17 weeks preg, help me please, can't eat much?

Question

Hey- I really need some advice i'm getting really worried.

i have quit taking my prenatals because they were making me sick, so i haven't taken them for about a week and i have a dr. appt on thursday so i was going to ask my doc about it on thurs and see if there's an alternative pill to take.

but i can't eat much, i'm not interested in food at all, and when i get hungry and i eat i get tired of eating really fast. so i'm not getting any nutrients into my body from vitamins, or really from anything.

i'm really worried about my baby but i'm doing the best that i can right now as far as feeding myself goes.
all that's appetizing is mashed potatoes.

what can i do? and what does this mean-- could it be a symptom of a bigger problem? it's my first pregnancy so i don't know what to do.

i'm also under a tooonnnnn of stress so i'm even more worried and that might be why i can't eat ???

I'm in the second tri so i'm worried about that- this isn't just first tri stuff. and it's recently like this- it hasn't been like this my whole pregnancy.
?

Answer 1

It is totally normal to have a change in appetite during pregnancy. However, you DO need to take your prenatles, and chances are they are making you sick because you are not eating. You shouldn't take them on an empty stomach. What I did was kept a pack of saltine crackers beside my bed and as soon as I wake up I would chomp on 1 or two just to get something on my stomach before getting out of bed. This kept me from being nausiated right off the bat. Also if you cannot possibly eat, try drinking milk, even if you drink chocolate milk. It will at least fill your stomach up for a while. If you dont like that then try a homemade milk shake. Just put a few scoops of icecream in a cup and mix a small amount of milk in it. You dont even have to get the blender out for that.
I am currently in my eighth month and I havent had an appetite the whole time I have been pregnant. But I have to force myself to eat. At least a little something. But I drink a cup of chocolate milk every morning and every night. Also the milk is a natural afrodesiack (I think thats how you spell it ;-)) But anyway milk helps you sleep.
You really need to take those prenatles vitimans, eat something with it though. Jello is also good early in the mornings.

Answer 2

You will have to try and eat something. Try drinking some peppermint tea to help with upset stomache and nausea. Take your vitamins with food....something semi-filling like cereal or oatmeal. If all you want is potatoes, then eat potatoes. Try adding a little lowfat cheese or some unflavored protein powder to increase your nutrional intake. You can cook your potatoes in chicken broth or beef broth instead of water and then mash them for a little more flavor.

Above all, drink as much fluid as you possibly can. If you become dehydrated, you will end up in the hospital on an iv, and will feel even worse.

Try and find small quantities of very nutritious foods, and try to eat them, a tiny bit of quality food is better than nothing...just make sure you only eat quality food, and maximize what is going into your body. Don't let yourself eat junk food....if you can only eat a little you must make the best of it. This will pass, 2nd trimester will be a bunch easier.

Answer 3

In the first bit of pregnancy, you really need very little. Nature makes it that way because of morning sickness. During my pregnancies I just ate whatever appealed to me at the time and was happy I was getting anything. I ate a lot of mashed potatoes in the firrst bit along with pasta with butter and garlic salt. I also found that it helped not to have to think about food. If it was put in front of me and I was told to eat it, I had an easier time than if I had to prepare or choose it. I had wicked nasty all day sickness through more than half of my pregnancy with my second but she was born healthy and happy and has already gained 4 pounds in 6 weeks.
I found that taking my pre-natal vitamin before bed helped counteract any sick feeling because I'd sleep through it.
Definately talk to your Dr about anything that worries you, there are no stupid questions when it comes to your baby. They've heard it all before I'm sure.
Good luck.

Answer 4

I had trouble with my Prenatal Pills as well. Try taking a smoother capsule, instead of a huge rough horse pill. A company called Tyler Medicine, or Tyler Prenatal, is the only type of Prenatal I can take because others make me need to vomit. If all you can eat is mashed potatoes, try adding flavor to it, like sour cream, butter, bacon bits, little by little of course, that way maybe your stomach can adjust to something else. Also, smooth food helps as well if you have trouble eating. Rice, Bread, Soup, Broth, add stuff and I Hope you feel better soon!!

Answer 5

I went through the same thing that you are going through especially when it comes too taking the prenatal pills. Try taking Flinestones for children with calcuim. My doctor told me that if the pills was making me sick that I should at lease take the Flinestones vitamins or if I eat healthy my baby will be fine. I just had my son 6 months now and during my pregnancy, I was not able to take prenatal or the folic acid. I was so sick but I was able to eat certain foods (Thank God). My son is very healthy and I am so happy about that. Please try to eat vegetables, fruits, drink water.. every little bit helps.. Good Luck to you!!!!

Answer 6

try two kids vitamins instead of a prenatal. Also eat very small meals several times a day, you don;t need 3 big meals. Just try to make what ever you snack on through out the day health choices,. I don;t think i ate a complete meal the entire time i was pregnant with my son. I grazed all day long though, bit or two of celery w/ peanut butter her, a few crackers there.

If you like mashed potatoes try to use sweet potatoes instead (they have a lot of Vit A)

Answer 7

Went thru something similar. You may need to be hospitalized, you should call your dr. & tell them you can't get the vitamins down.

A couple of suggestions:
Freeze your vitamins (slows down the disolving until it's further down in your digestive track). Take a vitamin just before bed.

Seltzer water (or any simple carbonated drink). Makes you belch & you feel better.

Warm up milk & put some alcohol free vanilla in it (or a little chocolate syrup if you like that better). Also, a little ice cream will get you some milk/calcium.

Drink plenty of water!!!!!!

Keep track of what you eat & try to force yourself to get in the required nutrition for the day.

Answer 8

That's funny about the mashed potatoes because for a while that's all I wanted when pregnant with my daughter. I slowly started adding things to them that sounded appetizing to me. I started with some cheese and then added bacon or some other meat. Eventually I was able to eat other food, but it was a way to still get some protein and calcium and some other nutrients that I needed.

Answer 9

Listen, dont worry about your appetite, its normal to lose the taste for foods that you used to love. You will pick up your appetite. Most woman lose weight in the first months of their pregnancy because the throw up everything they eat. So stop stressing over that and go and do something that makes you feel relaxed and take it easy. The less stress the healthier the baby!

Answer 10

Instead of the pre-natal vitamins, try over the counter multi-vitamins; to help with the stress, try deep breathing exercises, going for a walk, bike riding ect. Focus on a pleasurable activity that you enjoy...Also, to increase your vitamin intake, try drinking some fruit juice a few times a day, and a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day...keep active! This will help to bring up your appitite.
God bless You!

-David L. (C.N.A., Th.B., Th.M., D.D., Ph.D.)