I am pregnant and recently I have had cravings for eating
sand. Is this unusual?
In medicine, there is nothing unusual. You may have a
disorder called PICA. Pregnant women
sometimes develop cravings for odd substances like chalk, clay, dirt, sand,
wood, charcoal and so on. In some cases, such cravings have been associated with
mental disorders. No one knows why this occurs but it is related to hormonal
changes. However, if you eat sand once in a while, there is no harm.
However,
you should know that eating too much of these inedible food can plug up your
stomach and even cause perforations of your bowel. I suggest you see your doctor
and explain to him what is happening. For an occasional craving of
sand or charcoal or mud, there is no harm. These cravings disappear after
delivery.