I'm pregnant, and losing my appetite and weight. What can I do? Will this hurt my baby?

You mentioned that you’re 16 weeks along, and up to this point, you’ve lost 6 pounds because you’re just not interested in eating, it’s more of a lack of appetite. And this could be due to the nausea that you’re feeling during pregnancy. And if that’s the case, talk with your OB provider, and number 1, they’ll be able to tell you if this weight loss is okay for you, based on your pre-pregnancy weight, and number 2, they may be able to prescribe a medication that will help you get over the nausea so that you’ll want to eat. But as for what to eat to increase your desire to eat, that’s entirely up to you. If something sounds good, then eat it. But you should fill your diet full of whole grains, lots of fruits, lots of vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and healthy fat. So if you can, choose a protein and a good healthy carbohydrate, like fruits or a wholegrain, to eat with each meal and snack.

And maybe try eating more frequent and smaller meals throughout the day instead of eating 3 large ones. And you might find that just keeping your stomach a little bit full all the time with a protein and a healthy carbohydrate will also ease your nausea, and maybe help you eat the amount of calories you need, and gain the appropriate amount of weight. The amount that you should gain during pregnancy is based on your pre-pregnancy weight, and again, your doctor will be able to advise you on what that is for you, based on their knowledge of your situation.

Don’t forget to keep taking a prenatal vitamin too. A lot of people think you just take that while you’re trying to conceive, but it’s also important to take over the course of the entire pregnancy and while you’re breastfeeding, because it helps to ensure that you and your growing baby have the nutrition you need. So that’s important too, in addition to a healthy diet. Good luck with everything, and if you have any other questions for me in the future, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IntermountainMoms, and recommend us to your friends and family too.