Cravings are just one little part of that life changing experience called pregnancy. Hormones run rampant through your system, transforming your body into a baby-building machine. Nobody really understands cravings, but many people believe that they are nature's way to make sure that pregnant women get the nutrients their bodies need.

Those hormones intensify the senses, so some foods smell and taste better than they ever did before, while others seem totally disgusting. Of course, this can change from hour to hour. That chocolate chip ice cream that you simply could not live without last night might induce gagging when you look at it today. If you are craving food, count your blessings. At least you are not too nauseated to eat.

With your body's increased need for protein and iron, you may find yourself craving red meat, even if you never ate much of it before your pregnancy. However, if you find yourself running after a cow with a bun in one hand and a bottle of ketchup in the other, please stop and restrain yourself. Beef should be properly cooked before a pregnant woman consumes it.

Remember how you craved sweets and carbohydrates right before your period in those pre-pregnancy days? You might crave those same goodies during your first trimester. But, now that you are pregnant, you can skip the guilt. Simply pat your rounded tummy, murmur something about how you are eating for two, and you can get away with eating just about anything you want.

Your body needs extra calcium and sodium during pregnancy. Products made from milk are high in calcium, and that includes ice cream. This means that French fries and milkshakes could be considered nutritionally sound choices. Does life get any better than that?

Why do so many pregnant women crave pickles? Pickles are sour, but so are many vitamin rich fruits. It may be that a craving for sour foods helps insure that a baby-building body gets some citrus fruits. Have an orange with that pickle, and get yourself some vitamin C.

Some women crave non-food items like starch or clay. This is called pica and has been associated with iron or zinc deficiencies. These cravings can actually be dangerous to you and to your baby. So, if you find yourself salivating over a bowl of laundry soap, you had better control the urge to eat it, and call your doctor for advice.

However, as long as you are craving edible substances, go ahead and indulge. Believe it or not, these months pass quickly, and the day will come when you are no longer pregnant. If you are lucky, your body will bear some resemblance to your pre-pregnancy shape. Then you can laugh about your cravings.

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Learn more about this author, Kathy Downey.
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