Pregnancy cravings-can I eat everything while pregnant?

When do pregnancy cravings appearDo pregnancy cravings appear?

In every pregnant woman, pregnancy-related symptoms and discomforts appear with varying intensity. For this reason, it is impossible to know exactly when pregnancy cravings will appear. This is because in some moms-to-be they do not occur at all, while in others they appear throughout the pregnancy. A lot of women notice a change in taste preference in the first trimester, sometimes even before they take tests to confirm the pregnancy. Cravings can intensify during the baby’s rapid growth, when the caloric needs of the body of the mother-to-be increase. During pregnancy, however, one does not eat for two, but for two.

Where do pregnancy cravings come from?

The etiology of pregnancy cravings is still unknown. In the past, they were linked to the sex of the child. If a woman craved sour it meant she would give birth to a boy, while if she ate more sweet foods it was associated with the birth of a daughter. However, these are just folk beliefs and stereotypes that have nothing to do with the truth.

Some believe that cravings are related to an ill-balanced diet and nutrient deficiencies. However, there is no scientific confirmation of this. Cravings during pregnancy, as well as a change in taste or smell preferences, are likely to come from the changes taking place in the body of the mother-to-be. The senses sharpen during pregnancy, so a pregnant woman may react differently to different tastes or smells than before.

However, cravings cannot be used to explain the excessive eating of sweets leading to obesity. Excessive body weight can be associated with complications such as gestational diabetesor neonatal macrosomia (too much birth weight). A pregnant woman should eat a healthy diet and provide all the necessary nutrients for the baby to develop properly. Pregnancy cravings are not dangerous when you remember the principles of healthy eating and to provide all the nutrients necessary for the proper development of the fetus.

Which cravings are not allowed during pregnancy?

Note that there are products that, despite the greatest desire of the mother-to-be, are not allowed during pregnancy. Prominent among these are raw meat and eggs, unpasteurized cheeses and milk, alcohol in any quantity, and cold-smoked and raw fish. If you have a craving for sushi, for example, go for one with cooked or baked fish. Because of the risk of listeriosis (a bacterial disease), use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables when preparing food. Fruits and vegetables must also be washed thoroughly before consumption.

It is also worth remembering that the number of calories is not predetermined for each woman, but depends on her BMI before pregnancy. It is very important that pregnancy cravings do not lead to excessive weight gain. Moms-to-be should, among other things. avoid highly processed fast food and simple sugars found in candy.

The most common pregnancy cravings

For many women, pregnancy cravings manifest themselves by combining, at first glance, incompatible foods or flavors. An oft-repeated combination includes. Pickled cucumber with chocolate or strawberries. Some moms-to-be reach for jam and cream cheese sandwiches, for example. Many women eat much more sweets during pregnancy than before. On the other hand, there is also a large group of moms-to-be who react badly to pungent or intense odors or flavors. Some of them give up coffee because its smell causes nausea. Likewise with meat-many pregnant women stop eating it, even though they are not vegetarians. In such a situation, however, it is important to remember to always replace the products excluded from the diet with others that will provide the right amount of nutrients.