I can only eat things I should not be eating

[HighlyStrung1987]

I am 7 weeks +4 with my second pregnancy after a miscarriage at Christmas and have an autoimmune condition that I have to take medication for everyday for the rest of my life. I have sensitivities to gluten, dairy, soya, and refined sugar. Eating them causes my immune system to attack my body and I get immense fatigue, brain fog, joint paint, mood swings, rashes, and general inflammation. Since my morning sickness started about a week and a half ago I cannot face eating any of my usual foods. The sight, smell, taste, and even thought of vegetables, meat, fish, pulses, eggs, legumes, nuts, fruit, basically anything deemed traditionally healthy literally makes me heave. I am only able to tolerate 'junk food' and have tried my best to still make sure it doesn't contain any of my banned ingredients, but I have caved a few times and eaten some stuff that I absolutely shouldn't because it was literally that, or eat nothing. For example I ate a nine inch pizza to myself last night, I haven't eaten pizza in years! It was one of the only things I managed to eat all day and honestly the only thing my body would allow at that point. I felt absolutely dreadful all day until I ate that pizza! I'm really panicking because I know that this behaviour is detrimental to my health in the longer term and I'm terrified it could affect my pregnancy, but I physically am not able to keep other foods down. My body is craving the precise things I can't have and rejecting the foods I should have. I never anticipated this happening in a million years and I feel awful about it. Has anyone else dealt with anything similar? I'm hoping that in a few weeks the sickness will die down and I can just go back to my usual diet with no harm caused.

Could you call the midwife line of the hospital you are registered up if you've not had your booking in appointment yet? It should be online or call your GP perhaps?

I don't have an intolerance but i'm the same in the way I've had to switch my diet to all beige food from previously being v healthy so assume it's common in pregnancy.

@RobynC28 They won't see me or speak to me before my initial appointment. I don't really know what they could do for me anyway. They're unlikely to give me anti nausea medication because I'm fine other than my weird new food preferences.

Try not to worry. I am also gluten intolerant and avoided it for much of my pregnancy, but in the early weeks – roughly week 7 - 11 – I also couldn't eat the foods I normally ate. I ate a bag of crisps every day and I never eat crisps. Couldn't face any vegetables, or fish. I did crave pastry, lamb and crisps. Not very healthy, but by week 11 I was feeling much better. Hopefully the morning sickness won't last too long for you either.

Can you stomach potatoes? Rice? Stewed apple? I'm trying to think of bland-ish foods.

Stock up in junkier 'free from' type foods?

You can contact your GP for anti nausea medication - you don’t need to wait to see your midwife first.

All you can really do though is eat what you can stomach. This is very anecdotal but a colleague of mine was lactose intolerant but found she could tolerate it again during pregnancy. It does weird things to your body.

Midwife here. Morning sickness, aka all the time sickness is really tough. Be easy on yourself. Eat what you can for now. Try and eat some bits of healthy stuff and take your vitamins and folic acid but this will pass. You've been a healthy eater in the past so your body will have the stores of what it needs to get you through.

@DuploTrain My nausea isn't that bad now tbh, I'm just having major food aversions.

@Elephantsareace That's just it though, I can't eat them 😫 Not sure if you've ever tried gluten free crumpets or gluten free, dairy free pizza, but they're actually vile. Also most free from items are full of refined sugar and soya anyway. I don't tend to eat them even when I'm able to.

@momamama Thank you x

The first trimester of pregnancy has about 90% of us throw vegetables and healthy food out of the window, that part is normal. In regards to your specific condition, that needs actual medical advice not MN. x

@rubyredknowsitall I am seeking medical advice, I just wondered if anyone on here had been through something similar as I'm feeling very alone and in need of solidarity.

I survived on Big Macs in the first trimester (minus the bun as coeliac) so I feel your pain!
You will be fine honestly. Just do your best to eat well and don’t worry when you don’t

@HighlyStrung1987

Ah sorry. Well you're definitely not alone. I have something different but equally as bad that flaired up with food issues during the first few months. I'm rethinking having a second child because of it. Hugs

@HighlyStrung1987 you have my sympathy. I had severe food aversions, still do but definitely not as bad. For the first trimester I lived off carbs and not the good kind. Were talking pure processed junk food. Sausage rolls, cheese, crisps, take away burgers and pizza ( which isnt good for my ibs) I couldnt stand a veg or fruit. It started easing a little in second and although I still can't tolerate a huge amount of veg , im loving lots of fruit on a daily basis which is strange and I'm able to tolerate certain foods that I previously couldn't again. Although saying that, I did eat pizza last night but I'm finding a better balance with the fruit and junk.
I believe this part of pregnancy in normal. My midwife told me just eat what you can.
I had my big scan and baby is developing normally. Your not alone. Think how many womens diets are pure crap and babies are being born healthy every day

I just wanted salty carbs (chips and crisps especially) throughout pregnancy, particularly with DD1 and developed a real aversion to green vegetables and fish that were normally a key part of my diet.

DD1 is now a slim and healthy 18 year old. I'd say eat what you can in that sphere that doesn't make you ill.