7 Weeks Pregnant: Establish a Healthy Diet

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Feeling especially fatigued? Now that you're 7 weeks pregnant, make sure that you're eating well to help you get through the day.

Your 7th week of pregnancy is very much more of same (as your 6th week) in terms of symptoms. If you're one of the 70 percent of women who feel morning sickness (which should be renamed 24/7 sickness), you're probably deep in the throes of it now.

Pregnancy Week 7: All About You

Cravings and Other Pregnancy Symptoms
If a greasy cheeseburger or a jar of pickles never appealed to you before pregnancy, you might be surprised to be craving them now. Plenty of theories exist about why cravings happen, yet researchers still have no conclusive proof to explain these intense desires.

Filling a Nutritional Need
One prevailing theory explains that pregnancy cravings may be the body's way of getting the nutrients it needs. Say you're craving a steak; maybe your body lacks protein. And ice cream? Your body might need more calcium to support bones, which have added strain as your pregnancy progresses. "When you have a craving it's usually based on some sort of nutritional need or nutritional balance," says Dr. William Camann, MD, director of obstetric anesthesia at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and the author of Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth.

Shunning Certain Foods
The flip side of cravings is food aversions. In other words, foods you loved before pregnancy may be repulsive to you now. Dr. Camann believes the nutritional need theory may also explain food aversions. You need a healthy balance of foods and a varied diet to provide your body and your growing baby the nutrients they need; food aversions may be a way for your body to ensure that happens. If you craved junk foods before your pregnancy, you may turn your nose up to them now. For example, some chocolate lovers find themselves repulsed by the idea of eating chocolate once pregnant.

The Smell Factor
Part of your food aversion may stem from your increased nose power. Pregnancy hormones kick your sense of smell into high gear. If a food has an overwhelming odor—say, garlic-laced chicken—your stomach may lead you to shun that food. On the other hand, pleasing smells—or even the lack of an odor (think saltines)—can make these foods your new comfort.

Satisfying Flavors
While researchers don't know why pregnant women crave certain foods, they do know that women share some common favorite flavors.

• Salt: Pickles, saltines, potato chips—they're all packed with salt and can be oh-so-gratifying during pregnancy. Dr. Camann points out that with your body's increased blood volume during pregnancy, your body may need additional sodium to pump up blood production.


• Sour: Pickles, lemons, and fruits have tart flavors that may ward off morning sickness and ensure that you eat enough fruits to provide nutrients for your growing baby-to-be.


• Bitter: Early in your pregnancy you may find that you have an aversion to bitter tastes. Researchers theorize that this may have evolutionary origins. Poisonous foods often have bitter flavors, so if you can't stand the taste, you may avoid harm.

When to Be Concerned
Cravings are usually not a problem during pregnancy—in fact, they can be amusing and maybe a fine excuse to send your partner scrambling for ice cream at midnight.

Though uncommon, some women experience unusual, even bizarre yearnings called pica cravings. Women with this condition long to eat non-food substances like sand, dirt, bleach, even cigarettes. Doctors still don't know why women would have these kind of cravings. Dr. Camann says there's speculation that women's bodies may be trying to supplement certain nutritional needs, but no one knows for sure. These cravings can be dangerous to you and your unborn baby if you act on them. If you find yourself yearning to munch on the sandbox, let your healthcare provider know; he or she may refer you to a specialist who can help you sort out these dangerous desires.