Strange food cravings are a normal part of pregnancy – in fact, nearly 40% of women report craving sweet and salty foods, such as pickles and ice cream, during pregnancy. This is perfectly fine as long as you stick to a balanced diet and get enough nutrients to help your growing baby. However, if you begin to crave non-food items, you may have a disorder commonly known as pica.

“I’ve been craving sponges with cleaning products,” says one mom in the BabyCenter community. “I want to give in to that point – but I know this is harmful.”

What is pica disorder?

Pica is a term used to describe an intense craving for non-food items and eating, such as dirt, clay, laundry starch, ice, ash, gypsum, paint chips, and coffee grounds.

Pica, which comes from the Latin word for magpie (a bird known for eating almost anything), is a worldwide phenomenon – most commonly seen in children – but can occur in some people during pregnancy. It is generally classified as an eating disorder if someone eats non-food items for more than a month.

I’ve been craving dirt and clay…I’m on my third iron infusion and no more cravings.

– Member of the BabyCenter community

From 27 to 68% of pregnant women may experience peak, with large variations in different geographical areas.

What causes pizza?

No one knows what causes these unusual cravings, but a combination of biochemical, psychological and cultural factors may be at work.

Pizza is strongly associated with iron deficiency – although most cravings don’t always have a significant amount of iron. The risk of iron deficiency anemia is twice as high in women with pica. There is some research that suggests that iron deficiency anemia is associated with ice cravings and that treating the anemia can reduce the amount of ice cravings.

“I was a huge ice eater my last two pregnancies,” the mom tells BabyCenter. “Our ice machine couldn’t keep up! I still crave ice this time, but I try to balance it out by eating iron-rich foods. I still eat a lot of ice, but it’s significantly less than before.”

It has also been suggested that drinking can sometimes be associated with a deficiency of other vitamins and minerals, which the body tries to obtain through non-food sources. In other rare cases, pica has been linked to an underlying mental or physical illness.

Will pizza affect my pregnancy?

Consuming non-food substances can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and can even cause a deficiency, which could then affect the nutrients your baby can absorb during pregnancy, leading to birth defects. Depending on what is ingested, the consumption of non-food products such as clay and paint can lead to health problems, such as lead poisoning or intestinal blockage.

Other potential side effects of pika include constipation, cramping, or weight loss or gain. If you ingest poisonous items, it can be harmful to both your health and the health of your baby, and can even lead to premature birth or death.

How is pica disorder treated during pregnancy?

There are no tests for pica, so typically, pica disorder is diagnosed by your doctor after reviewing your medical history and talking to you about your experience with non-food consumption.

Pica is first treated by researching what you specifically crave and eat, and testing for nutrient deficiencies associated with those things. For example, your doctor may also do iron tests to check your levels and provide vitamins and supplements to help treat deficiencies.

“I craved dirt and clay,” says a BabyCenter community member. “I would sprinkle bags of hot cocoa on my cereal to satisfy my cravings. I notified my midwife and she checked my iron. I was extremely low and now I get 200 milligram iron infusions once a week. My third infusion and no more cravings.”

In most cases, treating the underlying deficits prevents cravings and helps treat pica, but sometimes alternative routes, such as behavioral therapy and distraction activities such as walking or chewing gum when cravings occur, may be needed. Your doctor may also request a psychiatric evaluation to see if certain medications can help.

Will pizza affect my baby at all?

Depending on the non-food substances you consume, pizza can affect your baby, especially if you eat lead or other toxic substances. If you eat junk food instead of a healthy, well-balanced diet, your baby may not be getting the nutrients it needs to grow.

This can cause a number of problems at birth, such as low birth weight or growth restriction. If you consume poisonous or poisonous substances, your baby could suffer from learning disabilities or behavioral problems. If the toxic substances are life-threatening, it could also lead to death or serious illness for both you and your baby.

What are the treatment options for pica disorder during pregnancy?

Pica will most likely be treated with a combination of healthy vitamins and supplements, and behavioral therapies to break cravings. Your medical team will start by testing for nutritional deficiencies and you will be given the appropriate vitamins to help.

In most cases, this will reduce cravings and help you transition to a normal, balanced diet. Distraction or behavioral techniques, such as making a plan for alternative activities to do when the urge arises, can also help.

However, if these techniques don’t work, your doctor may suggest you get a psychiatric evaluation to see if other problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are at play. In these cases, cognitive behavioral therapy and psychiatric medications may be recommended to help treat pica symptoms.

If you have strong cravings for non-food items, be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife. While these types of cravings may be common in healthy pregnant women, it’s worth checking for any underlying physical or psychological issues that could be affecting you or your baby. Just talking to your practitioner about these feelings can help you deal with them in a healthy way.