You must have been lately wondering- why do I get cravings during pregnancy? Have you too been eating Nachos & Nutella’s weird combination? Or simply relishing the pickle bottle you kept near your bed? Well! Pregnancy cravings are insane as a woman’s body undergoes intensive bodily changes. To be upfront, almost every woman experiences pregnancy cravings & at times some of which are absolutely unexpected & abnormal to have. But that’s how it makes it to changing hormones in the prenatal phase. Indeed, the things which looked unusual on normal days might look scrumptious in these phases.
While many women do not have the urge to eat anything during their pregnancy phases. Whereas the majority think of a long menu- what to eat today? Any pregnancy craving you see around will sound like yours most of the time. But the question crossing your mind always would be- Is it okay to have cravings during pregnancy? Why do I get cravings during pregnancy? And limitless more questions. So, moms- sit back on the couch, relax, and just read this article that helps you out with these prenatal food facts.
What Triggers Food Cravings for a Pregnant Woman?-
Pregnancy cravings are unpredictable- as you might crave different food & some non-edible items as well. Even, you might send your husband to the kitchen to prepare you a Maggie filled with cheese or ketchup at times. But what actually triggers them all? Well! There’s no evident proof of what’s boosting your food cravings, but here are some possible reasons-
- Hormonal Transformations: Think of your menstruation time & its food cravings! And pregnancy is like a thousand times more imbalanced with hormones.
- Psychological Transformations: You might crave food you just saw on Instagram or heard around from your friend on call. For instance, you’ve just a food blogger’s video of eating street food & now might get driven to have one.
- Sensory Transformations: Your nose works out as a mode inciting you to have certain foods. On the other hand, it may not create every mother to have that food-rouse. For instance, the smell of a hot soup cooking in the kitchen might please one to have it while others avoid it strongly.
- Nutritional Transformations: The pregnant body asks for different nutrients in a magnificent amounts. Also, you may be deprived of some of them & eat certain food types naturally in order to fulfill that.
- Comforting Transformations: You might feel like having a mango pickle after nausea during pregnancy. Or might feel to satisfy your unidentified taste buds with milk chocolate for comfort.
Types of Food Cravings in Pregnancy-
- Fruit Cravings
- Developing Sweet Tooth
- Dairy food
- Carbohydrates
- Junk/spicy food
- Animal-proteins
- Sour/pickled food
- Cold food types
How to Manage Pregnancy Food Cravings?-
The food cravings can start by the end of the first trimester & can last up to the start of the third trimester. Certainly, your OB-Gynec knows your pregnancy phases the best & can advise you with the right medical suggestions about gestational cravings. Also, he/she can give up the best advice for what to eat as an alternative or what nutrient deficiency you are facing. However, here are some major takeaways for managing food cravings during pregnancy-
- Try not to overindulge in sweets
- Eat & sleep at regular intervals
- Clean your teeth & have an ample amount of water
- Keep your drawers packed with healthy munchies
- Avoid watching food videos/grocery shopping when you’re hungry
- Exercise & stay physically active
- Eat healthy alternates
What to avoid in cravings?-
- Avoid pica foods (chalk, soap, detergent, etc)
- Raw dairy foods & sushi
- Smoked seafood, meat spreads, raw eggs, etc
- Sliced deli meats
- Undercooked food teams
- Alcohol, coffee, etc
Does the gender of the baby depends on food cravings I have?-
Indeed, most of the time you’ve heard people defining your food cravings. For instance, if you crave sweet then it’ll be a boy and if you crave sour then it’ll be a girl. Well! There are no scientific supports to bag up these ideas.
How much weight should I gain through my pregnancy?-
It is solely not your eating habits but also the growing weight of the baby. Therefore, on average women gain from 11 to 17 kgs, depending on their starting weight. However, if you seek to see some imbalance in weight or do not feel appropriate with your current gain then consulting your OB-Gynec is a must recommended.
To the Bottom Line-
It is definite to face food cravings in pregnancy especially at peak during the second trimester. In addition, the expected reasons have been mentioned above. Also, you might not feel food cravings & have food aversion i.e., hating the food smells or certain kinds of food. Indeed, both ways it is absolutely normal, however, taking medical guidance is always suggested. Perhaps, when it comes to food cravings- being mindful of what you’re putting inside your mouth is essential. Also, following the chart of what to eat & what to avoid in the prenatal phase is also necessary. So, fixing & beating up gestational cravings is the task for you.
Wishing a Happy & Healthy Pregnancy!
