Q: I am just over six weeks pregnant and I'm really hungry all the time. (I feel sick if I don't eat.) I'm trying to eat small meals throughout the day but still find that I get home from work really hungry. I'm concerned that I will put on a great deal of weight. What do you advise? (Female, 34)
A: It is really normal to feel hungry during pregnancy, especially during the early weeks and months and especially if you are underweight to start with. This 'hunger' usually decreases as the pregnancy progresses. It's also well known that, unlike other types of nausea, the nausea of pregnancy is often settled by eating. The important thing is to eat healthy food during this time and avoid high calorie, nutritionally empty foods that could lead to major weight gain without any benefit to you or the baby. No doubt you will have an antenatal check-up soon (or already have had one) and could discuss this further with your GP and/or midwife. The Better Health Channel fact sheet Pregnancy and diet outlines healthy eating principles in pregnancy.
Last reviewed: 06/01/2007
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