Weight Loss During the First Trimester
If you are in your first trimester of pregnancy, you may be experiencing symptoms, including nausea, vomiting or appetite loss, which could lead to weight loss. Though a small amount of weight loss during the first trimester of pregnancy may be nothing to be alarmed about, you should speak to your doctor if you are losing a great deal of weight or are unable to keep any food down at all. He may be able to provide you with medications to help lessen the severity of your nausea, and he may wish to perform tests to see if the weight loss is related to illness.
Nausea
Roughly half of all pregnant women develop nausea during their first trimester of pregnancy. Caused by fluctuating hormone levels in your body, "morning sickness" can occur at any time of the day or night and may be severe enough to cause vomiting, dizziness and a complete loss of your normal appetite. Up to 2 percent of pregnant women develop a condition called "hyperemesis gravidarum" during their first trimester, which causes constant vomiting, extreme weight loss, dehydration and a change in their metabolic rate. The condition is more prevalent in women carrying multiples, and once a woman has experienced the disorder in one pregnancy, she is more likely to have it again in subsequent pregnancies. Because the condition can lead to electrolyte imbalances, nutritional deficiencies in the fetus and liver damage and jaundice in the mother, it should be addressed by a medical professional immediately.
Effects
During the first trimester of pregnancy, the nutritional needs of the developing fetus are less than during later weeks of pregnancy, so if you are experiencing slight weight loss due to nausea or lack of appetite, chances are that your baby will not be negatively affected. The quality of your diet is much more important at this stage than the quantity of foods that you eat. Because your fetus is experiencing tremendous cell splitting and synthesis during the first trimester, you should eat a diet of whole foods that provides the best building blocks for your child's development. Stay away from overly processed, sweetened or junk foods, and drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.
Treatment
If you are experiencing weight loss due to nausea, try to eat six to eight small meals throughout the day, rather than large meals three times a day. Keep some crackers near your bed so you can eat before getting out of bed in the morning and late at night, when an empty stomach may lead to excess acids and nausea. Eat only food that you like, and give yourself the freedom to say, "no" to even healthy food if it makes you feel sick to think about it. Suck on dried ginger drops, or drink ginger ale to help reduce your nausea symptoms. Try taking your prenatal vitamin in the evening, just before bed, instead of in the morning. The high iron content in prenatal vitamins may contribute to nausea. Take a prenatal yoga class, or visit an acupuncturist for holistic relief from your nausea.
Overall Weight Gain
If none of the treatments for nausea and appetite loss work for you, and you continue to lose weight instead of gaining it during your first trimester, don't allow yourself to get too stressed about it. The average weight gain is only 3 1/3 lbs. during the first trimester, with a gain of about a pound a week after that, so just be sure to eat as well as you can when you feel up to it, and you'll probably make the weight up during your second or third trimester. Overall, an average weight woman should gain between 28 and 32 lbs. throughout the pregnancy. Women that are overweight before they become pregnant should gain only 2 lbs. during the first trimester of pregnancy, with a total of 15 to 25 lbs. during the entire pregnancy. Women who are under weight may gain about 5 lbs. during the first trimester, and they may gain up to 40 lbs. by the time they deliver. Eat two to four servings of fruits, three to five servings of vegetables, six to 11 servings of whole grains, two to three servings of white meat and two servings of dairy products a day. To determine a "serving" size, use the palm of your hand as a guide for proteins, fruits, grains and vegetables. A serving of dairy is 1/2 cup.
Considerations
If you smoke during your pregnancy, you may not only have trouble gaining weight, your fetus may not receive all the nutrients it needs to develop healthy cells. According to the American Pregnancy Association, smoking during pregnancy is the cause of 20 to 30 percent of babies born with low birth weight each year. Eliminating or cutting back on the smoking habit during your pregnancy will help you and your developing fetus to gain the weight you need for a healthy pregnancy.
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