Pica is the term used to describe having an intense craving for – and eating – nonfood items, such as soil, clay, laundry starch, ice, ashes, plaster, paint chips, and coffee grounds. However, if you are starting to crave non-food items, you may be experiencing a disorder commonly known as pica. This is perfectly fine as long as you’re sticking to a balanced diet and having enough nutrients to help support your growing baby. It’s likely that it won’t be a problem for you long term, which might be a relief.Having strange food cravings is a normal part of pregnancy – in fact almost 40 percent of women report craving sweet and salty items during pregnancy, such as pickles and ice cream. It also may help to know that pica that’s associated with pregnancy usually goes away after nutrient deficiencies are addressed or when the baby is born. Your midwife or doctor may have ideas of professionals you could contact, or you can ask in a local parenting group or do an internet search. If your pica is severe, consultation with and treatment by a mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders may be helpful. It also might work to trick your brain by eating chalky things, such as antacids, that are safe in pregnancy-just make sure you stick to the recommended doses. Foods that are high in iron include spinach, legumes, quinoa, red meat, and broccoli. Taking an iron supplement (your care provider will likely have a recommendation) is a good idea, as well as trying to increase the amount of iron you get in your diet. If you’re eating according to dietary guidelines and still experiencing nonfood cravings and you’ve already talked to your doctor or midwife, the following are some ideas that may help. Eating nonfood items like clay and chalk is also not a great idea because it could make you sick or make you too full to get the food that you need to nourish yourself or your baby. Anemia can be a problem during labor and birth, as it’s normal to lose a little blood, but having low iron can mean blood loss becomes more serious. Overall, crunching ice isn’t usually a problem (unless you hurt your teeth), but the desire to crunch might be a sign of a bigger problem, such as not enough iron in your diet, which can lead to anemia. If you find yourself looking longingly at your bar of soap in the shower or the clay mask you use for skin care, or grabbing and crunching ice throughout the day, it’s a good idea to speak with your care provider as soon as possible. The main symptom of pica is eating or craving nonfood items. A moderate amount of fats and oils, preferably not trans fats.3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
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