i am 9 weeks along and wanted to know if its okay that i cant bring myself to eat much.but i can eat a little.

Question

i can eat a little food, but not too much. my meals are normally very small helpings when i can eat, or are just a few crackers. it doesnt help that my husband and i are not able to buy too much in food, considering i dont work, and he gets paid on the 1st and the 15th of every month, and its not much...i just wanted to know if its harming my baby with me not eating that much, and if its okay if i dont go running to eat as soon as i get hungry.

this is our first child, so could you also tell me if my ablility to eat more food will increase with the pregnancy?

Answer 1

I know exactly how you are feeling. I am 12 weeks along and am just getting to the point that food actually sounds appeasing. I asked my doctor the same question and I will relay his response to you. Try to snack as much as possible if you cannot eat full meals. Try taking your prenatals at night so it isn't so hard on your stomach. Most woman start to feel better and get their appetite back between the 12th and 15th week of pregnancy. It is normal to not want to eat but you should really try to eat anything that sounds appetizing. For me fruits really hit the spot because it wasn't a "hot" meal. Try to find something that works for you because everyone is different, but hold your head up cause it should get better! Good luck !

Answer 2

As long as you take your prenatal vitamins and iron supplements, you should be fine. When the baby wants to eat, you WILL eat. Sometimes pregnant women will crave a certain food so much we literally CRY until we get it.
You're only 9 weeks, so you're alright. If you don't normally have a very large appetite, then it seems that nothing is out of the ordinary. Like I said, when the baby wants food, you're gonna eat. And you might eventually eat A LOT.
Something that you may consider, since it sounds like finances are tight, is visiting your local social service office. You may qualify for food stamps and other benefits (like medical), especially since you're pregnant! Find out who handles WIC locally, too. That'll give you free stuff like milk & a few other foods, so you'll have a few extra dollars to spend on other things. It'll get you formula after the baby is born, too.
It is probably NOT a good idea to put off eating if you're hungry. Basically what will happen is that the fetus will feed off the nutrients already in your body, and you may become ill. I'm sure you're already extremely tired, right? Well, it won't get any better, and if you start losing weight or don't gain adequately when you're supposed to, you might get in a little trouble with your doctor. If all you eat is a little bit here & there, then I suggest you start doing it more frequently, like WHEN you get hungry. If you put off eating due to your household budget, then you really SHOULD apply for state programs w/ your social services office. Whatever you do, though, don't let anybody's pride get in the way of that. It's there for people who need it, and I doubt they would turn you away, unless he makes like $20 or more an hour. If HE all but forbids you to do it (pride), then you do it anyway, even if it means moving out and doing it separately. You are parents now, and that means doing what is best for the health and wellbeing of your child, whether that child breathes air or not.

Answer 3

You should eat when you are hungry. It's a myth that you have to "store up" food for the baby or that you "eat for two". You are in the first trimester, when I was in mine, I couldn't "think" about food let alone eat any. It made me nauseated to smell food cooking...ugh, even now when I think about it my stomach is a little weak. The worst thing though is to not eat anything and then you get so hungry that you are starving but trying to eat makes you all the more sick all at the same time!

So do what you are doing, try to eat a little here and there. Nibble crackers but try to drink a lot, non caffinated herbal teas are good. Also, there are programs that will assist you with buying food, your husband works but you don't and are pregnant, you can get WIC now even before you have the baby because you have to eat healthy (when you are able to eat at all). You can also apply to get food stamps, there's no shame in that. Everyone needs help sometimes and after the baby is born you will need nourishment if you breast feed or formula if you bottle feed.

Take care of yourself, you'll need your strength for the months and years ahead!

Answer 4

During the first trimester, especially, some moms have no appetite. As long as you are eating something, when you feel hungry, the baby will take the nutrients it needs from the stores in your body. The problem with this is that you will become less fortified and could encounter problems for your own body down the line. In order to have a healthy baby, you need to have a healthy mom. Make sure you eat when you are hungry and do not deprive yourself. If you can eat, but don't have much of an appetite, don't worry, your appetite will increase accordingly as your pregnancy progresses.

Answer 5

Try this. Always keep something small in your stomach. Make sure you never have the feeling of being hungry. Even if you are nauaseous try to eat anyways. Do not eat to much cause you do not want to gain to much wait. Also make sure you drink a lot a lot of water and take you prenatal pills with food in your system. Try gingerale. That really helps. Dont worry soon this feeling will go away. Just remember it is worth it. Take care hope this helps. Also you can do a search on the internet. Try going to yahoo and typing in morning sickness and what to do.

Answer 6

Do not force yourself to eat. It is normal for some people to not have much of an appetite early in their pregnancy. Try to keep something small in your stomach it might help. You do not want to lose weight in your pregnancy. Stick with bland foods and fruits.
As far as not having money...a lot of people are in a position that they do not have a lot of money. That is no excuse and if you are forcing yourself to be hungry it could cause great harm to both the baby and you. Go to your county and food shelves they will help you especially because you are pregnant.

Answer 7

It's perfectly normal, I don't think I ate a full size meal until about 4 months into my pregnancy. Just make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, water especially, and take you prenatal vitamins. Red Gatorade was a life saver for me! Some women's appetites increase as they get further along, but some don't. I ate because I knew I had to, but food was not a priority for me when I was pregnant. It was great, it kept me from gaining too much weight. Good luck and stay healthy!

Answer 8

That's normal. Some women don't want to eat much. You usually don't start eating more until your second trimester. It's normal to gain about 5 lbs over 3 months in the first trimester. I couldn't eat much during the first few months either. I never actually threw up. But if I was around seafood the smell would make me nauseous.

Answer 9

a lot of people are sick and have nausea in the beginning so they can't eat much and what they do eat, sometimes they can't keep down. So I wouldn't worry. I had terrible morning sickness for the first 20 weeks - once that stopped, I had a much better appetite and felt like eating more.

I wouldn't worry as long as your doctor feels your weight gain,etc is normal at your visits and check ups. If you are still worried when you see the doctor again, talk to them about it so they can give you more information.

Answer 10

I'm a nutritionist

first are you taking a multi vite? you should be!

next as long as you are eating when you are hungry and eating healthy foods you should be fine, and yes you will be able to eat more soon the not eating stage passes once you get into your second trimester. (during your first trimester your nutrient requirements actually don't change any from your prepregnancy ones)

if you need help with a meal plan feel free to contact me