Dietary changes during first trimester pregnancy for women with nausea and vomiting in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: Examine responses given to questions addressing whether pregnancy had caused women with nausea and vomiting (NVP) or symptom-free (SF) to alter their food habits in the first trimester in order to better understand the dietary changes taking place in women with NVP. Method: Using questions featured in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) specifically asking participants about alterations in diet and episodes of nausea and vomiting. The final sample used included 30,072 women. Results: We found 46% with no symptoms of nausea and/or vomiting in pregnancy, whilst 54% reported both nausea and vomiting. The NVP group of women were the group most affected with changes in food consumption, having the lowest proportion reporting to eat as before pregnancy, as well as the highest proportion reporting ‘eating more’ and ‘reduced eating’. The SF group reported eating more than NVP group in one instance, that being for chocolate (SF 17.7% vs NVP 16.3%). Conclusion: We have shown a higher degree of dietary change in women with NVP compared to SF women. We also found chocolate as the only exception, with a higher proportion of SF women eating more of this food item.