Which Of The Above Factors Apply To You
Take those that are relevant into consideration when figuring out when you may start showing, such as your body type or if this is your first pregnancy.
It is important to always remember that everyone is different, and every pregnancy is different!
Even if you have been pregnant before, your second pregnancy may be different than your first. Your friend may start showing in their first trimester, yet your belly might not make an appearance until your third trimester- and thats okay!
Starting to show later than expected does not mean that your baby is too small.
If you were really hoping for an exact time to expect to start showing, you can at least probably bet on the second trimester.
According to WebMD, most women will typically start showing at some point during their second trimester. During this trimester your baby is growing rapidly, your organs are shifting and your weight gain usually increases to about 1-2 pounds per week.
As always, if you have any concerns or feel that you are showing too early or too late, talk to your doctor!
Last but not least, be patient! Your entire body is changing and you are growing a tiny human inside of you. Soon enough your belly will be big and round, and you can proudly show off that baby bump!
Should I Be Eating More Now That Im Pregnant
Peterson says that the phrase eating for two gives women the wrong impression. At first, your body wont even need extra calories. Below is the breakdown by trimester, along with some serving suggestions.
First Trimester: During the first trimester you do not need to increase your calorie needs at all, Peterson says. Just make sure you are trying to eat a well-balanced diet, meeting hydration needs, meeting protein needs and taking your prenatal vitamin.
Second Trimester: Increase your calorie intake by about 340 calories. The additional 350 calories can be translated to the patients daily diet as an additional one to two servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy and an additional one- to two-ounce protein serving, Peterson says.
Third Trimester: Take in about 450 extra calories per day . In the third trimester, the additional 450 calories can be one to two servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy, one to two ounces of protein and one serving of whole grain bread or cereal, Peterson says.
Keeping a food diary or using a calorie-tracking app can help keep you on track.
Color Your Diet With Fruits
Some people will warn you against fruit consumption when you ask them about what not to eat during pregnancy. This is a myth. Fruit isnt just delicious it can help curb your sugar cravings and supply you and your baby the necessary nutrients. As long as you arent eating them in juice form too often, fruits are an important part of your pregnancy diet. If canned, choose unsweetened.
Be cautious in your preparation of fruit. Dont use knives used for other raw foods that may have bacteria, and always thoroughly rinse raw fruit under running water. Rinsing your fruit is important since bacteria can be found on the outer rind or peel, which can cause illness or be harmful to you and baby. Cut off damaged or bruised spots to help remove any bacteria hiding out in these areas.
It is worth noting that eating fruits should be done with care. Observing how your body reacts every time you have some will help. For example, if you have a spike in your blood sugar or notice abnormal weight gain, you should cut back.
You can have moderate servings of the following fruits:
- Bananas
- Dried fruits
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Constant Hunger A Sign Of Pregnancy
Very early on in your pregnancy, you may begin to experience particular food cravings and hunger pangs.
Hunger pangs alone arent enough to immediately lead you to believe you are pregnant, but if they are paired with a missed period, tender breasts, morning sickness, and fatigue you might be onto something.
There’s No Need To Eat For 2
You will probably find that you are more hungry than usual, but you do not need to “eat for 2” even if you are expecting twins or triplets.
Try to have a healthy breakfast every day, because this can help you to avoid snacking on foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Eating healthily often means changing the amounts of different foods you eat, so that your diet is varied, rather than cutting out all your favourites. You can use the Eatwell Guide to get the balance of your diet right. It shows you how much of what you eat should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
You do not need to achieve this balance with every meal, but try to get the balance right over a week.
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When Can I Expect My Pregnancy Appetite To Decrease
You may find that your appetite decreases in the third trimester of pregnancy. The reason: Your baby is leaving less and less room for your stomach.
Or you might still feel ravenous, but it only takes a few bites before you’re stuffed .
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Food Cravings During Pregnancy
You’ve probably known women who craved specific foods during pregnancy, or perhaps you’ve had such cravings yourself. Some old theories held that a hunger for a particular type of food indicated that a woman’s body lacked the nutrients that food contains. Although this turned out not to be so, it’s still unclear why these urges occur.
Some pregnant women crave chocolate, spicy foods, fruits, and comfort foods, such as mashed potatoes, cereals, and toasted white bread. Other women crave non-food items, such as clay and cornstarch. The craving and eating of non-food items is known as pica. Consuming things that aren’t food can be dangerous to both you and your baby. If you have urges to eat non-food items, notify your doctor.
But following your cravings is fine as long as you crave foods that contribute to a healthy diet. Often, these cravings let up about 3 months into the pregnancy.
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What Should You Do
Get a supportive bra to ease the discomfort of this pregnancy symptom. Talk to a professional who can help you with a fitting, and be sure to leave a little extra room. Trust us, theyre going to keep growing. And dont be afraid to use either warm or cold compresses if things get really uncomfortablejust use whichever feels right for you.
Foods That Are High In Fat Sugar Or Both
Sugary foods and drinks are often high in calories, which can contribute to weight gain. Having sugary foods and drinks can also lead to tooth decay.
Fat is very high in calories, so eating too many fatty foods, or eating them too often, can make you put on weight. Eating too much saturated fat can also increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood, which increases your chance of developing heart disease.
Foods that are high in fat, sugar, or both, include:
- all spreading fats
- oils
- puddings
- fizzy drinks
If you’re having foods and drinks that are high in fat and sugar, have these less often and in small amounts.
Try to cut down on saturated fat, and have small amounts of foods rich in unsaturated fat instead, such as vegetable oils. Find out about saturated and unsaturated fat.
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Need More Easy Ideas For Labor
Maintain A Healthy Diet
It is easy to eat anything when you are pregnant because you can shrug the extra weight gain off as being baby weight, but you shouldnt overindulge.
Keep your diet healthy and nutritious and opt for foods that can benefit you and your baby rather than add to the extra pounds. Fresh foods are always the better option over processed ones.
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Nutritious Meal And Snack Ideas During Pregnancy
First trimester: Focus on nutrient density
What do all of these numbers mean in terms of how much you should eat? Well in the first trimester, continue to eat the same amount of food as before you became pregnant, with a special focus on eating high quality, nutrient-dense foods. With you and your babys nutrient needs increasing, a well-balanced diet is important.10,11
Think about packing your day with whole, minimally processed foods fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, proteins, beans, low fat dairy, nuts and seeds.10,11
Remember, your caloric needs do not increase during the first trimester .7
Read more: Meal Plan to Manage Morning Sickness
Second trimester: Follow your increasing hunger cues
In the second trimester, your appetite is likely increasing and you should start adding about 340 calories to your daily diet.7
This might sound like a lot, but 340 calories does not equate to very much additional food. In fact, you may find that increasing your food intake by this amount happens naturally by just responding to your hunger cues. You can incorporate more calories by slightly increasing the size of your meals or adding an additional quality snack.
Here are healthful snack and meal ideas that will add about 340 calories to your daily diet:
Third trimester: Lots of growth for baby and increased calories for you
In your third trimester, add around 450 calories to your daily diet.5
Read more: Healthy Snacks for Pregnant Women
Should I track my calories?
When Do You Start Showing
Many moms-to-be want to know, when do you start showing? But there is no definitive answer.
Many mamas notice changes in their own bodies before anyone else does. Some feel their clothing getting too small by the time they hit 8 weeks. Others can wear their regular clothes until closer to 6 months!
In general, other people may not notice your growing belly until at least 12 weeks. This is because the uterus doesnt pop out of the pelvis until about this time. Doctors and midwives start measuring the fundal height at around 12 weeks as well, since it can finally be felt above the pelvic bone.
How early a pregnant woman shows is sometimes just a matter of chance, but there are some things that can affect when she starts to show:
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What Are Pregnancy Cravings
Youre about 12 weeks pregnant and suddenly you must have nachos. Lots and lots of nachos. But when youre standing in line for Mexican food, you realize nothing would go better with nachos than a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream.
Watch out: Your pregnancy cravings are officially in full swing.
Heres a look at why cravings happen during pregnancy and what they mean. Well also discuss how long they last and if its safe to indulge.
Craving Ice Cream Try Yogurt Smoothies
If you want something cold and rich, try a yogurt smoothie. Yogurt is a good source of calcium, which is necessary for the development of your babys bones and teeth, as well as heart, nerve and muscle function. If you dont consume enough calcium, your body will take it from your bones. Yogurt also provides protein the building block of tissues as well as probiotics .
Just be sure to watch out for additives in the yogurt you choose. Many flavored varieties are loaded with sugar. Also, if you like the tartness, opt for Greek yogurt because it contains more protein.
Healthy add-ins include:
- Avocado
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Managing Your Weight When Pregnant
Obviously, you are expected to put on some weight when you are pregnant, but with the constant hunger, how are you supposed to keep the weight gain under control ?
- Begin pregnancy at a healthy weight.
- Eat often but in moderation.
- Stay hydrated, especially with water consumption.
- Accept cravings, but make them constructive.
- Exercise. Walking is an easy way to stay active in pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain. Your starting weight determines how much weight your doctor will recommend that you gain.
Too Much Or Too Little
The pattern in which you gain weight is also important. It is perfectly normal not to gain any weight until a week or two after you’ve missed your period. Doctors have found that when women gain weight too quickly early in their pregnancies, they usually keep gaining at a higher rate than normal. Weight gain should be gradual throughout your pregnancy. Shoot for two to four pounds during the first trimester and close to a pound a week in the second and third trimesters.
Watch out for sudden weight gain or loss. If you are experiencing a great deal of nausea and vomiting, you may need help to make sure you’re getting proper nutrition. Sudden weight gain can signal rising blood pressure. Call your healthcare provider if you experience either of these scenarios.
Women who gain too little weight risk having a premature baby or one with low birth weight. Newborn complications are related to low birth weight studies show that weighing too little at birth can predispose your child to diabetes later in life.
Too much weight gain can mean problems for you as well as the baby. Severely overweight women are more prone to hypertension and gestational diabetes, and are more likely to have a cesarean section. Their babies are also usually bigger. Some studies have shown that larger baby girls are at a greater risk for breast cancer when they become adults.
Continued
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Benefits Of Eating Dates During Pregnancy
Dates offers many nutritional benefits during pregnancy.
One day you might feel energetic, and the next day youre fatigued and cant think clearly. The more nutrients and vitamins you put into your system, though, the better youll feel physically and mentally.
Dates are a fruit from the date palm tree, which is a type of flowering plant. Dates are one of the sweetest types of fruits. But dont worry, its a natural type of sugar.
Eating this dried fruit provides a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth than perhaps that traditional ice cream craving. And because its a good source of natural fructose, dates may give you energy to fight pregnancy fatigue a win-win.
The nutritional benefits dont stop here, though. Dates are also loaded with fiber to keep your digestive system running smoothly. And as a result, youre less likely to deal with pregnancy-related constipation.
Dates are also a source of folate, which helps reduce the likelihood of birth defects. They also provide iron and vitamin K.
Getting more iron in your diet can boost your energy levels and fight iron deficiency anemia. In addition, vitamin K helps a growing baby develop strong bones, and it can improve your muscle and nerve function.
Dates are also a rich source of potassium, an electrolyte mineral that helps keep blood vessels relaxed and blood pressure lower.
Why Do You Feel Hungry 24/7
The simplest answer to this question is your growing baby.
Your body has to work in overdrive when you are pregnant to help sustain you and your growing baby. This means your body is constantly working both night and day.
You need those extra calories because you are busy growing a human! Think about the extra energy it takes to grow a heart, brain, and lungs. Its amazing!
All of this energy is coming from you and what you consume.
It is likely your body is burning calories faster than you can even consume them. This quick transition causes you to feel like you need to eat all the time .
Listen to your body and dont feel guilty if you feel like you are always digging for food. Relax its all for your baby and that baby needs those nutrients.
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In The Mood For Chips Try Dried Beans
When youre craving chips, dried bean snacks are a healthier substitute. You can find different flavored versions of roasted chickpeas, fava beans and soybeans at the store, or make a batch at home.
Beans have folic acid, which is key for pregnant women because it reduces the chance of spinal cord birth defects. Theyre also high in iron, which is used to create more red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body and to your baby. During pregnancy, you need one and a half times the usual amount of iron. Low iron, or anemia, is the most common nutritional deficiency among pregnant women. To increase the absorption of iron in beans, pair them with a food high in vitamin C such as sliced bell peppers, oranges, melon or strawberries.
One caveat: Packaged dried bean snacks have variable amounts of sodium. Excess sodium intake causes you to retain water and can lead to swelling. Eat these in moderation. If you see sudden signs of swelling, talk to your doctor. It could be a sign of preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous pregnancy condition.
