Constant cravings

When it comes to your cravings, balance is key!

Are you really craving bacon sandwiches, fresh fruit, or even something unusual like pickles and ice cream? Dietitian Angela Phillips talks about pregnancy cravings, what they mean, and how to keep healthy when all you want is chocolate (even though it gives you heartburn)

By now, if you're pregnant, you will likely be aware that “eating for two” during pregnancy is a myth, despite people who still say to you, “Go on, you can have it, it’s for the baby!” While your nutrition needs do increase, the overall increase in calorie requirements during pregnancy equates to about 12%. For most women this is equivalent to a wholegrain sandwich with cheese and tomato, or a wholegrain peanut butter sandwich and a banana. If you have a BMI of over 30kg/m2 (your health practitioner can help you calculate this) prior to pregnancy, the extra food you require is the equivalent of two apples.

Unfortunately, that means if you are craving a whole pizza at midnight, or dunking fries into your thickshake to accompany your anchovy ice cream sundae, you’re out of luck! Cravings can be very weird and wonderful and can lead to very entertaining stories of partners heading out in the middle of the night to try sourcing the desired food. For some women, these cravings can be even stranger, including non-food items such as clay, tar, or cigarette butts. This is called “pica”, which is Latin for “magpie”, a bird notorious for eating almost everything it comes across. This is more common...BUY BUMP&baby ISSUE 2 FOR THE FULL STORY