The name pica derives from the Latin term for a magpie (Pica pica), the bird that grabs anything that takes its fancy.
But cravings can go crazy. Some pregnant women find themselves creeping downstairs at night to eat the scale from the inside of a tea kettle or sniffing shoe polish. This is pica, a craving for non-food items, most commonly soil, clay, and laundry starch.
This pregnancy phenomenon is documented across cultures and as far back as the GrecoRoman era. In some traditions cravings are expected and even encouraged as a means of protection or to augur good fortune.
In a study in 2000, Mexican mothers told of eating small blocks of holy clay stamped with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe for blessings, and that resisting a craving could mean your baby is never satisfied (“born with its mouth open”), while satisfying your craving helps to create a happy (“cleansed”) baby.
So, should you resist pregnancy cravings? If you’re tempted to sniff car exhaust or nibble coal, yes, and maybe have a word with your doctor about whether you are lacking anything in your diet. But no data suggest that giving in to food cravings is bad for your baby.
What you might want to do is think about substituting healthier choices, such as frozen yogurt instead of ice cream or popcorn for donuts; also eat little and often since low blood-sugar levels can trigger cravings. Eating more fish may help since the oil is thought to reduce cravings.
If you’re obsessing about chocolate, you might be lacking magnesium and would benefit from snacking on flax or sunflower seeds. Fatigue can intensify cravings, so make sure you get plenty of sleep at night and rest during the day and, above all, nurture yourself through this strange and precious stage of your life.
