Pregnant women becoming easily hungry is not just a myth. Besides experiencing cravings, pregnant women also have an increased appetite and get hungry more quickly. What causes these changes in pregnant women, and how can they be managed? Let's take a look at the following review.
Causes of pregnant women becoming more easily hungry
Most pregnant women experience an increase in appetite during pregnancy. Some experience it in the early trimester, late trimester, or throughout the pregnancy. This condition is normal for pregnant women and is not harmful. However, it needs to be managed to prevent excessive weight gain.
Causes of pregnant women becoming easily hungry include:
Hormonal changes
According to Healthline, hormonal changes can affect a person's hunger levels. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone hormones lead to increased appetite, causing pregnant women to become easily hungry and have cravings.
To support fetal growth
Pregnant women get hungry easily due to a signal from their bodies to fulfill the daily nutritional requirements that are essential for fetal development. During pregnancy, blood volume increases rapidly to support the growth of the uterus and fetus.
To meet these needs, pregnant women require an additional 300–350 calories per day in the second trimester and 500 calories in the third trimester. The recommended diet for pregnant women includes healthy foods with balanced nutrition containing carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, and fiber.
How to manage increased hunger during pregnancy
Feeling easily hungry and having frequent cravings during pregnancy is a normal occurrence for pregnant mothers. However, if this condition is not managed properly, pregnant women are at risk of gaining excess weight, which can complicate childbirth.
To maintain a normal weight gain during pregnancy, you can do the following:
Eat more frequently with smaller meals
If you feel hungry easily, it's best to divide your meals into smaller, more frequent portions. Instead of having heavy meals three times a day, split them into several smaller meals throughout the day. This eating pattern can prevent pregnant women from gaining excess weight and help manage heartburn, which is common during pregnancy.
Choose foods high in nutrients
When selecting your meals, avoid processed foods and drinks that are low in nutrients. Opt for healthy foods rich in calcium, protein, iron, folic acid, vitamins, and minerals needed during pregnancy.
Prioritize consuming fresh foods and steer clear of processed or packaged foods, fast food, foods containing preservatives, and other additives.
Keep the body hydrated
Pregnant women need more fluids than usual. To meet the body's fluid needs, it's advisable to drink 8–10 glasses of fluid per day or as needed. Apart from beverages, you can also get fluids by consuming fruits or vegetables rich in water content.
During pregnancy, women tend to feel hungry more easily and require more nutrients and fluids than usual. To control excessive weight gain, pregnant women need to maintain a highly- nutritious diet and avoid unhealthy foods.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
Looking for more information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the health of women and children? Click here!
Garone, S. (2020). Here’s How to Manage That Unrelenting Pregnancy Hunger. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/pregnancy-hunger#
Bellefonds, C. (2021). Pregnancy hunger: How to handle increased appetite in pregnancy. Available from: https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/health-and-safety/im-pregnant-and-constantly-hungry-how-can-i-manage-my-weight_10394933
Connor, A. (2022). Has Your Appetite Increased During Pregnancy?. Available from: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/appetite.aspx
