One of the hallmark symptoms of pregnancy is abnormal food cravings. More unknown, but not unusual, is a pregnant woman’s craving for ice. Ice is not considered food since it contains no nutritive value. While the actual consumption of ice has very few negative effects on the human body, it can signal a more serious underlying condition.
Pica
Pica is defined as the craving, chewing or eating of non-nutritive substances. Pica gets its name from the Latin word for the magpie bird, which will eat almost anything. When ice is the substance craved or ingested, the condition is pagophagia.
Indications
The practice of pagophagia is often indicative of low blood iron levels, also known as iron deficiency anemia. Supplementing with iron has been found to eliminate ice cravings even before effectively raising serum iron levels.
Effects
The action of chewing on ice does put your teeth in danger of becoming cracked. A cracked tooth can be painful and require a dental crown with or without a root canal to treat the crack. While the negative effects of eating ice are limited to your teeth, the effects of anemia in pregnant women can be significant. Complications from anemia during pregnancy can include low birth-weight babies as well as increased risk of preterm labor.
Considerations
Anyone who is pregnant and experiencing strong cravings for ice should consult a physician. A simple blood test is all that is required to test for the presence of iron deficiency anemia. Iron supplementation is an effective way to prevent any complications associated with this type of anemia during pregnancy. Always consult a doctor before beginning any dietary supplementation.
References
- ”Star Advertiser”; With This Eating Disorder One Theory Does Not Fit All; Joannie Dobbs et al.; October 2010
- “Psychiatric Times”; An Update on Pica; Barton J. Blinder, M.D., Ph.D. et al.; May 2008
- March of Dimes; Anemia; April 2009
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dental Services: Cracked Tooth Syndrome
