How important is it...

[veryerin]

to eat several times a day? I am 22 weeks and was doing fine, but now I'm stressed out and have trouble eating because of it. I have a really nervous stomach and just can't eat when I am stressed. I have been eating three smallish meals a day and I haven't gained weight in the past four weeks Is this horrible for the baby? I am really trying to step up the eating, its just been hard the past few days.

[october]

Beginning at 21 weeks I got a stomach bug that had lasting appetite effects -- for about 4 weeks I was only able to eat very small infrequent meals, and I knew I wasn't providing all the nutrients babe needed. Ultimately, I'm the one that began to suffer, feeling depleted of all my own nutrients. Turns out baby really does take what it needs regardless of how you eat. But you will be the one to suffer, and it's not something I recommend!

In my opinion, I was harming the baby by harming myself. She continued to grow but I shrank. I'm not saying that you should inflict guilt on yourself (please don't!) but I do think it's important to try to do your best. Baby deserves a happy, well balanced mother to grow in.. I'm still learning how to do this too. And it's been a long road full of lifestyle changes that can be very stressful. My heart goes out to you! Good luck mama.

[mama kk]

Could anything other than stress be going on too? Because I think that some things like anemia can suppress appetite.

I wonder if you can try to work in protein and fats and other nutritious things into your diet by snacking more constantly without having to sit down and eat a full meal.
What can you do to reduce your stress?

[Lauren31]

Is there anything you can do to relieve the stress? Like working out, meditating, etc? Yes, your baby can survive on very little nutrients or calories but do you want your baby to survive or to thrive? Sometimes if you just force it you realize you do want to eat. I have noticed that many times i think I am not hungry and then I start to eat dinner and I am famished and feel so much better. Lack of nutrients/food cause all sorts of issues in your body, from feeling nauseated, unable to cope with stress, lethargy, etc.

[Astraia]

I have a nervous stomach too, and I know how miserable it is- everything turns to sawdust in your mouth, then tries to come back up when you force it down. BLEH.

If you can eliminate the stressor, or find some zen position with whatever is stressing you out, that would obviously be ideal. But don't stress about being too stressed to eat, that's not going to fix anything!

Try to make EVERY calorie you eat count. Snack on yogurt with a high milkfat content, eat lots of nuts and nut butters, eat good oils and things high in natural fats- fish, avocado, etc.

One of the things that worked for me was being really distracted. I'd get a really good book or go and see a movie that looked excellent and I'd make sure I had lots of food with me (yes, I sneak it into the movie theater! Big pockets are a must!) and I'd snack while my brain was focusing on something else. Then I'd look down and realize I'd eaten my entire stash of peanut butter crackers or whatever I had. And after I'd feel remarkably better- I was still stressed, but it wasn't able to tie my stomach up in knots like it did before (because it was too full, haha).

Good luck! As long as this doesn't continue for forever, you're depriving yourself of nutrients but the baby is still getting what s/he needs....just make sure to restock your reserves at some point.