Why Am I Losing Weight During Pregnancy Without Morning Sickness?

When we find out we’re pregnant, we start accepting the inevitable weight gain right away. After all, you have an entire new being growing inside you; there’s the placenta, amniotic fluid, you’re probably moving less and craving more… Which is what makes any unexpected weight loss that much scarier. In this article, I’m not only answering the scary question of why am I losing weight during pregnancy without morning sickness, but I’ll also talk about whether you should try losing weight during pregnancy on purpose and in what ways.

If you’re losing weight while pregnant, and you’re not even trying to, ask yourself whether any of these ring a bell.

You’ve Started Living Healthier Since Finding Out You’re Pregnant.

Whether consciously or not, a lot of us expecting moms change our habits for the better once we’re aware this tiny being is depending on us. We start eating healthier, avoiding fast food and snacks, and we (hopefully) ditch alcohol if we haven’t already. That’s one of the most important things to do as soon as you find out you’re pregnant, since even a tiny amount of alcohol can harm your baby.

And although a growing belly, exhaustion, and sciatica aren’t ideal breeding grounds for trips to the gym, a lot of us also tend to stay active. We take long walks, we do prenatal yoga… And that sudden change in lifestyle, especially in the first trimester when you don’t need many extra calories, could lead to you losing some weight even without morning sickness.

If that morning sickness does hit, here are some natural remedies and meal ideas to try.

You’ve Been Eating Less Due to Stomach Issues.

My husband’s cousin recently gave birth. Her pregnancy was 3 weeks ahead of mine, and while I was gaining some weight at the offset of the second trimester (as little as that was), she was losing weight at 15 weeks pregnant! The reason? A stomach virus. She was vomiting and had diarrhea, she couldn’t eat that much… And of course she would be losing weight. Luckily, everything went well and she recently gave birth to a healthy and wonderful baby girl.

Is It Safe to Lose Weight While Pregnant?

Now that I covered unplanned weight loss and why it might be happening, let’s talk about trying to lose weight while pregnant – on purpose.

Can I Lose Weight While Pregnant?

The answer is – yes, you can – but you shouldn’t, at least not on purpose.

I’ll start off by saying that, if your weight is healthy according to BMI, you should not be trying to lose weight during pregnancy. By all means, change your habits, eat healthy, stay active – but pregnancy is not the time to be dieting. Chances are you’ll lose some weight that way anyway, especially when the baby is still very small. So losing weight while pregnant in the first trimester isn’t necessarily strange or dangerous, but don’t make it your goal. If you’re underweight, you should be gaining lots of kilos now and not worrying about your body image.

In order for the baby to develop properly, and for you to stay healthy and able to nourish them, you need to get a high enough caloric intake, filled with the most important nutrients. When you’re dieting, these will likely be lacking, and the consequences can be anything from low birth weight to stillbirth for the baby, and pre-eclampsia or hemorrhage for you.

However, if you’re overweight, losing some weight during early pregnancy is okay, so long as it’s only based on healthier life habits and not dieting on purpose. So any drastic, say, 40 pound weight loss while pregnant should be out of the question regardless of your current weight. Later on during pregnancy, you should also be gaining weight, albeit not as much as those on the lower side of the BMI scale.

Is It Okay to Lose Weight While Pregnant? – Bottom Line

The bottom line is: stay healthy, eat healthy, stay active, but leave dieting for after you give birth. Even if you came into the pregnancy overweight, anything drastic like losing 50 lbs while pregnant (or even 20) should be out of the question. Instead, stay healthy and you’ll likely gain fewer pounds than those with moderate weight.

FAQ

Can you be pregnant but losing weight?

Absolutely, especially if you’re suffering from morning sickness. Some other reasons may be a healthier lifestyle or stomach issues. However, weight loss tends to happen in the first trimester. If you’re wondering “why am I losing weight during pregnancy in my 2nd trimester”, you may want to check it out with your doctor.

Why am I losing weight so fast while pregnant?

Any unexplained weight loss in pregnancy, especially if drastic, requires a visit to the doctor. And while reasons may be benign (morning sickness, healthier diet) especially when losing weight in the first trimester, it’s much better to be sure everything is okay.

Can you lose weight in the first trimester without morning sickness?

You can, if you change your habits for the better, or if you’re unlucky enough to catch a stomach bug. But if that’s not the case and you’re left wondering Why am I losing weight during pregnancy without morning sickness, be sure to visit your doctor.