PICA

Ok, so this might be strange and you all might think I am crazy but it is a real feeling!! Lately I have had this crazy craving for DUST.

Yes, dust.

Like the dust you get when you build a new house. Like sheet rock dust or cement dust. I was looking at my friend, Lindsey's blog today and they are remodeling their house and the pictures looked so good! I could almost taste it! I wanted to lick the floors and walls. My mouth was watering and my hands were getting clammy.

I have heard of pregnant women wanting to eating dirt and stuff but I never experienced this with Zoee. I just looked it up online and this is what I found.

What causes pica (cravings for non-food items during pregnancy)?
Expert Answers
Bridget Swinney, nutritionist

No one knows for sure. Some pregnant women develop strong cravings for non-food items such as dirt, ashes, clay, chalk, ice, laundry starch, baking soda, soap, toothpaste, paint chips, plaster, wax, hair, coffee grounds, and even cigarette butts. This phenomenon is called pica (which is Latin for magpie, a bird that will eat almost anything).

No one knows what causes these cravings, but a combination of biochemical, psychological, and cultural factors may be at work. In some studies, these bizarre cravings have been linked to an iron deficiency — even though none of the craved items contain a significant amount of iron. Some women who have iron-deficiency anemia crave ice until the deficiency is cured. And pica is sometimes listed as a symptom of iron-deficiency anemia.

If you crave non-food items, it doesn't necessarily mean you have any sort of deficiency, and it definitely doesn't mean you should consume them! In fact, eating non-food substances can interfere with your body's ability to absorb nutrients and may even cause a deficiency. And while eating ice is not likely to be harmful (except possibly to your teeth!), eating dirt and most of the other items mentioned can lead to illness, such as lead poisoning or bowel blockage, or in rare cases, even death.

If you're having any strong cravings for non-food items, it's a good idea to talk to your physician or midwife. While this kind of craving does occur in healthy pregnant women, it's worth getting checked for any underlying physical or psychological problem. And just talking with your practitioner about these feelings may help you deal with them in a healthy way.

Great. I am a magpie.