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• Health experts explain quest for unusual foods
Pregnancy is a remarkable journey filled with excitement and anticipation. However, it also comes with different experiences, including food cravings, some of which may involve unusual choices and sometimes, weird combinations.
Angela, a mother of three, said pregnancy could make women desire some interesting foods and food combinations.
“I cannot imagine myself drinking garri soaked in water with sugar under normal circumstances. Unbelievably, that is what I crave during pregnancy,” she said.
She added that one of her neighbours who was also pregnant at the time, craved garri soaked in very cold water, with plenty of milk and roasted brown groundnuts.
Mrs Ijeoma Patrick said she was not a fan of beans, but whenever she became pregnant, she would start craving the food, which she rarely eats under normal circumstances.
“I also crave the native chalk called atakere. As soon as I get pregnant, I start craving things I would not normally eat,” she said.
Patrick equally recalled how one of her neighbours developed a craving for cigarettes during pregnancy, even though she was not a smoker.
Ngozi Okonkwo, a mother of five, said that although she was not of Yoruba origin, she could not do without ewa agoyin, mashed beans, with soft drink during pregnancy.
“It becomes my favourite as soon as I get pregnant. The funny thing is that I must eat it as soon as I wake up in the morning, even before brushing my teeth,” Okonkwo said.
Another mother of two said she craved goat meat pepper soup with yam at unusual hours of the morning.
“During pregnancy, I must eat goat meat pepper soup with yam, even at odd hours of the morning. If I fail to eat it, I become uncomfortable,” she said.
A father of four, Joseph Bassey, recounted an unusual experience involving his wife during one of her pregnancies. He said he returned home from work one day and found his wife eating in the toilet. When he questioned her, she simply replied, “That is what the baby wants.”
Mrs Rose Tony also shared her experience, saying she craved food sold by the roadside, or eateries popularly known as Mama Put.
“I crave rice from roadside bukas, especially with stew and assorted meats. Once I eat it, I feel satisfied. Ordinarily, however, nothing would make me buy food from such places and eat it,” she said.
A petty trader at Adeniji Jones, who identified herself simply as Mama Somto, said she usually ate large bowls of ice cream during pregnancy. Sometimes, she also craved food prepared by other people. She added that she craved spicy peppered cow skin, popularly known as kponmo, throughout her pregnancies, until the day she gave birth. According to her, the craving occurred only when she was pregnant with a girl child.
Health workers explain pregnancy cravings
According to Nurse Ann who works at a private hospital in Lagos, many pregnant women experience intense cravings for particular foods and other substances. She said some women develop an irresistible desire to chew ice cubes, a condition known as pagophagia, which is a form of pica. Pica refers to persistent cravings for non-food substances.
Nurse Ann warned that excessive ice chewing could damage tooth enamel over time, increasing the risk of tooth sensitivity, cracks and broken teeth. She advised women who frequently crave ice to seek medical attention, as the craving may be associated with an underlying condition such as iron deficiency.
Another nurse, Jane, who works at a private hospital in Surulere Lagos, said pregnancy cravings could begin as early as the first trimester, intensify during the second trimester and continue into the third trimester.
She noted that the timing and intensity of cravings from one individual to another, adding that hormonal changes during pregnancy were believed to contribute to them.
Although she described food cravings as common during pregnancy, she advised women not to ignore unusual or potentially harmful cravings and to consult their doctors when necessary.
Dr Abayomi Ogunbekun, medical superintendent of Hoares Memorial Methodist Cathedral Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, said pregnancy cravings could lead to health problems and complications if they involve harmful substances or excessive consumption.
“Women craving unusual things during pregnancy is common. Up to 50 to 90 per cent of pregnant women report food cravings, while about 20 to 30 per cent report pica, which involves craving non-food items. It is not spiritual; it is biological,” he said.
Why pregnant women experience cravings
Dr Ogunbekun identified hormonal changes as one of the factors that may contribute to pregnancy cravings. He explained that levels of hormones such as progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) change significantly, particularly during early pregnancy, potentially affecting a woman’s sense of taste and smell.
“These changes can make foods you once loved smell disgusting, while bland foods may suddenly become intensely desirable. They are also associated with nausea during pregnancy,” he said.
He also attributed cravings to changes in the brain’s reward system, explaining that pregnancy-related hormonal changes could influence how the brain responds to certain foods.
“Your brain may become more sensitive to rewards, making you seek salty, sweet, sour or strongly flavoured foods for comfort and relief from nausea or anxiety,” he said.
The doctor further explained that increased nutritional demands during pregnancy could influence appetite and food preferences. He noted that a woman’s blood volume increases significantly during pregnancy, while the developing baby requires nutrients to build its bones, brain and blood.
“Craving meat, eggs or beans may reflect a desire for protein-rich foods. However, cravings for ice, clay, chalk or sand may indicate pica, which is often associated with iron deficiency. This is a concern because iron deficiency is common among women in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that sour fruits, such as mangoes and tamarind, might appeal to some pregnant women because they find them helpful in managing nausea. According to Dr Ogunbekun, nausea management is another possible explanation for some cravings.
“Unusual sour, cold or crunchy foods may help some women manage nausea. The body may begin to favour foods that appear to make morning sickness more bearable,” he said, while identifying emotional and cultural influences as possible factors.
“Pregnancy is physically and emotionally demanding, and cravings can become a way of seeking comfort. In Nigeria, if family members repeatedly tell a pregnant woman that she must eat whatever she craves or the baby will be affected, the pressure and expectation may make the craving feel stronger,” he said.
When pregnancy cravings become dangerous
Dr Ogunbekun said cravings for ordinary foods, including ice cream, suya, malt drinks, oranges and groundnuts, could generally be accommodated in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, he advised pregnant women to seek medical attention if they developed persistent cravings for non-food substances such as clay, chalk, charcoal, sand, paper or starch, or if they consumed unusually large quantities of ice.
“This condition is called pica and is often associated with iron deficiency. It may also be linked to other nutritional deficiencies and can expose the woman to infections, intestinal blockage and lead poisoning, depending on the substance consumed,” he said.
He added that problems could also arise when a pregnant woman restricted herself to one type of food, refused a balanced diet or experienced excessive weight gain or persistent vomiting.
What pregnant women do
Health experts advise family members and caregivers not to shame women over their cravings, stressing that the experiences should be handled with understanding and appropriate medical guidance.
“The craving is real. Check her packed cell volume (PCV), ferritin and other iron studies where indicated. Treat anaemia if present, as pica often improves after the underlying deficiency is corrected,” Dr Ogunbeku said.
He recommended healthier alternatives where appropriate, alongside antenatal vitamins prescribed by a healthcare professional, a balanced diet and adequate hydration. Also, he advised women who crave ice to seek assessment for possible iron deficiency. Those craving sweets could opt for fruit and other nutritious alternatives, while women who crave clay or chalk should avoid consuming them and discuss the craving with their healthcare providers.
“Women who crave non-food substances should inform their antenatal clinic immediately. Healthcare workers are familiar with these experiences and should be able to provide appropriate guidance without judging them,” he said.
According to the doctor, cravings often peak during the first trimester and may reduce during the second trimester, although experiences vary. He warned that persistent cravings for clay, chalk, sand, charcoal or large quantities of ice should not be ignored because of their potential health consequences.
Possible consequences for the mother and baby
Dr Ogunbekun said pica could expose pregnant women to several complications, depending on the substance consumed and the underlying cause of the craving.
One concern is iron-deficiency anaemia. He explained that pica is often associated with low iron levels and that consuming clay may interfere with the absorption of iron and other nutrients, potentially worsening the deficiency.
Severe anaemia, he said, can cause fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations and fainting, and may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
He also warned that clay and sand collected from contaminated environments could contain harmful bacteria, parasites or other contaminants. Depending on the source, consuming them could expose a woman to infections and gastrointestinal problems.
Another possible complication is intestinal blockage or severe constipation, as some non-food substances are difficult to digest. Certain clays and chalks may also contain lead or other harmful chemicals.
“Lead can damage the brain, kidneys and other organs. Tooth damage and gastrointestinal problems may also occur, depending on the substance consumed,” he said.
The doctor added that harmful substances and untreated nutritional deficiencies could affect the developing baby. Potential consequences include low birth weight, premature birth and impaired development. Severe maternal iron deficiency may affect the supply of oxygen to the developing baby, while lead exposure can harm the baby’s developing brain.
He noted that infections acquired through contaminated substances could also pose risks during pregnancy. Dr Ogunbekun further warned that excessive consumption of ordinary foods and drinks could create health problems even when the cravings did not involve non-food substances.
“If a woman excessively indulges cravings for sweets, salty foods, malt drinks or ice cream without moderation, she may experience excessive weight gain and other problems. Depending on her diet and individual risk factors, excessive sugar intake may contribute to poor blood sugar control, while excessive salt intake may be unsuitable for women with certain blood pressure conditions,” he said.
Importance of early intervention
According to Dr Ogunbekun, early medical assessment can help identify the causes of unusual cravings and reduce the risk of complications. He explained that when pica is associated with iron deficiency, appropriate treatment might help reduce the craving. However, the response and the time required for improvement vary among individuals.
He advised pregnant women to disclose their cravings to their midwives or doctors and undergo relevant tests, which may include PCV, ferritin, iron studies and stool tests when clinically indicated.
“Tell your midwife or doctor exactly what you crave and how much you consume. They see these experiences regularly. Appropriate tests can help identify the underlying cause,” he said.
He urged women to avoid using clay as a remedy for nausea, warning that it could worsen nutritional problems and expose them to harmful contaminants.
“Craving is not greed, and women should not be made to feel ashamed of what they experience during pregnancy. The important thing is to understand the craving, identify any underlying problem and manage it safely,” he said.
“Ultimately, while unusual food cravings may form part of some women’s pregnancy experiences, cravings for non-food substances or excessive amounts of particular foods warrant attention. Seeking medical advice early can help protect both mother and baby, Dr Ogunbekun stated.
