Pica (Non-Food Cravings) During Pregnancy

By trimester

Weeks 1–13

1st trimester

Pica can start anytime, but it often overlaps with the first trimester when routine bloodwork already checks a baseline blood count. If you notice a new urge to chew ice or crave something like chalk or dirt, mention it at your first prenatal visit so your provider has a number to compare against later.

Weeks 14–27

2nd trimester

Growing blood volume in the second trimester can push a mild, hidden iron deficiency into view, so a new or returning craving here is worth flagging even if your first-trimester labs looked fine. Many providers recheck iron levels around this time anyway, which makes it an easy moment to bring up.

Weeks 28–birth

3rd trimester

Iron needs peak in the third trimester as your body builds reserves for delivery, so cravings that show up or get stronger now deserve a same-visit mention rather than waiting. Chewing ice is common and usually harmless by itself, but eating dirt, paper, or soap can carry its own risks, like stomach upset or exposure to germs and lead, so tell your provider exactly what you're craving.

What does the evidence show for pica?

• Doctors define pica as craving or eating non-food items for a month or longer, and research keeps turning up a strong tie between this pattern and low iron stores in the body. 1
• In a study of pregnant teens, nearly half reported craving non-food items, most often ice, and their iron levels measured lower than the levels of peers without those cravings. 2
• Going into pregnancy low on iron raises the chance of an early delivery and a smaller baby, which is one more reason to act on a craving-based clue like this instead of brushing it off. 3
• A simple blood test checking ferritin and hemoglobin levels can confirm whether your iron is low, and pregnancy raises the recommended daily iron intake to about 27 mg. 4
• Pregnant women have some of the highest rates of pica of any group, and once low iron is corrected, most people find the cravings ease up on their own without any other approach needed. 5
• Non-food materials used in pica can carry toxic contaminants including lead, mercury, arsenic, and fluoride, and clay ingestion specifically can cause constipation, hypokalemia with myopathy, nutritional deficiencies, and exposure to parasites, with lead crossing to the fetus and being linked to childhood motor function delay. 6

When should I call my provider about pica?

Eating dirt, clay, or paint chips can carry lead, mercury, arsenic, or parasites, and lead in particular crosses to the fetus and has been linked to childhood motor function delay, so tell your provider exactly what you are eating rather than just that you are having cravings. Clay ingestion specifically can also cause constipation, low potassium with muscle weakness, or nutritional deficiencies on its own. Ask about a blood lead level test alongside your iron labs if your cravings involve dirt, clay, paint, or other non-food materials. None of these lists replace your own judgment: if this symptom worries you, that on its own is enough reason to check in with your healthcare provider.