Weird Pregnancy Cravings: 7 Facts on What They Mean

Weird pregnancy cravings: pregnant woman eating a pickle dipped in ice cream — Most weird pregnancy cravings are harmless; cravings for things that aren’t food are worth mentioning to your doctor or midwife.

Pickles with ice cream, lemons at midnight, a sudden love of a food you used to hate: weird pregnancy cravings are famous, and most of them are harmless. One kind is worth mentioning to your doctor or midwife, though: cravings for things that aren’t food.

Here’s what research says about why cravings happen, which ones are most common, how to enjoy them safely, and when a craving could be a sign of something else.

Key takeaways

Food cravings are very common in pregnancy: an estimated 50% to 90% of US women have them.
Cravings often peak in the second trimester and drop after the baby is born.
Cravings for non-food items like clay, chalk or dirt can be pica, which is more common where anemia is common. Tell your doctor or midwife.

Why do weird pregnancy cravings happen?

Nobody knows for sure. Researchers have tested ideas about hormones, missing nutrients and chemicals in the foods people crave, but a 2014 review found little support for most of them. Culture and everyday habits seem to play a bigger role. Weird pregnancy cravings for food are usually harmless. Cravings for non-food items are different.

How common are pregnancy cravings?

Very. A 2014 review in Frontiers in Psychology estimated that 50% to 90% of US women have food cravings in pregnancy. In one older study of 400 women, 76% had craved at least one food by week 13.

Cravings usually peak in the second trimester and then ease off as the due date gets closer. They tend to drop after birth. Changes in taste and smell are common too: as many as 26% of pregnant women in one study reported altered taste, and in another, 65% noticed changes in smell.

The most common pregnancy cravings

Despite the jokes, most weird pregnancy cravings are for familiar foods. Studies summarized in the 2014 review found women most often craved:

sweets, such as ice cream and candy
dairy foods
starchy foods like bread and pasta
fruits and vegetables
fast food
pickles and pizza, in one survey of pregnant teens

Salty foods were reported less often overall, but the urge for salty food tends to rise later in pregnancy.

Weird pregnancy cravings: ice cream, pickles, pretzels and watermelon spread on a wooden table — Most cravings are fine in sensible amounts, but a few foods need care in pregnancy.

Weird pregnancy cravings and food safety

Most cravings are fine in sensible amounts. A few foods need care in pregnancy. This table uses the NHS list of foods to avoid.

Craving	Is it OK?	What to do
Soft cheese like brie	Only if cooked	Cook mold-ripened and soft blue cheeses until steaming hot
Sushi	Not with raw fish	Choose cooked or vegetable sushi
Salami or pepperoni	Only if cooked	Cook cured meats until steaming hot
Coffee or cola	In limits	Keep caffeine under 200 mg a day, about 2 cups of instant coffee
Liver or pâté	Avoid liver	Liver is very high in vitamin A; keep pâté chilled and in date
Herbal tea	In limits	No more than 4 cups a day; avoid teas with liquorice root
Clay, chalk, dirt or paper	No	This may be pica. Tell your doctor or midwife

When cravings aren’t food: pica

MedlinePlus describes pica as a pattern of eating non-food items, such as dirt or paper, for at least a month. It can happen during pregnancy. A 2016 meta-analysis of 70 studies estimated that about 28% of women have pica during pregnancy or after birth, and it was more common where anemia was more common.

MedlinePlus says a lack of nutrients such as iron and zinc may trigger these cravings in some cases. Pica can lead to lead poisoning, infection or a blockage in the stomach or intestines. Pregnant women need 27 mg of iron a day, according to MedlinePlus, so ask your doctor or midwife whether a blood test makes sense.

Do cravings predict a boy or girl?

We found no study showing that cravings predict a baby’s sex. In the 2014 review, it came up only as a belief some women shared online. An ultrasound or a blood test is the way to find out.

How to handle weird pregnancy cravings

Eat regular meals and snacks so you’re not ravenous.
Have a small portion of what you crave alongside a meal.
Keep easy swaps ready, like fruit with yogurt for a sweet craving.
Check the foods-to-avoid list before giving in to a deli or cheese craving.
Notice emotional eating. A 2018 study linked frequent cravings for high-fat foods with gaining more weight than recommended.

Pregnancy cravings swaps: pineapple, peppers and other fresh snacks on a board — Keep easy swaps ready, like fruit with yogurt for a sweet craving.

When to see a doctor or midwife

You crave or eat things that aren’t food, like clay, chalk, soil or paper.
You ate something on the foods-to-avoid list and feel unwell, or food poisoning symptoms last more than 48 hours (the NHS advice).
You’re worried about your weight gain or your eating.
You have any symptom that worries you. Your doctor or midwife would rather hear from you.

Frequently asked questions

When do pregnancy cravings start?

They can start early. In one study of 400 women, 76% had craved at least one food by week 13 of pregnancy. Cravings usually peak in the second trimester, ease off toward the due date and tend to drop after birth.

Is it normal to crave pickles when pregnant?

Yes. Pickles showed up among common cravings in a survey of pregnant teens, alongside sweets, fruit, fast food, ice cream and pizza. Salty cravings tend to rise later in pregnancy. Enjoy pickles in normal amounts as part of your meals.

Do pregnancy cravings mean you’re missing a nutrient?

Usually not. A 2014 review found little support for the idea that food cravings come from missing nutrients. Pica, the urge to eat non-food items, is different: MedlinePlus says low iron or zinc may trigger it in some cases, so mention it to your doctor or midwife.

Can cravings tell you if it’s a boy or a girl?

We found no study showing that cravings predict a baby’s sex. It’s a popular belief that comes up in pregnancy forums. An ultrasound scan or a blood test is the reliable way to find out.

What is pica in pregnancy?

Pica means eating non-food items, like dirt, clay, chalk or paper, for at least a month. A 2016 meta-analysis estimated it affects about 28% of women during pregnancy or after birth. It can cause lead poisoning, infection or a blockage, so tell your doctor or midwife.

Is it OK to give in to weird pregnancy cravings?

Usually, in sensible amounts. Have a small portion with a meal and keep healthy swaps handy. Avoid foods on the pregnancy avoid list, like raw fish and liver. A 2018 study linked frequent high-fat cravings with gaining more weight than recommended.

How much caffeine is OK when pregnant?

The NHS advises no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy. A cup of instant coffee has about 100 mg, a cup of tea about 75 mg and a can of cola about 40 mg. Filter and coffee shop coffee can contain more.

The bottom line

Weird pregnancy cravings are common and usually harmless, and they often fade after the second trimester. Enjoy them in sensible amounts and check the foods to avoid. If you crave things that aren’t food, like clay or chalk, tell your doctor or midwife, because it could be pica.