Food aversions

[Brs2024]

Hi everyone, I am 8 weeks +4 days today with my first baby and suffering really bad with food aversions so was after a bit of advice.

Prior to being pregnant, I would eat eggs (in all different forms) for breakfast, or beef mine patties, followed by some nuts in Greek yogurt to get a good injection of protein to start the day and keep me fairly full until mid afternoon.

I found that about 2 weeks ago my nausea seriously ramped up and I'm finding that I feel sick from the moment I wake up, on and off throughout the entire day and until I go to bed. The only bit of rest bite is when I eat, but this is only temporary as I feel sick within an hour or so again. But hey, this is what I actively signed up for haha!

I've noticed since turning 7 weeks I've started going off certain foods that all seem to be protein rich foods which is really strange. The thought of eggs, beef/lamb mince and tuna make me gag. Sadly, I've gone to eat my Greek yogurt and the smell of it made me gag. I'm managing to eat it, but at a snails pace.

Is it common to go off protein rich foods? Also, if anyone else has gone through this, how did you incorporate protein please? I've read endless articles/ guidance that say protein is a must in the first trimester, so just want to make sure I'm covering all bases.

TIA :)

Ah, don't think about it too much. The baby will take what it needs from you. Just eat whatever sounds good and that you can stomach. I also went off meat for ages, could eat it again in the second trimester but not too much.

Hydration and your prenatal vitamins are important, other than than just eat what you fancy.

Just eat what gets you through the day. I’ve been the opposite and craving meaty things, ham, pork pies, steak 🤷‍♀️

I’m just eating what I fancy and trying to keep veggies and fruits up where possible.

I had really bad food aversions till about 20 weeks, for the first 20 weeks I survived off micro chips covered in vinegar and a cheese pasta ready meal. It was the only things I could get down me, I lost about 20lbs in weight. At 20 weeks it was like a switch flipped and I was able to eat normally again. Baby was fine at a healthy 8lbs born at 41 weeks. Sometimes you just have to survive those early weeks, try not to worry too much x

It will get better, usually between 12-16 weeks or so. It is so tough having to eat all the time because of the sickness yet not feeling like eating much, it's such hard work.

Try not to worry too much about getting protein in, so many women survive the first trimester on a restricted diet because of the nausea and their babies are all fine.

I had bad food aversions until about 16 weeks and was also worrying about not getting the right nutrition etc for baby. I lived off takeaway (couldn't eat any of the home cooked food I loved!) But I tried to make sure the takeaway was as "healthy" as it could be. Found I could get a lot of goodness from burritos (beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole etc).

If you're off meat and eggs then try some plant based proteins like beans etc.

Either way I would not worry about it. Sometimes I wonder if it's our body's way of trying to regulate itself, say if you have too much or too little of something.

Good prenatals will see you through the first trimester sickness. Good luck!

Thanks ladies! I do find that these threads really do put me at ease as I know I'm not the only one with these particular pregnancy struggles, phew x

In my first pregnancy I pretty much lived off branflakes with milk for the whole 9 months. DS1 is now a fully functioning 6'3" man.

I would recommend eating little and often and don’t overthink it, just eat what you fancy but do try to get your veggies in where you can. Personally I have gone off green veg and anything bitter, but I find if I have gravy with them, I can eat them no problem. So I have been having gravy with most of my meals throughout summer! You may find something similar that works for you, gravy or mayo or spicy sauce with your chicken or whatever.

Oh and don’t worry too much about the protein, your body will naturally crave what you need. You might find you fancy peanut butter on toast, or cheese, or whenever. Tons of ways to get protein so no need to stick to your old routine.

Other ideas for pregnany protein - homemade hummus (with crisps!), chicken soup, smoothies with a spoonful of nut butter in, milky decaf coffees or hot choc! That baby is TINY right now so the amount of protein it really needs is small.