Why Do Some People Crave Ice When Pregnant?
Lifestyle - News
By DANIELLE RAMOS-SULLIVAN
Pregnancy cravings can become more common during the second trimester, and most are rooted in science and psychology. While it's mostly safe to give in to cravings, including weirder ones like pickles and ice cream, craving ice during pregnancy might not be as innocent as it seems. In fact, it can be a sign of a disorder called pica.
Pica is a disorder that causes an intense urge to eat things that aren't food, including ice, paper, dirt, hair, or paint chips. Pagophagia is a type of pica that specifically involves eating ice, and may be a sign of mental health issues, anemia, or malnutrition, to name a few. There are ways to tell if you have a problem on your hands when you start craving ice.
Wanting to chew on some ice on a hot day isn't necessarily pica, but feeling compelled to eat ice cubes all day long might be. Check with an obstetrician if you crave items that aren't food; they may test your blood for vitamin or mineral deficiencies, or advise psychotherapy if they believe your diagnosis is a result of mental or emotional problems.