playing havoc with your digestion.

Don't worry about the baby, they take alllll they need from their mum, it won't be affected at all unless you were genuinely bordering on starvation and at a very low weight.

Try eating small amounts regularly rather than trying normal meals and make sure you keep taking fluids.

Thanks @Ameliablue. So far eating a little every few hours has worked for me today.

I totally lost my appetite in pregnancy with DD, I'm also 7 weeks on second pregnancy and I've lost 10lb. Anything at all that you fancy, go for it. Don't worry about being healthy, just get some calories in you. I lived on pints of chocolate nesquik made with whole milk last time

@MamaOfTwos After your DDs birth did you appetite come back?

Also with the loss of appetite did you also not get morning sickness? Or could that still be on the way for me?

I know it sounds silly but I enjoy food so much I hope this isn't permanent I'm not sure how much I've lost if at all so far, i've only started feeling like this since Thursday. I've just ordered Franco Manca as I think i want pizza. Who knows whether I'll eat it when it gets here will try my best though

Could you try smoothies? Not ideal but I had to manage on them for a week or two when pregnant with my son.

When I was recovering from surgery, I was exactly the same. I had a celebratory fish and chips the day I was discharged, but could hardly eat a thing. I found that getting a swirly straw (I know, childish!) and sticking it in a Cup O' Soup thingy and sipping slowly while distracting myself with my phone or doing the washing-up or something.

I lost 20lb in first trimester. No appetite and being sick dozens of times a day. Didn't even manage the folic acid. For 2 weeks I ate only hula hoops and plain wraps. I'm 21 weeks and baby is 50th percentile. Lots of women with severe morning sickness / hyperemesis don't eat but baby will take what it needs from you. Think of all those poor women who live in poverty without access to proper food and water. They still have babies.

@thingymaboob that's good point, I never thought of it like that. I will do my best to eat what and when I can. So far I haven't had morning sickness and I really really hope it stays that way.

Your appetite will definitely come back, it's definitely not permanent! :)

Thanks for the reassurance @FoggyMist

Having the same. Picking on fruit and crackers all the day seems to help. Then will try a meal but cant always stomach much. Yesterday all I could eat was slices of toast intermittently. Am drinking lots of water and taking vitamin supplements for preggers peeps so as not to feel too bad about my utterly weird diet!

Appetite is slowly coming back now, but strangely I'm craving chicken after being a pescatarian for many years. I popped in to KFC as I was so glad to actually have a desire to eat. Surprisingly the wings and chips went down a treat, although I do feel quite guilty.

@ohherewegoagain don't beat yourself up for your cravings, just go with it. My appetite and tastes came back within 24 hours of having DD

I started the pregnancy at nearly 16st and ended under 15st so win/win

Hi OP,

What your describing sounds similar to how I felt.

As soon as I was told that baby will take everything it needs from me, and not eating will just affect me really, I felt the 'pressure' to eat properly leave. Throughout the pregnancy I just ate small amounts throughout the day and only what/when I fancied it. I was the same weight post baby as I was before, and daughter arrived at 7lbs 11oz.

And my appetite definitely came back a couple of weeks after she was born.

Best of luck!

I've just seen your comment about KFC. I read your thread title and immediately remembered craving MacDonald's chicken burgers.

Baby will be fine, you'll probably feel quite poorly though. For 6 weeks I could only eat babybels, apples and cocopops. Everything else turned my stomach. Fizzy water was nice though. I've lost over 20lbs so far but baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead and is very wriggly - no concerns from midwife.

My advice is to eat whatever you fancy whenever you fancy it. That helped me a lot. Doesnt matter if it's a meal or a snack or whatever time of the day or night. I havent really cooked or eaten a real meal in months...