I’m only six weeks pregnant, but I’m constantly craving chicken nuggets. I feel like it’s too early for this. What’s the data behind pregnancy cravings? When do they actually start? Does everyone get them?
–Craving nuggies
Food cravings are common in pregnancy, but somewhat understudied. To that point, review papers say that 50% to 90% of pregnant women experience cravings at some point. That’s a huge range, which means this hasn’t been examined thoroughly enough to know very much about any details.
There are a number of reasons women may experience pregnancy cravings. These include hormonal changes or particular nutrient needs. It may also be that, in part, we are all craving certain foods much of the time and it becomes more socially acceptable in pregnancy. There is a bit of evidence in mice indicating that the reward centers of the brain may fire more when having a treat during pregnancy than when not pregnant, which helps explain why cravings may feel stronger.
Based on these theories, six weeks certainly isn’t too early. Your hormones are already going strong, and you may already have particular nutrient needs (apparently, chicken and breading). Some evidence suggests that craving savory foods is more common in the first trimester, and sweet foods later on. So you’re perhaps right on track. Enjoy the nuggies!
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