Do you give into your hunger pangs?

[ChocolateC]

I've haven't had morning sickness with either pregnancy, but I definitely get hungry. In between meals, too, like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. My bump is growing really quickly this time, and the baby is measuring bigger than my first, so I really don't want to create some massive monster baby in there by eating too much!
But I also think it's healthy and normal for pregnant women to eat when they want to. I'd never tell a friend to go hungry when she was pregnant.
I'm curious about everyone else: do you eat when you want to? Do you try to limit how much you eat? Do you ever force yourself to skip a snack or eat less than you want?

 

[mumandco]

At the moment I don't have much of an appetite. I am consious of gaining too much weight but I wouldn't not eat if I felt hungry. I would try to eat healthier options. You wouldn't ignore thirst so I don't think hunger should be ignored either x

 

[Rhiannon137]

I have just started getting over the constant sickness with this pregnancy, but am now remembering some of the excess appetite that came after it with my first.

I eat when I feel hungry, but I try to always eat something healthy before giving into a junk food craving. I usually have yogurt, fruits, veggies (either raw with some hummus, or make a big batch of roasted vegetables), or some whole grain toast. So, I don't necessarily eat less than I would like, but I often don't have exactly what my heart desires when it is desiring chocolate, chips, cotton candy, or all the cheese in the city.

 

[biscuits104]

I basically just eat whenever, and I only ever have one junk food option in the house. I crave a lot of fruits and proteins with my baby anyway, so it's not a huge deal. I do like the occasional muffin or cinnamon roll, but it's usually after i exercise or first thing in the morning when i could eat the whole house. I find that I can't really eat much without feeling terribly uncomfortable, so grazing throughout the day really works best. I'm supposed to track my protein intake for my birthing classes, so I just used My Fitness Pal app to track all of my food and I was kinda surprised at how low my calories are and I feel like I've eaten everything in the house today! Food just tastes so good after getting over that terrible first trimester.

 

[hellojello25]

Usually I eat when I'm hungry, but it depends on the day. Sometimes I just have too much going on at work and I honestly forget, even though I'm hungry. I definitely need to have snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon though! Otherwise I'm absolutely ravenous and will make bad eating decisions lol. It's worked out for me so far. At my appointment last month, I had only gained 9 pounds total. I'm a little worried about tonight's appointment though lol I finally popped, so I'm sure I'll have gained a little more than previously, but as long as Alex is okay in there, I'm okay with it

 

[Marumi]

I'm stuffing my face whenever baby tells me to ...which is often. Though my cravings have been cheese, meat and regular foods rather than candies. I also gained too much (20 lbs) but it is invisible weight...

 

[ChocolateC]

I also gained too much (20 lbs) but it is invisible weight...

Yes! I've gained 13 pounds (in 20 weeks) but I don't really see it anywhere except the belly/midsection. I'm not worried about my own weight, actually, but the baby's. I'm scared of having a giant baby! (I don't have GD, but you can have a big baby without GD, I'm pretty sure.)

 

[summermoee]

I've been a pig this pregnancy I'm always hungry it seems like

 

[Marumi]

I also gained too much (20 lbs) but it is invisible weight...

Yes! I've gained 13 pounds (in 20 weeks) but I don't really see it anywhere except the belly/midsection. I'm not worried about my own weight, actually, but the baby's. I'm scared of having a giant baby! (I don't have GD, but you can have a big baby without GD, I'm pretty sure.)

I don't think it necessarily means your baby will be big. I had 12 lbs by 14 weeks and recently my baby was measured by ultrasound, he is more petite than average but has an average weight, just like my firstborn
But I did read something long time ago when I started eating Paleo that modern, carb heavy diets result in bigger babies. The ratio of bread and noodles we eat compared to fruit/ meat/ eggs/ veggies has changed. I would say many people eat 70% empty calories from carbs and 30% real foods...
I can't find the link right now but you may want to eat about the types of foods and fetal size.

 

[dimmu]

I eat when I'm hungry or when I start getting hungry, otherwise I start feeling dizzy and nauseous. Unfortunately this baby gets hungry often. I try and eat healthy, luckily this baby doesn't seem to be into chocolate or crisps and such, he/she seems to prefer protein and starchy stuff.

 

[Natasha2605]

If I'm hungry then yeah, I will eat. I don't really get hungry often though.

 

[jenmcn1]

Babies go through growth spurts, so if you're hungry...eat for sure! The important thing is choosing the right foods.
What really helps me is having a ton of healthy fats at each meal which helps sustain me between meals. Like half an avocado, coconut milk in a smoothie(with breakfast), I find the more bread and sugars you eat the less likely it sustains you.

I eat a HUGE amount of food, with snacks but I stick to a paleo based diet. Not for weight purposes at all, but for health. And it's helped this pregnancy to have protein, fat and starchy vegetables(potatoes, sweet potatoes)

So all the to say...eat when you're hungry....baby won't be massive unless your binging on donuts lol!! You will do great! And remember all babies grow differently!!
My first born was my biggest! And each of my kids have gotten smaller and smaller.

You will gain what you need