Pica Disorder and Pregnancy, Pica Syndrome

Conditions & Diseases: Eating & Weight Disorders

Pica Disorder

Pica Disorder and Pregnancy

Although pica is an eating disorder that mostly affects children and individuals suffering from mental retardation, it can also affect pregnant women. During pregnancy, it is common for women to experience some very strange pregnancy eating patterns which include cravings for unusual combinations of odd flavor food (such as bananas and ketchup or chili peppers with ice cream) or changes in food choices (not liking past favorite foods and craving for food items that were disliked before pregnancy). In most cases, these cravings are caused by hormonal changes and they are not a harmful habit as long as the woman can maintain a balanced diet. However, some pregnant women can develop cravings for and actually ingest non-food items which is a serious health concern for both the mother and baby and a harmful eating habit. When such symptoms develop, the woman is suffering from an eating disorder called pica.

Pica is a compulsive eating disorder that compels an individual to eat items that were not intended for consumption. Some of the most common craved substances during pregnancy include: clay, dirt, laundry starch or soap, and ice.

Although no one can specifically explain why such disorder develops during pregnancy and what are its direct causes or risk factors, the Journal of American Dietetic Association says there might be a connection between pica and iron deficiency. Some scientists speculate that such unusual cravings signal that the human body is not receiving some vitamins or minerals through the normal daily diet and food consumption.

Pica is a very harmful eating disorder that affects both the well being of the mother and child. Besides the common complications associated with eating non-food items, the mother's condition may lead poisoning, parasite infection, and gastrointestinal problems, the baby is deprived of important and vital minerals and nutrients. When ingesting non-food items, the body is not be able to absorb such proper nutrients which weakens the mothers body leading to anemia and minerals deficiencies, therefore the baby does not receive a proper nutrition. Some of the common complication associated to maternal pica in new born children include: low birth weight, preterm labor, and stillbirth (the fetus dies in the womb after the 20^th week of pregnancy).

Due to the health hazard of such eating habit and serious medical complications associated with this condition, immediate profession help is required. Although pica is a strange disorder and for many people it might not make sense, it should be treated as any other medical condition by informing the physician which can provide answers and treatment alternatives. In most cases, when the medical tests reveal the presence of a mineral deficiency, the patient receives supplementation and if the disorder still persists psychological treatment can be recommended. Under the strict monitoring of a mental health specialist, the mother affected by this disorder is taught how to cope with and replace pica behavior.

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com