Why do women experience cravings during pregnancy? And what exactly are they indicative of? Read the following article to know more:
Pregnancy is one confusing time for a woman! There's the joy of being pregnant, of course; but with that comes so many other experiences! And not necessarily pleasant ones. Morning sickness, dizziness, nausea, bloating, emotions overload and cravings. What exactly are cravings during pregnancy? We've probably all gone through the 3 p.m. chocolate cravings, so we know EXACTLY what happens when one has them. But cravings during pregnancy take up a whole new meaning, I'm told. The urge to be doing something or eating something can drive the mother in waiting to near insanity. There have been countless instances of weird cravings during pregnancy, (which usually revolve around food) that have been portrayed in films. So what do we draw from these? Are they exaggerated portrayals? Or are these cravings during pregnancy true? This article will tell you all about the cravings during pregnancy and why they come about in women's health.

Food Cravings During Pregnancy

99% of the women who are pregnant, experience cravings during pregnancy. They describe these cravings as being so strong, that avoiding or curbing them is beyond their control. Ignoring them is not a choice either. It is due to this experience, related by pregnant women, that doctors have come to believe that cravings during pregnancy are a given fact during pregnancy. There is no fixed timing of when do cravings start during pregnancy either. Cravings can come about at any time. They can start in the first trimester or towards the end of the pregnancy.

Hormones
Pregnancy brings about an overload of hormones and these can throw one's entire system off balance. There might be a drastic change in the choice of food tastes and smells. Some smells might drive the woman to nausea while others might lead to cravings so strong that there remains no choice but to fulfill them.

Deficiencies
The other reason that women commonly experience cravings during pregnancy is because of certain nutritional deficiencies in the body. Since the body is providing nutrition for two, there are chances that it will not have enough reserve of certain nutrients. That is when the body sends signals to the brain which are then felt as cravings during pregnancy. This is the body's way of ensuring that the supply of these nutrients is done.

Comfort Factor
Pregnancy might drive a woman to a lot of stress and sometimes even cause depression in her. This happens due to the fear of the unknown. At such a stressful time, a woman might experience cravings as a natural response of the body to crave for comfort.

Common Cravings During Pregnancy

Now that we know why cravings during pregnancy happen, let us take a look at some of the most common cravings that women experience:

Salty Foods
Salty foods seem to be on the top of the list where cravings in pregnancy are concerned. A craving for salty foods like pickles, might be indicative of the want for more sodium in the body. This can happen because the body tissue and blood volume are growing.

Chocolate
This might be indicative of the body's need for magnesium and vitamin B.

Red Meat
Craving for steaks and red meat could be an indication of the body's need for more proteins and iron.

Peaches
This might be an indication for a want of beta carotenes in the body.

Weird Cravings During Pregnancy

There have been reports of women who have had extremely weird cravings during pregnancy. These include things like laundry detergents, starch and dirt. This condition is known as pica, where women crave for things that are not edible. The most common theory that goes to explain why this condition comes about is that, it is due to a serious deficiency of iron and calcium or even due to the intense need to overcome nausea and vomiting.

When a woman suffers from pica, she should immediately consult a doctor. There can be no way that this particular craving can be given in to indulgence. It can cause serious harm to the mother, the baby and can even be fatal. Read more on foods to avoid while pregnant.