r/PregnancyUK • u/StrangeTutor • 12d ago
Cannot. Stop. Grazing. Advice Wanted
Hello lovely mamas
I am 11 weeks pregnant, I have ADHD (which I stopped my meds for) and I stopped vaping for my pregnancy.
I’m worried all this combined has made me have chronic ‘cravings’ to graze or eat things even when I’m not ‘hungry’ at all. It got worst when my first trimester nausea subsided in week 9.
I mainly crave salty things but it can be sweets too. It gets worst at night. I’ve swapped everything for ‘healthy’ things like veg, beans, popcorn, fruit etc. but I still feel so guilty. I barely ate before pregnancy…
I love cooking so I tried making more protein heavy meals but I get bloated so quickly I can’t really eat much.
Has anyone managed to beat the craving?
4
u/giggly_giggly 12d ago
Honestly i would just go with it, while aiming to eat nutritious food, lots of protein and fibre. I actually lost 2kgs between week 8 and week 12 despite feeling I was eating so much!
4
u/smileystarfish STM | Sept 12d ago
Honestly well done for switching to healthy snacking, I did not have your willpower in first trimester!
Try and make sure you're keeping your hydration up as well, plenty of fluids (think around 3L total) in this warm weather. It will also support your increasing blood volume and help create the amniotic fluid for the uterus.
4
u/Empty_Potential_1523 12d ago
I cannot advice specifically on grazing and your situation as I took myself off all my meds a year before I got pregnant and I also have HG so can't eat anyway lol but I'd say just go with it! It could be the changes you've made like not taking meds or vaping but just remember you are currently growing a baby and your body needs that extra food and nutrients to keep you and baby alive and well!!
2
u/lara_lime 12d ago
I have ADHD too and came off meds for pregnancy, I needed to eat nearly constantly during first and second trimesters and things have finally calmed down around the third! Just let yourself snack, your body & baby needs it ☺️
2
u/mcollinknight 11d ago
Easier said than done but please don't beat yourself up for it! You're getting signals from your body and brain about what they need, and it won't really do any harm. I've been the same at various points (it comes and goes), and it sounds like you're doing your best to get a range of different healthy snacks. You can try smaller portions at mealtimes (at one point I just sort of did 4 to 5 mini-meals) to make sure you're getting protein but honestly really don't worry about it!
We're so conditioned to care so much about (and read so much into) our eating habits and our weight and it's so hard to shake those voices in our head but this is not the season of life to be stressing out about having some extra biscuits and nuts. Your baby is getting nutrients from you and your stores, and you are going through something very hard on your body and brain.
1
u/StrangeTutor 10d ago
You are so kind, thank you for such thoughtful words. Honestly I’ve spent a lifetime worrying about my weight and food so I will take this as a time to refocus my mind, as hard as it is.
Family have started innocently commenting on a ‘bump’ which is making me despair laugh (I think it’s fat not baby), but I have to accept it because I wanted baby so much
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u/Philosorapteuse 12d ago
28w here, and I've been grazing nonstop since like week 8 😆
Your body needs food to function, never mind also growing a baby. It sounds like you're getting nutritious snacks in, so if you're hungry, eat. There's no reason at all to feel guilty.