Struggling with pica

Knottie1456431348 · April 2016

im 36wks pregnant and I am struggling with pica. I constantly crave baby powder and chalk. my doctor has up'd my iron dosage and has given me some things to try to keep me from eating chalk and baby powder but nothing is working. does anyone have any suggestions?

araecasey · April 2016

I had pica last pregnancy, my craving was sand. I just avoided the beach and (gross, sorry) ate kosher or sea salt every once in a while to satisfy the texture craving. I'd avoid having either of your craving items in your home.

lbachran · April 2016

I've had pica off and on throughout my adult life due to severe anemia. Has your doctor considered giving you IV iron like Injectafer or Infed? Synthetic iron is safe during pregnancy and can resolve your pica within a few days. If your doctor is not used to dealing with pica as a result of anemia, please consider asking for a referral to a hemotologist. They will treat you aggressively and safely. My pica revolved around habitually chewing ice. Please get your anemia treated more aggressively or your pica can worsen, your body is just trying to tell you it needs something.

bigmomma14 · April 2016

Mine is Ice. I eat it by the bag full. Doesn't really hit me until the third tri. I use iron supplements, and eat a diet rich in iron. To no avail. I have a major stress if the bag begins to run low, or I'm out. If I leave the house for too long I have to find a smoothy spot or fast food resterant who is willing to serve me up a cup, otherwise I don't cope. I have my fave brands, as all ice has different consistencies. But it's not just ice either, it's the smell of washing that has only just come from the machine, cold and damp. I emerse my face in it and breath in deeply....... An I love the smell of concrete...... Lol it's quite crazy but it goes when baby is out. Because I can't bare the coldness of ice, I'm a room temp kinda girl.

AdorkablePixie · April 2016

How about eating some tums? I don't know that it would help, but they are kinda chalky? You shouldn't have more than 6 in 24 hours though.

itsbrookejones · April 2016

I've been struggling with craving chalk for weeks. I'm so glad I'm not alone! I threw away all my step daughter's chalk so I couldn't be tempted anymore. Ice is the only thing that distracts me.

saladflambe · April 2016

I would imagine candy like Smarties would have some of the texture too -- and you could grind it up. But obviously you have to watch how much sugar you eat. Plus, it's not the same taste. So, the question now is -- are you moreso craving the taste or the texture?

Chalk is actually mostly calcium -- not iron. The taste would mostly be replicated in calcium-rich supplements.

Chalk isn't toxic. you could, feasibly, chew non-toxic white chalk, then rinse and spit.

bigmomma14 · April 2016

It's about texture..... Crunch crunch crunch.... Smell and the satisfaction. I bought a stool so I could purposely sit inside the freezer with my hand in tha bag of ice until I am satisfied. To me it's ORGASMIC......... No tums no smarties no fake flavour.... Not even ice lollies just plain..... Mmmmm I'm iff to the freezer

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