Just munching on chocolates and looking for cookies? Are you worried about the constant hunger during the first trimester? Is your stomach not filling no matter how much food you consume? Hunger pangs during pregnancy are typical and throughout the phase of pregnancy, you will feel this as your baby keeps growing.
Increased appetite during early pregnancy is common and is a signal of the baby’s growth. It is natural for expecting moms to undergo this. Remember, your body is working overtime in forming a human!
Hunger pangs during the first trimester are what you are too worried about leaving behind even the baby gender revelations. Yet, the tummy isn’t full though!
Let us understand this phase better and see why there is an increased appetite during the first trimester.
What Causes Feeling Constantly Hungry During the First Trimester?
All you feel during the first trimester of your pregnancy is the half stomach. No matter what or how much ever you eat, you are not satisfied. Especially with the increase in cravings, feeling hungry during early pregnancy is something you cannot get rid of.
You might experience increased hunger early in pregnancy along with your morning sickness and you might feel symptoms of not eating enough during pregnancy. There are a lot of things that happen during your first trimester as your baby grows.
You will start feeling hungrier any time of the day. Extreme hunger at night during pregnancy is something you need to get used to. Don’t panic as this is something every mom goes through!
Constant hunger during the first trimester
I was only 4 weeks pregnant and hungry all the time and would rather eat anything that was put up before me. I couldn’t sleep at night and felt hungry despite taking a snack before going to bed. Yet, I would sleep only after having something filling which would make me sleep.
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Though increased appetite during early pregnancy is a common occurrence, it is good to know why you may be so hungry. One reason for you to be too hungry is that your body is undergoing a lot of changes and on the other hand, your stomach becomes empty after constant vomiting and morning sickness.
Increased hunger is an indication that you and your baby need to intake those extra calories healthily. On the other hand, your body uses all the energy for the development of fetus growing inside you. Hence, you might experience constant hunger during pregnancy in the first trimester.
Is Being Constantly Hungry Normal In Early Pregnancy?
Feeling hungry during early pregnancy is one of the common and craziest symptoms during early pregnancy. Many moms go through this while a lot of them have felt these hunger pangs subside in the third trimester.
With regular vomiting, the food one intake may not be absorbed by your body. Make sure that you intake adequate food when you are not nauseous. There is increased appetite during the first trimester, which is expected to peak up during the second trimester.
One reason for increased appetite during early pregnancy is that your body works 24*7 to help you and in sustain growth of your baby. The energy for this comes from you and from what you consume. It is obvious for you to feel extreme hunger at night during pregnancy and cravings you demand. Relax, for these are nutrients your baby requires.
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Hunger pangs during the first trimester
Hunger pangs are a constant and uncomfortable sensation of hunger that you might experience during the early stages of pregnancy. This is commonly experienced when moms are dehydrated or consume low-quality food which doesn’t meet their requirements.
With hormonal imbalances, hunger pangs during the first trimester are seen where expectant moms constantly have the urge to eat something, especially during odd hours.
By making sure your stomach is filled with something healthy during the daytime, these hunger pangs could be kept under control.
10 Tips To Beat Constant Hunger During The First Trimester
Feeling hungry during early pregnancy is common and this happens because of hormonal changes. Many women undergo this phase. They feel hungry at any time of the day.
Some women notice an increase in appetite during the first trimester. However, many women notice an increase only during the second trimester. Cravings typically get started during the first trimester and reach their peak during the second.
While it’s important to meet those hunger pangs, here we come with 10 tips to beat constant hunger during the first trimester.
1. Stay hydrated to avoid feeling hungry during early pregnancy
Our human body is made up of 70℅ of water. Water plays an important component in the formation of a fetus. Hence it is important to stay hydrated. Sometimes, feeling dehydrated could be confused with hunger pangs.
Make sure to drink about 12 to 13 glasses of water every day and follow these simple ways to beat dehydration during pregnancy. You can also replace your soft drinks or soda with water which is indeed a healthy option.
2. Maintain a healthy diet
Constant hunger during the first trimester is common. So, during this phase, try to keep your intake healthy. Choose food from our list of pregnancy superfoods offering high nutritional value to beat your hunger pangs during the first trimester.
Go for fresh foods rather than processed ones. Foods such as whole grains, dairy, legumes, berries, avocado, mangoes are some healthy options for you to consider.
3. Keep stocks ready to handle constant hunger during the first trimester
Feeling hungry during early pregnancy is a sure thing to be experienced by experienced moms. As you may need food at any time of the day, make sure your pantry & fridge are all stocked up.
Keep foods such as cut fruits, avocados, mangoes, cheese sticks, and mixed dry nuts readily available. It’s always better to go for healthy options than processed ones.
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4. Small frequent meals
To manage constant hunger during the first trimester, it is recommended that you eat small quantities of food at regular intervals. This is one way to keep your stomach full and a better option for you not to overeat.
Eating huge quantities every time you feel hungry could not only make your stomach bloated but could cause heartburn too.
5. Check calorie intake
Consuming sufficient yet feeling hungry during early pregnancy is what many moms are concerned about. Ensure you take food that is rich in high-calorie which will keep your tummy full.
Though you need not require too many calories during the first trimester, it is always better to consult with your doctor. The normal levels of calorie intake may vary in the case of twins.
Related Reading: Top 10 Protein-Rich Foods For Pregnancy
6. Don’t get tempted
It’s normal to have pregnancy cravings and you might experience extreme hunger at night during pregnancy. This doesn’t mean you can have anything at any time without a limit.
Go for your favorite food once in a while but stick to a limit. Doing this way, your intake won’t be affected much.
7. Check your pregnancy weight
Too much nausea and morning sickness could make your body weak. Your body might have not received an adequate amount of nutrients due to which you could feel constant hunger during the first trimester.
Check if you have gained the required amount of weight during the first trimester. Not meeting it could also be a factor for you to always be hungry.
8. Get proper sleep
It is important to have an adequate amount of sleep during the first trimester for your baby to grow healthy. If the increased hunger during early pregnancy is not making you sleep properly, we suggest you to intake foods that help stimulate sleep and also keep a check on the other causes of sleep deprivation.
Few examples of foods that stimulate sleep are bananas, whole-wheat bread, almonds, skimmed milk, and oatmeal.
9. Make a good diet plan
It could be difficult for you to pick a healthy snack when you are hungry. You might go for a readily available chocolate bar or canned juice. The purpose is to subside the hunger and curbing it healthily will be good for you and the baby.
Make a diet plan prior with nutritious food on the list. This can contain calorie-dense foods that not only curb increased appetite during early pregnancy but also add nutrition.
10. Do not skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast could also be a reason for constant hunger during the first trimester. Morning sickness and nausea could make pregnant women vomit frequently. Due to this, many women skip their breakfast because of which they stay hungry throughout the day and that’s why we recommend a few morning snacks during pregnancy to keep you up and running through the day.
If you want to deal with increased appetite during early pregnancy, ensure not to skip your breakfast.
Conclusion
Increased appetite during the first trimester is common as you are sustaining another life within yourself. The usual quantity of food you consume will not suffice anymore. Hunger pangs during the first trimester are a way of your baby’s indication of needing more nutrients for you and your baby.
The urge to eat something right then and there becomes so strong during the pregnancy phase. Though the pregnancy cravings for some food or the other cannot be denied by expectant moms, the fact remains that they tend to eat a lot more than what is required.
Remember, that feeling hungry during the first trimester and filling your appetite requirement is perfectly normal!
FAQ
Though it is illegal in India to ascertain the gender of the fetus, expectant moms’ appetite could reveal the answer. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2003, it was seen that moms carrying baby boys consumed 10% more than moms carrying a baby girl, also that there are different food cravings when pregnant with a girl.
The best and the most accurate way of knowing fetus gender is only through the ultra-scan. However, many old wives’ tales predict the baby’s gender such as the baby’s heart rate. Pregnancy depends on many factors such as age, lifestyle, etc.
Constant hunger during the first trimester is common for expectant moms which indicates the moms are hungry. But, how do we know if the baby is getting sufficient nutrition or not?
It is said that the baby will let the moms know when they are hungry with increased fetal movements. Through the umbilical cord, the baby gets the required nutrients that are required for its growth and development.
The kicks by the baby when you feel hungry are not associated with your hunger pangs. Baby’s kick inside the womb when they feel less energized. This is likely to happen when your blood sugar levels drop.