Losing weight during the first trimester of pregnancy

Pregnancy is the one time you do not have to worry about your weight, and you can eat as much as you like, isn't it? Doesn't everyone know that cravings are the baby's way of letting you know what it is that you need to be eating? Chocolate? Great! Lasagna? Wonderful! But what if your weight is not going the way you expected it to, and instead of gaining weight, you are losing it during the first trimester of pregnancy? Is weight loss in early pregnancy something to be worried about?

Despite pregnancy's reputation, losing weight during the first trimester happens to quite a lot of women. The majority of pregnant women gain from two to five pounds in their first twelve weeks, but not gaining weight at all, and even losing some, is not unusual either. The first trimester of pregnancy can be a physically testing time for women. Morning sickness might mean that you have trouble keeping your food down, and that many foods make you feel ill if you just look at them, much less eat them.

Loss of appetite strikes quite a few ladies in their first trimester as well. During this time, it is very important to take prenatal vitamins, and make sure that you eat as well as you possibly can. Fruits and vegetables are great, as are complex carbohydrates and full-fat dairy products. But if those are difficult for you to keep down, anything goes. Because many women find it difficult to eat full meals in their first trimester, try eating smaller meals more regularly. This can help tremendously with pregnancy nausea. Weight loss should not go on past the first trimester, however. If you are still losing your weight once you have hit the twelve-week mark, be sure to inform your healthcare provider about this, so that you can find out the cause behind your weight loss. At this stage, an ultrasound can also be used to check the baby is developing according to schedule.