Not a few pregnant women complain of having no appetite. In fact, pregnant women need to consume enough nutritious food to meet the nutritional needs of their own bodies and their fetuses. If you feel like you have no appetite, let’s try the tips to increase the appetite of pregnant women in this article.
Loss of appetite during pregnancy is a common occurrence for some pregnant women. The causes vary, from hormonal changes , morning sickness , stress, to side effects of medications that may be consumed by the pregnant woman.
These changes in appetite are quite common in the first trimester of pregnancy, but pregnant women in later stages of pregnancy can also experience them.
Tips to Increase Pregnant Women’s Appetite
Although loss of appetite during pregnancy is a common occurrence, this condition should not be allowed to persist. The reason is, if left too long or not treated properly, this can cause pregnant women and fetuses to become malnourished .
In fact, adequate nutrition plays a very important role in the health of the pregnant woman and fetus and their growth and development.
To increase appetite during pregnancy, pregnant women can try some of the tips below:
1. Choose foods you like
One way to increase the appetite of pregnant women is to eat foods that pregnant women like. However, it does not mean that pregnant women can eat carelessly.
Even though pregnant women may like junk food or sweet foods, such as ice cream or cake, pregnant women should still prioritize nutritious foods that can provide nutrition for pregnant women and the fetus.
2. Eat small portions but often
To reduce nausea and improve appetite , pregnant women should eat smaller portions, but more often.
It is better to avoid consuming large portions of food at once because it can make pregnant women nauseous and vomit. As a result, the food consumed will be wasted, so that the nutrients in it are not absorbed by the pregnant woman’s body and fetus.
In addition, pregnant women can also complete their daily menu with healthy snacks , such as yogurt , various fruits, nuts, and cheese.
3. Look for food alternatives
If pregnant women lose their appetite for certain foods, choose other foods that are appetizing to pregnant women. For example, if pregnant women are bored or have no appetite for eating rice which contains a lot of carbohydrates, pregnant women can replace it with other foods, such as bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava leaves or oatmeal .
4. Make the menu more varied
Eating the same food for days on end can certainly make pregnant women bored and reduce their appetite.
To make pregnant women excited to eat heartily again, try to make a more varied menu every day. However, make sure that the menu that pregnant women make contains nutritious food, okay?
5. Avoid foods with strong odors.
To prevent appetite from decreasing further, pregnant women are advised to avoid foods that have a strong aroma, such as spicy foods, petai , jengkol, onions, or shrimp paste.
Because they have a very strong aroma, some of these foods can actually cause pregnant women to feel nauseous and vomit, which ultimately makes pregnant women lose their appetite to eat.
6. Exercise regularly
When exercising, the body will burn calories as a source of energy. Well, when calories are burned, the appetite of pregnant women will increase. This is a natural response of the body to obtain energy and nutritional intake from food, so that the body does not lack energy.
Not only good for increasing appetite, exercise is also good for the health of pregnant women and fetuses. However, choose the type of exercise that is safe and allowed to be done during pregnancy, such as yoga, swimming, walking, or prenatal gymnastics.
7. Reduce stress
Excessive stress can reduce appetite. Therefore, in order to have more appetite for food, pregnant women need to reduce stress and control it well.
There are many ways to deal with stress during pregnancy , namely by getting enough sleep, soaking or taking a warm bath, or simply taking time for “me time” .
Those are some tips to increase the appetite of pregnant women that need to be known. In addition to implementing the methods above, to complete the nutritional needs during pregnancy, pregnant women are also advised to routinely consume prenatal vitamins according to doctor’s advice, yes.
For good health and fetal growth, pregnant women need to maintain ideal weight gain during pregnancy. If pregnant women still have no appetite even after implementing the tips above, especially if their weight drops, they should consult an obstetrician .