Cravings During Pregnancy

During pregnancy it is common to crave odd combination of food or things you’ve never eaten before. While certain cravings may indicate a nutritional need many may be attributed to the amped up hormones. Cravings might also happen because of the extra work your body does to quickly produce a lot more blood, or might be the comfort certain food brings as your body changes.

When do pregnancy Cravings Start ?

For most women, cravings start in the 1st trimester peaking during the 2nd trimester and declining in the 3rd trimester. Few cravings continues after delivery, so you won’t keep eating the same strange things forever. In fact, a lot of women have one craving for a day or two, another craving for a different day or two and so on…

Common Cravings:

• Sweets, such as Ice cream and chocolate, candy

• Dairy, such as cheese, Ice cream, Yoghurt

• Starchy Carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, oats

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Fast foods, such as French fries, pizza, burgers

Some cravings can be dangerous and a sign that you need to see a doctor. If you are having a strong desire to eat soap, sand, or any other nonfood items during pregnancy, you may have Pica, which may indicate a mineral deficiency. Talk to your healthcare provider about this to keep you and your baby safe

Even if you only want to eat pizza for every meal, be sure to pay attention to how many you’re munching on. Giving in to high-fat, high-salt, and high carbohydrate craving isn’t a big deal, especially if the cravings only last a short time. However, a steady diet of unhealthy foods that are high in fat, sugar, or chemicals can lead to excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, or other problems that can last beyond the birth of your baby