Weeks 4-28

Food Cravings & Aversions

Last reviewed by medical team: June 2026

🟢 Normal Pregnancy Marker

Why It Happens

Sudden, intense desires for specific foods (cravings) or strong dislikes of foods you normally enjoy (aversions). They are caused by hormonal surges and changes in taste/smell.

Safe Home Remedies

Indulge cravings in moderation while maintaining a nutritious diet.
Eat protein-rich foods to help stabilize blood sugar levels.
If you have aversions, substitute with foods of similar nutritional value.

⚠️ When to Contact a Doctor

Contact your doctor if you crave non-food items like dirt, clay, ice, or laundry starch (a condition called pica, which indicates an iron deficiency).

Related Guides & Resources

Typical Week Ranges

This symptom commonly occurs during these weeks of pregnancy:

Week 4 Week 9 Week 14 Week 19 Week 24

Related Conditions

Symptom matches for these prenatal conditions:

✦ Gestational Diabetes ✦ Preeclampsia

Clinical Questions & Answers

Q1: What causes pregnancy cravings?

Hormones and nutritional needs are thought to drive specific food desires.

Q2: What is Pica?

An eating disorder where pregnant women crave non-nutritive substances, often due to severe anemia.

Q3: Can food aversions last after birth?

They almost always disappear immediately after delivery.