Always associated pregnancy with a ravenous appetite for everything from pepperoni pizza to ice cream and pickles? Pregnancy is indeed that one special time of your adult life when gaining weight is applauded and eating every two hours is encouraged (lucky you!). But just as you begin stocking your refrigerator with healthy foods (and yes, sometimes those not-so-healthy cookies you’re craving), loss of appetite — plus its common sidekick, nausea — strikes, turning your nose at the sight and smell of your favorite foods.Gaining enough pregnancy weight is the major signal that you’re eating enough to support your baby’s needs. Depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, most normal-weight women should aim to tack on between 25 to 35 pounds. During the first trimester, when “morning sickness” (known to many as all-day sickness) is at its worst, it’s common to only gain one to four pounds (or sometimes even lose weight). At this point your fetus is so tiny it has fewer nutritional requirements — so as long as you’re taking your prenatal vitamin, all of your needs should be covered.
After the first trimester, gaining about one pound per week is advised. If your appetite is still nowhere to be found by early in your second trimester, or if you aren't meeting the recommended weight gain in your third trimester, consult your doctor for a diet plan.You’re going to have easy days and difficult days — the big picture is what’s important. The good news is most women find they can manage appetite loss with a few tricks. Here’s how to find that appetite again.What’s happening: Loss of appetite often comes hand in hand with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, which affects a whopping 70 to 85 percent of pregnant women (when you’re bent over a toilet a good three times every day, it’s no wonder your appetite is a bit shy these days). Morning sickness may be your body’s instinctual way of protecting the fetus from potentially harmful foods — explaining some food of those food aversions women commonly experience.Increasing hormones (including estrogen and the pregnancy hormone hCG — the ones responsible for making you cry at that phone commercial) also play a role in increasing nausea and your sensitivity to smell while decreasing your appetite.
You may even have a nasty metallic taste in your mouth.How to meet your nutritional needs:What’s happening: Many women find this is the golden period of pregnancy — you’re showing, glowing, yet not as big as a watermelon in July. And even better news: Many women find their appetite returns. Gone are the mornings (and afternoons...and evenings) spent doubled over in the ladies' room. In fact, you may feel your appetite is more ravenous these days than ever (so this is what it means to eat for two!).How to meet your nutritional needs: Now is a good time to bone up on calcium (1,000 mg a day), power up on protein (75 mg a day), fill up on folate (which, if you choose high-fiber foods like legumes and green leafy veggies, will help with that other pesky pregnancy symptom you might be experiencing lately — constipation), and chow down on plenty of omega 3-rich foods like fish (which boost baby's brain power; aim for 2 servings of pregnancy-safe fish a week).Of course, not everyone has that seemingly insatiable second-trimester appetite.
If you find you're still queasy, keep up your routine from the first trimester. That means drinking plenty of water, eating small portions, avoiding strong-smelling foods, making smart nutritional swaps and taking your prenatal vitamin daily to ensure you're getting all the nutrients you and your baby need.What’s happening: During the final months of your pregnancy, nausea has likely disappeared — and replaced by your growing belly. Your appetite is back with a vengeance, but a few bites and your belly feels like you just licked the plate clean. Your growing uterus leaves little room for the rest of your organs, including your stomach, pushing it out of its normal place. Add to that the onset of heartburn, caused by this displacement (which can turn spicy or fried foods and citrus fruits into your enemy), along with hormonally-induced constipation, which can make things slow down so much you don't feel like filling up again. While the third trimester brings less appetite loss than you experienced in the first trimester and more of an appetite hindrance, managing your diet and nutrition is still important.
How to meet your nutritional needs:It’s a good idea to borrow other tips from the first trimester: drink lots of liquids (also good if you're stopped up) and be sure to keep taking that prenatal vitamin.You may often feel like eating is yet another thing to check off your to-do list. But it’s a small to-do with a big payoff: A healthy, thriving baby.3 Things to Read Next:Prenatal care in your second trimester Trimester means 3 months. A normal pregnancy is around 9 months and has 3 trimesters. Your health care provider may talk about your pregnancy in weeks, rather than months or trimesters. The second trimester begins at week 14 and goes through week 28. In your second trimester, you will have a prenatal visit every month. The visits may be quick, but they are still important. It is OK to bring your partner or labor coach with you. Visits during this trimester will be a good time to talk about:Common symptoms during pregnancy, such as fatigue, heartburn, varicose veins, and other common problemsDealing with back pain and other aches and pains during pregnancyDuring your visits, your provider will:Weigh you.
Measure your abdomen to see if your baby is growing as expected.Check your blood pressure.Sometimes take a urine sample to test for sugar or protein in your urine. If either of these is found, it could mean you have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure caused by pregnancy. At the end of each visit, your provider will tell you what changes to expect before your next visit. Tell your provider if you have any problems or concerns. It is OK to talk about any problems or concerns, even if you do not feel that they are important or related to your pregnancy.Measures the amount of red blood cells in your blood. Too few red blood cells can mean that you have anemia. This is a common problem in pregnancy, although easy to fix. Checks for signs of diabetes which can begin during pregnancy. In this test, your doctor will give you a sweet liquid. An hour later, your blood will be drawn to check your blood sugar levels. If your results are not normal, you will have a longer glucose tolerance test.
Is done if the mother is Rh-negative. If you are Rh-negative, you may need an injection called RhoGAM around 28 weeks of gestation.You should have an ultrasound around 20 weeks into your pregnancy. An ultrasound is a simple, painless procedure. A wand that uses sound waves will be placed on your belly. The sound waves will let your doctor or midwife see the baby.This ultrasound is typically used to assess the baby's anatomy. The heart, kidneys, limbs, and other structures will be visualized.Ultrasound can detect fetal abnormalities or birth defects about half the time. It is also used to determine the sex of the baby. Before this procedure, consider whether or not you want to know this information, and tell the your ultrasound provider your wishes ahead of time.All women are offered genetic testing to screen for birth defects and genetic problems, such as Down syndrome or brain and spinal column defects.If your provider thinks that you need one of these tests, talk about which ones will be best for you.
Be sure to ask about what the results could mean for you and your baby.A genetic counselor can help you understand your risks and tests results.There are many options for genetic testing. Some of these tests carry some risk, while others do not. Women who may be at a higher risk for these problems include:Women who have had a fetus with genetic abnormalities in earlier pregnanciesWomen age 35 or olderWomen with a strong family history of inherited birth defects Most genetic testing is offered and discussed in the first trimester. However, some tests can be performed in the second trimester or are done partly in the first and second trimester.For the quadruple screen test, blood is drawn from the mother and sent to a lab.The test is done between the 15th and 22nd week of pregnancy. It is most accurate when done between the 16th and 18th weeks.The results do not diagnose a problem or disease. Instead, they will help the doctor or midwife decide if more testing is needed. Amniocentesis is a test that is done between 14 and 20 weeks.
Your provider or caregiver will insert a needle through your belly and into the amniotic sac (bag of fluid surrounding the baby).A small amount of fluid will be drawn out and sent to a lab. Call your provider if:You have any signs or symptoms that are not normal.You are thinking of taking any new medicines, vitamins, or herbs.You have any bleeding.You have increased vaginal discharge or a discharge with odor.You have a fever, chills, or pain when passing urine.You have moderate or severe cramping or low abdominal pain.You have any questions or concerns about your health or your pregnancy.Pregnancy care - second trimester Gregory KD, Ramos DE, Jauniaux ERM. Preconception and prenatal care. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 6.Hobel CJ, Williams J. Antepartum care. In: Hacker NF, Gambone JC, Hobel CJ, eds. Hacker & Moore's Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier;