Pregnancy is a beautiful journey for all couples and an excitement about the offspring to be born. We all know about how pregnancy takes total control over a females body. From hormonal shifts to tons of symptoms, the 9 month road is plenty time of changes happening all over the body.
Pregnancy has been divided into 3 trimesters for ease of understand. Each trimester comprises of 3 month and have their own respective set of changes occurring in the body. In the first trimesters, symptoms like vomiting and nausea are the first indicators of pregnancy.
Following the second and third trimester, symptoms may vary or repeat themselves. Entering the third trimester, the effect of symptoms get heightened. Amongst these symptoms, loss of appetite in the third trimester is a frequently symptom which we will be talking about in this article
Not all women are starving during the last months. Actually, a number of them start losing interest in food more than ever. And as opposed to the first trimester, where it is most often due to nausea, a loss of appetite at this point is more space, hormone and pressure related cause.
So what is it?
Some Causes of Third-Trimester Appetite Loss
1. Smaller Space For Stomach To Expand
As your baby continues to grow, your uterus occupies more space hence displacing upwards in your stomach and other body organs. This implies that your stomach is limited to expanding at such times of eating, and thus it gets easily full in comparison to when you are not using a waist trainer. A small food may also make you feel uncomfortably full.
2. Heartburn, Gastrointestinal And Acid Reflux Indigestion
In the third trimester, the heartburn becomes worse in many women. This is due to the increasing pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach as well as due to hormonal variations (especially the progesterone hormone) that also loosen the muscles of the digestive system. Consequently this leads to creeping stomach acid up the esophagus. It may cause you to fear food when you have the burning sensation, chest pains or sour taste in your mouth.
3. Some Develop Nausea Again
Although one may find it related to early pregnancy, nausea may come back with time. It is not as bad as nausea in the first trimester, though, but it causes your stomach, nevertheless, to be averted by food.
4. Stress And Mental Load
The third trimester is the phase of preparation buying the baby equipment, assembling your hospital bag and getting organized at work or at home. It is an emotionally charged period too. The apprehensions about getting into labor, doubt regarding parenting, or apprehension of the changes may come softly to induce loss of appetite.
5. Discomfort And Tiredness
Day in day out with a baby hanging out in your belly is like an exercise. Swollen feet, backaches, or Braxton Hicks contractions may be what you are facing. There are also times when you are too tired to cook or even take a meal. This physical and mental exhaustion usually leads to the lack of meals or the nearest (and the tiniest) bite.
Is It Normal Not To Feel Hungry?
Loss of appetite later in pregnancy is quite normal and is mostly harmless as long as you are still being able to eat some food and sustain yourself with your energies.
The nutrients that your baby requires will still be taken through a supply in your body, particularly in case you have had a balanced diet in the past. Said that, appetite loss over long periods resulting in weight loss or dehydration is to be followed up.
Another thing not to forget is that sometimes your appetite can vary day by day. Some days you have a normal lunch and dinner and the next days you take only crackers and water. It is all right, pregnancy is not a linear process.
Supporting The Body In The Situation When You Are Not In The Mood To Eat
When it is difficult to consume full meals, high quality is desired so than quantity. Nutrient-dense foods can get you far even when you don t consume a lot.
1. Have Smaller Meals More Frequent
Eat 5-6 mini-meals every day rather than three large ones. Consider it as grazing, whereby you feed enough to prevent hunger and a dip in blood sugar levels
2. Pick Digestible And High Nutrient Foods
Not a feast is necessary. A single portion of oatmeal, even two tablespoons of it, a banana covered with peanut butter or a boiled egg and two slices of bread can guarantee the intake of protein, the right sort of fats, and carbs. Smoothies are also your new best friend: mix fruits, Greek yogurt, a scoop of protein powder and flaxseed or spinach, and you have a meal in a cup.
3. Remember Hydrating
Hunger may also be thirst. However, do not take excessive fluids just before you eat because it might fill your stomach to leave little room to consume food. Drink water regularly, and go with the caloric fluids such as milk or coconut water, in case you are not eating very much.
4. Pay attention To Your Desires
When something literally sounds good, whether it is a weird combination such as pickles and toast, then take advantage of it. At some times, cravings may depict what your body wants. Just have something to go with it that contains a bit of protein or fiber and it would make you feel fulfilling and energetic.
5. Restrict Foods That Increase Heartburn
Reflux is usually initiated by greasy foods as well as those which are spicy, acidic, or excessively sweet in taste. Notice which foods worsen your condition and try to strictly avoid them, particularly, at night. Rather, you should eat earlier and sleep with slightly elevated head in case heartburn ruins sleep.
What Can I Do When I Simply Can Not Eat?
When you miss several days or even a full day without a decent meal, or you simply do not feel well, this is the time to discuss this with your doctor or midwife. They may suggest:
- Protein shakes in the prenatal period
- Exercise to increase appetite
- Blood analysis to determine anemia or other problems
- Making recommendation on antacids or anti-nausea culminating drugs
They can just tell you you are doing fine as well- which can sometimes be all the peace at mind needed.
Taking Care Of Yourself
This part of pregnancy may be a marathon. You have physical weight, emotional weight and you are gearing up to a big change in life. Occasionally, you will feel like you have your acts together. On other days your body may protest.
Do not punish yourself about a missed mealtime or a dinner of snacks. You don t fail – you adapt. Do whatever you can, each day, and take the grace, to learn that doing your best is all you need to do.
You are cultivating a person. That in itself is remarkable.
Final Thoughts
The lack of appetite in the third trimester may be a worrying event but in the majority of the cases it is merely the reaction to the actual physical and emotional changes that are taking place in your body. Trying to eat small balanced meals, paying attention to your body and communicating with your care provider in case you have questions, you can still feed yourself and your baby during these last few precious weeks.
Live day by day, bite by bite and breath by breath. You can see the finish line into the distance, and your appetite might be returning with as much vigor as it left with post-labor hunger. We are not confident you are well aware about lost of appetite third trimester!
