Cravings!

The whole gauntlet of pregnancy symptoms-nausea, vomiting, fatigue, cramping, increased sense of smells, etc., etc.-started at about 6 weeks.

For about 2 weeks, from Weeks 7-9, the smells were almost unbearable. I couldn't go into a grocery store or make dinner (lucky Charly!). I had to hold my breath while around anyone wearing cologne or perfume, and the wonderful smell of coffee, usually one of my favorite things in the world, was too much to bear.

However, through all of this, including what feels like a month long stint of the stomach flu as I am nauseous all day, every day, in varying degrees, I have been overtaken by incredible food cravings and aversions. I forgot just how strong they could be, but I know recall going through the same thing with Max.

First of all, I can never plan ahead for meals because I never know what will sound good. What I am craving at 2 p.m. might become my worst enemy and make me gag by dinnertime. At any given meal time, there are only 2 or 3 things that possibly sound good, and then I crave them like I will DIE if I don't get one of them.

The cravings are also very brand/restaurant specific, another aspect I had forgotten about. I have to have Kraft cheese, and no other brand will do. One day, when I was particularly sick, the only thing in the world I could imagine eating was Banquet fried chicken. Logically, it didn't sound like a good choice for vomiting, but it ended up being the only thing I kept down that day. Another time, I just HAD to get the Chicken and Gnocchi soup, salad with Italian dressing, and breadsticks from Olive Garden-no other soup would cut it. One day, I woke up from a nap, still tired, but so thirsty for a strawberry limeaid from Sonic that tired or not, I had to go. I truly felt like nothing else would quench my thirst.

Throughout all of my (and Charly's jaunts) to various grocery stores and restaurants for certain items, I keep thinking how every pregnant woman needs a variety of stores and restaurants within convenient driving distance. The nearest grocery store is 7 blocks away. Any restaurant craving is within 2-3 miles. All of which is convenient because I will never know what will sound good in the next 30 minutes. Once something does not sound good-I can't even look at it or think of it without wanting to gag, so when those 2 or 3 items start calling my name, I just have to go for it. How can any pregnant woman live without these choices???

Now with these cravings comes some guilt. I have not been eating a perfectly balanced diet. My veggies I usually love, have, for the most part, not tasted very good, replaced instead with cravings for all things protein, particularly dairy, and regular protein is one of the only things that keeps my nausea at a manageable level.  Right now, I just have to eat what I can, keep a stock of carry out menus handy, and hope I will be able to eat better next trimester!