Constant Hunger Pains

Try eating something high in fiber to help you feel full. The only thing that worked for me was Frosted Mini Wheats! There were times I woke up hungry at 3 or 4 am and ate a bowl because it was the only way I would be able to go back to sleep.

Hi A.!

My pregnancies were the same. With the super hungry feelings, I had horrible mood swings as well. Yuck! I discovered that small doses of milk and maybe a piece of fruit or some veggies did the trick. I taught at a high school in California when I was pregnant and when my students saw me crashing into the hunger zone, someone ran to the cafeteria to get me a milk! It was really funny. But, it's healthy, low calorie and it does the trick.

Good luck!

Try to fill up on fiber rich foods, or whole grains... veggies etc. These foods are usually more "filling." Try to stay away from simple starches and sweets of course- as these are more caloric and fattening and "sugary" and it causes hunger quicker afterward.
Another great "whole" food is "Kashi" cereal...they have many different products.

Main thing is to eat balanced.
For nausea, try ginger... in tea form, as ginger drinks etc. They say this helps. Or ask you OB/GYN for some good food tips. They are used to these questions and concerns.

Perhaps as well, sometimes "oily" foods can cause nausea... and rack up the calories/fat content.

Don't know if you are having cravings... but this is hard to avoid if you do have any.

I really sympathize... I felt this way with my first pregnancy. I was always hungry. But fortunately, I didn't gain "over" the amount my OB recommended. Also make sure you stay hydrated.

Take care and congratulations!
Susan

It can be normal because you are expecting and need more calories and/or it could also be a sign of gestational diabetes. Extremem hunger is a symptom. So is being extremely thirsty all of the time. Let you doctor know so he can test you early. Frequent urination is another symptom;however, it's also a pregnancy symptom so it's hard to tell without a blood test to be sure. Good luck.

been there! just say no to the ben and jerry's! cereal is good with non fat milk...raisin bran is high in fiber and iron. yogurt...anything that will fill you up so your stomach is not empty. the whole eat small portions many times a day thing is great here. a good practice while pregnant and breastfeeding too. good luck :)

Eat. your body is telling you to eat. so eat.

don't worry about anything but you and your growing baby.

Just make sure everything you do put in your mouth has some value. Think of food as the building stones for your baby's body. Stay away from fast food, sweets, fatty snacks, highly processed thing etc. just make that decision and stick to it.

Find a bunch of healthy things you love: maybe yogurt, nuts, even certain protein bars, avocado sushi, granola, fruit, hummes with whole wheat pita chips, bananas, whole wheat crackers, veggies with a ranch dip, ...keep them handy so you grab them when you need something.
drink a lot of water. actually, if you are hungry, first drink some water. then look for food.
that will help you not get strech marks! :( don't worry about your weight. there is a guide on how much you should gain a week. sort of keep an eye on it.

Then go for walks every night. that will help your acidic stomach, keep you from getting soft and trains you for your 12 hour birth marathon! trust me - you will need it (lol)

I have 4 children, this worked for me. my youngest is 1 now and I am still a bit over the ideal weight, but I will not worry about that once I am done with nursing her.

remember now you body is in WOMAN & MOTHER mode :) not skinny model mode. there is a definite difference!! :) just as sexy if not more so!!!

congratulations on your pregnancy!
I wish for you to love this process as much as I did!
-c

eating was the only way to control nausea for me in the first trimester. Instead of the recommended 1 lbs gain, I gained 10 the first trimester and 40 lbs overall in my preg. 9 mo later I've lost 34 of those lbs. You body is going to do what it is going to do. Just don't eat empty calories or use your preg. as an excuse to overeat and whatever you gain you gain. The truth comes after the baby wether you over did it or not. If the weight falls off in the first year, all is well. I know woman who gained 70 lbs and lost it without effort. We are so different.

You've gotten some good responses so far. I would add the following snacks: organic whole milk yogurt (forget the low/no fat- real food is better for your health!); nut milk like hazelnut or almond, very cold worked for me. During my first few weeks I had symptoms kind of like yours and had one or both of these throughout the day, and especially the nut milk before bed really helped. I'm 24 weeks now, eat these things for enjoyment now and not treatment- and have only gained about 9 pounds. Congratulations!!

I have to agree with many here, eating several times a day will keep your blood sugar steady especially if you include small amounts (2oz) of protein with all of your meals and snacks. Avoid sugar and wheat products and balance the protein a 1/2 a cup of a carb like fruit, potato, rice, yams, or the like. Eat lots of green leafly vegetables at your main meals. I'd insist on being checked early for gestational diabetes as well. The above suggestions may help that as well.

A.,
I had this with almost all 4 of my children. The tricks I used were to drink water all day...just fill a sipper and sip from it periodically through the day. It keeps you hydrated and gives you a full feeling. Also, eating dry no salt crackers did the trick... theyre lite, filling, absorb all the acid in your stomach, and not alot of calories. For nausea I would eat a quartered lemon. It neutralizes the acid in your stomach.
Hope this helps, V.

Saltine crackers are a good low calorie way to solve the hunger and keep the nasea away.

Just make sure you are eating healthy and try to eat 5/6 times a day. 3 meals/2-3 snacks. Don't give in to things that are just a quick fix. Nuts make a great snack and fill you up (small handful of course) (-:

Congrats on your pregnancy!!
M.

Hi A.. I was hungry all through the beginning of my pregnancy; having something in my stomach was what prevented nausea, same as you. I just listened to my body and ate. A lot of women are scared to gain weight too fast but honestly, I am at 39 weeks now and have gained 30lbs and feel great. I don't feel like it's going to be difficult to loose it at all and the benefits of offering your baby all that nutrition from good whole foods so early on(a lot of women can't keep anything down thus baby has to get initial vital nutrients from vitamins) far out weigh the time and energy it will take to loose a few pounds.
I say, Bon Appetite! And best of luck to you.

try a big glass of water before eating something. your blood supply goes up almost immediately, so you might just be thirsty and its relaying as hunger. if after 20 min. you're still hungry, stock up on fruits and veggies. have melons, strawberries, oranges, carrots, celery sticks, zuccinni, cherry or grape tomatoes (and the fruits, too) cut up and ready for you in the fridge. if they are already prepared, you'll go for them more often, trust me :). i am kinda lazy and i eat more if they are already prepared. i am pregnant with my third and have never been hungry like this time. also, yogurt, small bowls of cereal, and cheese and whole grain crackers, like triscuits or wheat thins are a great choice and won't pack on the pounds. i am 17 weeks along and have only gained 2 lbs. thusfar eating "the good stuff" and drinking lots of water. congradultaions on your first biological, but second child. its a whole new adventure for you, and i'm excited you get to experience it. i have two stepsons, a daugher, a son, another boy on the way, and a niece i raise mostly by myself, so i always am excited when others are willing to take in children who need love (my sister-in-law is one of those fun ones who isn't ready to be a parent). you'll do just fine, especially with all the practice you've already got.

Hi;
I suggest buying Ginger tea and trying a cup - you may want more than one each day to help with the nausea. Another thought - the acupressure point for nausea is 2.5 thumb widths above the wrist crease (on the 'inside' of the arm).
Another reason we feel hungry when we have enough calories is lack of hydration - take your body weight in pounds, divide by 1/2 and that is the number of ounces the body requires. Make sure your water has not been stripped of minerals, ie, reverse osmosis, or distilled. When we are pregnant our need for hydration grows.
Congratulations and good luck!
Best,
S. H.

It is absolutely normal, and it is there for a reason. Your body is telling you it needs food, so EAT! You can lose that extra 500 pounds after the baby is born. :0) The trick is to eat smart! There are plenty of low-fat, low sodium, healthy foods you can eat when you are hungry. Steamed veggies. Fresh fruit. I always kept lots of yogurt in the house, and a huge bowl of beans, rice and corn (mixed together) in the fridge. Easy to heat up a bowl and fill up on something healthy and low fat. A bagel with low fat cream cheese and a sliced tomato. Be creative! You can eat up a storm and not pack on the pounds.

Yep, I ate all day long, still do as I'm still nursing a 17m old. Just eat healthy snacks: grahm cracker, non fat plain yogurt with fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, veg, whole grain pasta, breads, cereal, low fat icecream... no fried foods or foods with a lot of perservatives.

Welcome to pregnancy! You'll be hungry from now until you deliver! Eat a healthy snack every two hours (protein helps with the nausea.)
Some doctors freak out about weight gain, but I gained 50lbs. with all three of my pregnancies, and all my doctor said was I'd have more to lose after they were born.
Good luck! :)

Totally normal, A.. I was exactly the same way with both of my babies. Just feed that hunger, it will sort itself out in the second trimester.

Just try and find the best thing to eat that doesn't make you want to vomit! For me, what worked was eating things that would keep me fuller longer. I would usually make a smoothie with some sort of protein powder, yougurt and a banana in the morning, and I know it may sound gross, but I would eat scrambled eggs (usually in a tortilla, or on a bagel) in the morning and the eggs would keep me full for quite a wihile. Hope that helps, and this will pass soon, promise!!

On the plus side, these are all signs of a healthy pregnancy, I have heard. :) Take care!

H.

A., Eat, eat, eat. Your baby is asking for it. If it sounds good, eat lots of fruit- especially oranges. I ate about three oranges a day in the beginning of both pregnancies and later realized that they are very high in folic acid, which is what you need to help avoid birth defects. So- the body is amazing- it will tell you what you need to feed that baby. Congratulations!
S.

I had this same problem after my throwing up finally stopped. I would have nausea any time that I wasn't eating, but I stopped throwing it up, so if I wasn't careful it just added on the pounds. Depending on how big you are before your pregnancy, most people gain about 30 lbs.
Make sure to eat smaller meals throughout the day, spreading the calories out so you will feel less hungry between meals. Make sure that these "meals" are small though, eating six full sized meals a day won't help keep you slim. But six half sized meals a day will keep your tummy happier and keep your scale from sliding up into the red numbers. Make sure to eat foods with more fiber so that you will feel fuller for longer. Eat as many fresh vegetables as you like (in fact, fresh vegetables -- not cooked and with no additives -- can really be a heaven send because they will fill your tummy and not pack on the pounds). Exercise as you can to keep your body healthy and DON'T avoid your chocolate (or whatever treat you love). If you deny yourself your treat, you will be more likely to binge on it later. Just make sure to eat one piece of chocolate or a small piece of cake or 1/2 bowl of ice cream and limit those intakes to once in awhile instead of all the time. Good luck and congratulations!