Pregnancy cravings: What’s normal?

During your pregnancy, you may feel a powerful urge to eat something that you would normally loathe. It could occupy your mind for days, or you may find an aversion to a specific food that you previously enjoyed. Welcome to food cravings.

What are common pregnancy cravings?

The most common pregnancy cravings include:

• Dairy products
• Hot, spicy foods
• Salty snacks
• Citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges
• Fast food, like pizza
• Sweets, like ice cream
• Fatty foods, like meat

When do pregnancy cravings start?

Typically, pregnancy food cravings start at the end of the first trimester. Early pregnancy cravings can peak and get intense during the second trimester, and often ease as the pregnancy progresses.

What causes pregnancy cravings?

There is no exact reason why you get the urge for specific tastes, textures, or flavour combinations. It could be a need for comfort food or special dishes that you associate with your childhood or culture. Or it could be the fact that your taste receptors and sense of smell are extra sensitive, dull, or generally out of whack during pregnancy; this could cause food aversions along with cravings. A bite of broccoli might trigger a run to the bathroom because your mouth is hyper-attuned to its bitterness.

It may also be down to early pregnancy hormonal changes or caused by your body’s need for more nutrients to support you and your growing baby. If you experienced a pregnancy food craving before you were pregnant, particularly before your period, you may get the same urges now.

Pica cravings in pregnancy

If you have non-food pregnancy cravings, then you may have a disorder called pica. Pregnant women who experience non-food cravings may have the urge to eat clay, cigarette ashes or starch, among other things. This disorder may indicate a specific vitamin or mineral deficiency, and it’s important to speak to your midwife, GP or a healthcare professional, as eating non-food items can be dangerous for you and your baby.

Maintaining a balanced diet for a healthy pregnancy

Food cravings in pregnancy will come and go, and as you get further into your pregnancy, you may find they get less intense. Be aware that if you have gestational diabetes and you crave sweet foods later in your pregnancy, it can worsen the condition. Some food cravings carry risks; for example, a craving for salty foods like bacon can inadvertently increase your sodium intake.

Here are some healthier alternatives for common pregnancy cravings:

• Dried fruit instead of sweets
• Unsalted nuts instead of crisps
• Wholegrain toast with jam instead of cake
• Fruit-based dessert instead of ice cream

When to seek further support

Pregnancy cravings are common, and it is usually fine to enjoy the foods you fancy as part of a healthy diet. And if you’re experiencing no cravings during pregnancy, that’s normal, too; every pregnancy is different. But if you are craving non-food items, finding cravings hard to manage, have gestational diabetes, or are worried about your diet during pregnancy, speak to your midwife, GP or a healthcare professional.

For more guidance and tips, explore the Capricare® Parent Support Hub.