Pregnant Women's Eating Habits

[mongrel_8]

Has it been scientifically shown why pregnant women have such "weird" eating habits when they are pregnant? I have heard stories of pickles and ice cream, eating soot and sand, and other such odd items. So is there something in the body that causes this?

[Duck Duck Goose]

The short answer to your question is, "No. Science has no definite answer to the problem of odd cravings during pregnancy."

We need to differentiate between cravings for food substances, such as pickles, and cravings for non-food substances, such as clay and soot.

The craving for clay, dirt, etc. is called "pica".
http://www.eating-disorder.org/pica.html

Pica has been very common among pregnant women. It has been said that Pica is a response to fill nutritional deficiency, such as low iron or calcium.

In some cases, Pica stems from nutritional deficiencies and nutritional supplements may be given. In most cases, Pica ceased once the sufferer was treated for iron deficiency. Pica in pregnant women commonly disappears after childbirth takes place yet it has been know to occur during the post partum period.

Pregnant women and food cravings.
http://www.epregnancy.com/info/nutrition/cravings.htm
food cravings do not indicate nutritional deficiency. Food cravings and aversions to certain foods are common during pregnancy. There is no evidence that food cravings are the result of nutritional deficiencies, and their cause remains a mystery. There is no harm in satisfying food cravings within reason, especially when they make a nutritional contribution to the diet.

[CrankyAsAnOldMan]

Well, shoot me for not having a cite on this, but I know that some biologists believe that food *aversions* during pregnancy are the body's way of avoiding things that may have a higher likelihood of bringing harm to the fetus. They're not sure why, or why not all women have the same aversions. I wish I could remember more details on this, it was quite interesting to read about at the time.

Given all the other things that change/go haywire, I would have been surprised if the appetite remained untouched by pregnancy.

[Duck Duck Goose]

Eeeee, I love the Internet. :)
http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/bindon/ant570/Papers/Edwards.htm

Also:
http://mom2becraving.tripod.com/aversion.htm

http://www.pregnancysite.com/eq013.htm