If you’re not already finding it difficult to keep your food down thanks to morning sickness, this pregnancy symptom might just tip you over the edge.
That metallic taste in your mouth is a really common first-trimester pregnancy symptom, that can leave you feeling like you’ve just swallowed a handful of coins. Called Dysgeusia, it’s linked to your pregnancy hormones and usually doesn’t last into the second trimester.
If you’re struggling with this strange symptom, there are ways to ease it.
What is Dysgeusia?
Dysgeusia is a change in your sense of taste – and in pregnancy, it usually gives a metallic taste. It’s thought oestrogen has something to do with our sense of taste, so it’s little wonder that during pregnancy our tastes can change.
While it does seem to be linked to increasing pregnancy hormones, don’t be concerned if you don’t have this pregnancy symptom. It’s just one of those things that some women get and others don’t.
What can I do about it?
Once your hormones start to settle down, you should be able to wave goodbye to this pregnancy symptom. In the meantime there are a few things you can do to try and hide the metallic taste:
- Eat foods high in acid like citrus, pineapple, kiwifruit, pickles, gherkins, olives, salt and vinegar chips.
- Foods that get your saliva flowing, to help wash away the metallic taste
- Brush your tongue with your toothbrush
- Sip on ice cold water and ice chips
- Chew sugarless gum
Mum’s Say…
“I used to think I could smell metal. The weirdness stopped at about 20 weeks for me.” – Ess
“Oh, that taste! It’s awful! Unfortunately, mine lasted this time till about 20 weeks and I still get it after eating dinner sometimes.” – Janine
“I had it early on! Ensuring I took my multi vitamins religiously seemed to help get rid of the taste, caused me to think it was a lack of some vitamin or mineral.” – Teresa
“Yep, I had this too! Stopped after the first trimester. I went from drinking two litres of water a day to barely drinking any because it just tasted so metallic.” – Shana
“During my second pregnancy dairy foods tasted metallic for the first trimester.” – Nicole
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