Pregnancy cravings and food aversions

Not everyone gets cravings when they are pregnant, but some people do, and even crave foods they might not have particularly liked before.

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Cravings

Does everyone get cravings? 

When do pregnancy cravings usually begin?

Should I worry about my cravings?

What causes pregnancy cravings?

What are the most common pregnancy cravings?

Craving non-food items (Pica)

Cravings

If you find that you want certain foods more often than before you were pregnant, you may be having cravings.

Cravings are not always about being hungry, but about wanting specific food or drinks. They can be very difficult to resist.

Does everyone get cravings?

You might get cravings, or you might not. Much like the pregnancy myth of ‘eating for 2’, weird pregnancy cravings are often thought of as part of being pregnant. Not everyone craves things like pickles and ice-cream though. In fact, you may not have any cravings at all, and this is normal too.

When do pregnancy cravings usually begin?

If you have pregnancy cravings, they will probably start at the end of your first trimester and get stronger in the second. By the third trimester, they usually start to go away.

Should I worry about my cravings?

Food cravings are usually nothing to worry about, unless you start craving things that aren’t food.  

If you feel like they are stopping you from having a healthy balanced diet, it’s important to talk to your midwife or GP.  

You may also find yourself going off the taste of certain foods and drinks. Common things that people go off are alcohol and drinks with caffeine. This is good as you should avoid alcohol and limit caffeine when you’re pregnant. You might also go off fatty foods and meat and start to dislike the smell of meat.  

Find out about food safety in pregnancy.  

What causes pregnancy cravings?

More research is needed to fully understand why cravings happen. One possible cause is that hormonal changes in pregnancy can change your sense of smell and taste.  

Some people notice a strange, metallic taste in their mouth when they’re pregnant. Others have a more sensitive sense of smell and may find they dislike the smell of certain food that they didn’t mind before. 

Just as these changes stop you enjoying some foods or drinks you used to like, they can also cause cravings for others.
Cravings might also be caused by by your body’s need for more nutrients to help your baby develop and keep you well. For example, it is important that you are getting enough iron, vitamin d and calcium. Cravings could be your body’s way of getting these nutrients.

You might crave things like chocolate because it is linked to comfort.  It is most likely a mix of these factors that lead to cravings.  

What are the most common pregnancy cravings?

If you search for pregnancy cravings on the internet, you will find all sorts of unusual stories. Often these foods include sweet, fatty or starchy foods like bread and pizza and salty foods.  

There is no harm in eating small amounts of these foods as a treat. But it is important to make sure you enjoy them as part of a balanced diet and make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you and your baby need.

Find out more about eating well here.

Craving non-food items (Pica)

You should contact your GP or midwife if you crave items that are not food. You may have a condition called pica that can be caused by an iron deficiency and can be a sign of severe anaemia. If you have pica, you may crave some of the following, among other non-food items:  

• clay or dirt
• ice or freezer frost
• stones  
• charcoal
• soap
• pieces of paper
• chalk.

Eating these items can be harmful. If you have eaten something that isn’t supposed to be eaten, you should get medical help immediately.