The desire for ';pickles and ice cream'; and other cravings might be caused by changes in nutritional needs during pregnancy. The foetus needs nourishment. And a woman's body absorbs and metabolizes nutrients differently while pregnant. These changes help ensure normal development of the baby and fill the demands of breastfeeding once the baby is born.
Cravings are feelings desiring food combinations which women either do not normally eat or may even stomach under usual eating conditions. In a survey conducted recently, expectant mothers usually crave for “something sweet” like an ice cream (40%), most often called the “middle-of-the-night” urges. Coming in second is the salty snacks (33%). They also go for spicy foods (17%) and lastly, the lip-puckering sour foods like tarts and citrus fruits (10%).
While no scientific explanations could be given, some reasons offered by physicians include:
• strong hormonal changes;
• deficiency of nutrients;
• a conscious or subconscious response to emotion;
• food with special meaning, religion and cultural reasons;
• maybe nutritionally based; and,
• expectations about getting cravings.
On the other hand, food aversion is the opposite of cravings. These are the most hated foods by the expectant mother. Reports state that red meat is the most common aversion of would be mothers.
Expectant mothers need all the nutrients in the right amount to stay healthy and to help their babies develop and grow normally. Cravings may help would-be moms achieve this by desiring nutritious food over those with excessive calories which they sometimes fill their bodies with. Most pregnant women also have a strong yearning for chocolates that stimulates the release of “feel good” brain chemicals in the body. This sometimes helps pregnant women to feel better and manage their moods even for only a short period of time.
Most popular cravings are: apples, melon, cheese, eggs, milk, olives and pickles, peanut butter and nuts
Experts break down the food cravings of women into trimesters during the pregnancy:
First Trimester – a strong bitter taste; this may be a signal of the body that warns the expectant mother of the presence of high toxic substances in plants and fruits.
Second and Third Trimesters – a craving for sour tasting foods like pickles (this helps women to get a varied diet later on in her pregnancy); urges for sweet and sour foods make fruits a popular craving for pregnant women.
As the pregnancy progresses – an increased preference for salty foods like potato chips; as the blood volume increases in the body of a pregnant woman her need for sodium also intensifies.Why does my best friend crave pickles and ice cream if she is in her 6th week of pregnancy?
I started craving food around then. I craved hot sauce on everything and yes I craved pickles. Everyone craves soemthing different.
Sometimes people think so much that they should feel a certain way and it makes them actually feel that way (I think the term is psychosomatic). It does seem early also but it may be real. However, I have never met a pregnant woman who ACTUALLY craved pickles and ice cream. This was always just the joke thing that pregnant women want, which is why I say it may be in her head.
That being said, she is pregnant, and as long as she's not craving something bad like cigarettes or alcohol, and as long as she's not eating like a gallon of ice cream a day, support her craving. It will be too stressful to her if she worries about it. I know I craved ice cream (specifically Rita's water ice) when I was pregnant. Plus, there are many women who get morning sickness and can hardly eat anything, so be happy that she is eating and just encourage her to eat a balanced diet for the baby's sake.
You don't have to be further along to start having cravings, it can happen at anytime during pregnancy. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant and since about 8 weeks along I was craving nachos, and tacos, and soup and other things. I know it may seem weird to you, but just be supportive and you'll find that going through a pregnancy with a friend is actually very fun(I've been there before). Good luck!
She isnt, truth is pickles and ice cream is just in the movies. Most women dont start craving until the middle to end part of pregnancy. The craving is saying their missing a vitiam etc. Some women eat paste this is a lack of vitiams. I wanted taco pizza, pizza etc turned out i needed the vitiams that were in the pizza cheese. She's not craving this she just watches too much tv. If you dont believe me bring her a big jar of pickles and a gallon of ice cream. Make you a bowl of ice cream and cut up pickles in her big bowl and watch her eat it.
I craved anything that was cheesy and mexican food. Everyone craves different things. Just go with it and let her have what she wants.
Salt and calcium. She's not only nursing a fetus, she's growing a placenta too.
I craved grape kool-aid before I even knew I was pregnant, and I hate grape kool-aid! (Granted, I didn't know I was preggers until I was already 7 weeks along) :)
I remember those years too- quite some time ago for me though. With me, the cravings were Pepsi %26amp; pickles. ';Lord'; know why?! That is no surprise as the little ones inside of their Mothers make their presence known from very early on, to include the different food-cravings that come with pregnancy. I suspect it's the way a Mother's body %26amp; the little one within tells her that something is needed.
it happens. hopefully your suportive of her.
im 11 weeks and ive craved from the begining baked potatoes, mexican food, kfc mashed potatoe bowls. ect.
its just a part of pregnancy
I think that sometimes the mind plays tricks. She is just caught up in the whole being pregnant thing. Cravings don't usually start until the second trimester. BUT THEN AGAIN, everyone is different. Good luck to her.
No comments:
Post a Comment