Whether it’s pickles and ice cream or marshmallows on nachos, 90 percent of women experience intense food desires known as pregnancy cravings. Pregnant women in their first and second trimesters — when cravings are most likely to occur — do not need to consume any extra calories if they’re at a healthy weight, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. So if cravings are not full of empty calories, they’re not considered unhealthy.

Although pregnancy cravings haven’t been studied in-depth, past research concluded that they do, in fact, exist. Women across varying cultures globally exhibit symptoms of these cravings.

What Do Pregnancy Cravings Feel Like?

Triggered by hormonal changes, pregnancy cravings are an intense compulsion to eat certain foods. Pregnancy cravings create what feels like a nearly irresistible urge to eat particular foods. The cravings themselves can range from fruit and vegetables to seemingly bizarre junk food combinations. Though cravings are a psychological desire for certain foods, they can be so strong that a pregnant woman’s body feels a physical need for them.

Never Miss a Beat!

Get Healthy Tips Sent to Your Phone!

Message and data rates may apply. Text the word STOP to opt out and HELP for help. Click here to view the privacy and terms.

How Early in Pregnancy Do You Have Cravings?

Pregnancy cravings tend to fade in the later stages of pregnancy, peaking in the first and second trimesters. It isn’t uncommon to begin experiencing cravings as early as five weeks into pregnancy. Cravings often coincide with the point at which women may begin experiencing food aversions.

What Are the Most Common Pregnancy Cravings?

Pregnancy cravings can be for nearly anything, but some of the most common include:

  • Ice cream
  • Red meat
  • Chocolate
  • Pickles
  • Coffee
  • Spice
  • Dairy products
  • Fruit

Should You Give in to Pregnancy Cravings?

As with all things, it is important to be reasonable when indulging your pregnancy cravings. These cravings, particularly toward junk food, can contribute to pregnancy weight gain. Pregnant women should consume a set number of calories in a day to remain healthy, so they should stay mindful of that.

Pregnant women should never give in to some cravings, particularly when they are for unsafe pregnancy foods. Those include raw or undercooked seafood, meat, and eggs and unpasteurized milk and cheeses.

Cravings are usually harmless, though it is crucial to recognize when they start to become unhealthy. Some pregnant women may develop pica, which is a compulsion to eat nonedible items such as paper or dirt. If you experience symptoms of pica, it is important to consult with your doctor.

How to Reduce Pregnancy Cravings

Though hormonal changes can make pregnancy cravings themselves innate and unavoidable, follow these tips to cope and remain healthy when battling cravings:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet and stay mindful of calorie limits during each trimester. Doing so provides the best way to reduce pregnancy cravings.
  • Attempt to satisfy urges with lower-calorie food options. For example, if you’re craving a fast-food cheeseburger, try making one at home using lean meat and low-fat cheese.
  • Space out meals. Cravings often seem the most intense when you’re hungry and have low blood sugar. Try breaking up your eating from three big meals a day to six smaller, satisfying ones.
  • Distract yourself. When you notice yourself wandering to the kitchen to eat a king-size chocolate bar, take your mind off the craving by doing some brief doctor-approved exercise or calling a loved one.

About UPMC Magee-Womens

Built upon our flagship, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, and its century-plus history of providing high-quality medical care for people at all stages of life, UPMC Magee-Womens is nationally renowned for its outstanding care for women and their families.

Our Magee-Womens network – from women’s imaging centers and specialty care to outpatient and hospital-based services – provides care throughout Pennsylvania, so the help you need is always close to home. More than 25,000 babies are born at our network hospitals each year, with 10,000 of those babies born at UPMC Magee in Pittsburgh, home to one of the largest NICUs in the country. The Department of Health and Human Services recognizes Magee in Pittsburgh as a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health; U.S. News & World Report ranks Magee nationally in gynecology. The Magee-Womens Research Institute was the first and is the largest research institute in the U.S. devoted exclusively to women’s health and reproductive biology, with locations in Pittsburgh and Erie.