Pagophagia, the most common type of pica during pregnancy, is a term used to describe the habit of eating ice while pregnant. Pica is an unusual craving for non-edible items, such as toothpaste, chalk, and soil, and some women experience it during pregnancy.
Occasionally chewing on ice may be refreshing and help ease some pregnancy-related symptoms such as morning sickness. However, frequent consumption of cold items during pregnancy may be harmful. Read on to know the reasons, risks, and management of this ice-eating habit in pregnancy.
Is It Safe To Eat Ice When Pregnant?
Ice consumption is among the most common types of pica during pregnancy, along with raw starches and earth (1). While usually this pica is not dangerous, consult a medical professional if the craving lasts for more than a week.
Having hematiniciXSubstances including iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, that help in the formation of blood cells. sometimes relaxes the pica, if it was specifically due to anemia (low hemoglobin levels).
Do Ice Cravings Indicate Pregnancy?
Ice craving commonly appears early on in the pregnancy though it is often ignored. A study reported that 215 out of 281 participants indulged in pica practices during pregnancy, of which 54% consumed ice during pregnancy (2). However, ice craving is not a reliable sign of pregnancy. Hence, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test.
Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Ice?
Though various cultural, physiological, nutritional, and psychological theories explore the causes for ice craving in pregnancy, the exact cause is unknown (2).
Ice cravings in pregnant women could be the body’s way of communicating underlying nutrient deficiencies. For example, a study found associations between ice cravings and iron deficiency anemia and suggested that chewing ice causesvascular changesiXChanges in the blood vessels that carry oxygen and essential nutrients to the tissues in the body. in the brain that increase alertness in anemic patients (3). Having a blood transfusion sometimes relaxes the pica.
Some of the illnesses associated with pregnancy that may induce ice cravings are (2) (4) (5) (6)
- Morning sickness
- Iron deficiency with or without anemia
- Low hemoglobin level
- Heartburn oracid refluxiXAlso known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a condition that happens when acids from the stomach flow backwards into the esophagus.
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Stress or emotional distress
Some neurological conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, might manifest through pica. In addition, African-American women are more likely to experience pica in pregnancy than other ethnicities (7).
Are There Any Benefits To Eating Ice?
Ice consumption has the following benefits (8):
- Soothes the body and lowers the core temperature
- Hydrates the body
Though eating ice offers hydration, it is not a replacement for drinking water (9). Additionally, frequent ice consumption can lead to health problems.
What Are The Risks Of Excessive Ice Consumption In Pregnancy?
The following are some of the complications associated with ice consumption during pregnancy (7) (10) (11) (12):
- Damage to the teeth and enamel
- Gum infection and cavities
- Jaw alterations
- Depletion of electrolytes in the body, causing uncommon complications such as seizures
- Metabolic disorders such as lead enrichment and poisoning
- According to one study, the head circumference of such babies may be smaller than average.
- Prone to gastrointestinal complications
How Can The Urge To Consume Ice When Pregnant Be Managed?
The treatment for the pica of ice consumption may vary based on the cause for the urge. An experienced medical practitioner should warrant if the symptoms require intervention during pregnancy. The pica of chewing ice can be managed by (7)
- Testing for deficiencies: If iron deficiency is found, restoring the nutrient and electrolyte balanceiXThe proper balance of all minerals in the body. by eating iron-rich food and consuming iron supplements can help.
- Counseling: The pica could have a psychological origin. Hence, consultation with a psychiatrist followed by counseling and assessment is recommended. Additionally, psychoactive drugsiXDrugs that affect the way the brain works and change mood, feelings, and behavior. such as antidepressants may help reduce the symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know I have iron deficiency during pregnancy?
If you have iron deficiency during pregnancy, you will have pale skin, nails, and underside of eyelids and may experience fatigue, vertigoiXA spinning or moving sensation similar to dizziness. , difficulty in concentration, and rapid heartbeat (13).
2. Does craving for ice indicate the sex of the unborn baby?
No. Cravings may be a sign of nutritional deficiency; however, they do not help you determine the sex of your baby. The sex of the baby can only be known by an ultrasound scan (14).
Craving ice while pregnant isn’t uncommon. In most cases, a craving for ice usually appears during the early pregnancy period. However, some women may continue craving ice until the later stages of pregnancy. Several theories revolve around its occurrence, but the precise cause for ice craving during pregnancy is unknown. Yet, it is often linked to mineral deficiency or low hemoglobin levels. Consuming ice in moderation doesn’t harm the mother or the baby. However, its excess could lead to issues such as gum infections and enamel damage.
Infographic: How To Determine If Your Ice Craving Is Unhealthy?
Ice craving is common, but as mentioned above, it may also indicate an underlying problem. You may check for a pattern in your ice cravings to determine if you should seek medical advice. This infographic provides you with questions to ask yourself to understand the reason behind your ice cravings during pregnancy.
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download InfographicKey Pointers
- Studies show that about 54% of pregnant women crave ice as part of the unusual pregnancy longings.
- Craving ice during pregnancy can be due to certain underlying conditions such as iron deficiency, stress, or heartburn.
- Although common, it can result in tooth damage, jaw displacement, and a loss of electrolytes in the body.
- Consulting a therapist or deficiency test may help you cope with your ice cravings.
References:
- Practices of pica among pregnant women in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/nop2.451 - Pagophagia And Hemoglobin Levels In Pregnant Women.
https://athenacommons.muw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1041&context=msn-projects - Pagophagia improves neuropsychological processing speed in iron-deficiency anemia.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987714002710 - Nutrient intake in women with pagophagia and other forms of pica during the pregnancy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18051989/ - Ask the doctor: What causes a craving for ice?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-causes-a-craving-for-ice - Nocturnal Pagophagia Complicating Gastric Bypass.
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)60774-X/fulltext - What are the pharmacologic options for managing pica in pregnant women?
https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2020-2/november-2020-faqs/what-are-the-pharmacologic-options-for-managing-pica-in-pregnant-women/ - Crushed ice ingestion – a practical strategy for lowering core body temperature.
https://jmvh.org/article/crushed-ice-ingestion-a-practical-strategy-for-lowering-core-body-temperature/ - Why is eating ice not the same as drinking water?
https://www.mvorganizing.org/why-is-eating-ice-not-the-same-as-drinking-water/ - Is chewing ice bad for you?
https://www.affinitydental.co.za/is-chewing-ice-bad-for-you/ - Pica/Pagophagia-Associated Hyponatremia: Patient Presenting With Seizure.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7384452/ - Are anemia gastrointestinal disorders and pregnancy outcome associated with pica behavior?
https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-neonatal-perinatal-medicine/npm190257 - Anemia in Pregnancy.
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/a/anemia-in-pregnancy.html - Gender, positions and cravings in pregnancy: truth or myth
https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/worries-and-discomforts/common-discomforts/gender-positions-and-cravings-pregnancy-truth-or-myth - Why Pregnancy Can Make You Have Weird Cravings
https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/intermountain-moms/2016/10/why-pregnancy-can-make-you-have-weird-cravings/