Being pregnant is a wild ride, and weird pregnancy cravings are a big part of the experience. Interestingly enough, up to 90% of women experience some form of an intense food craving during pregnancy, and when it occurs, it is literally all that you can think about.
For me, it was all the cookies and cream ice cream that money could buy. For friends and family, it was fruits like watermelons and plums. However, other women desire some exceptionally off-the-wall food combinations. We asked real moms what their weirdest pregnancy cravings were and some are simply shocking!
Pickles With Peanut Butter
We have all heard of pickles and ice cream, but pickles and peanut butter? This was surprisingly the most repeated weird pregnancy craving on our list! Other weird pregnancy craving combinations that include pickles and peanut butter were:
- Peanut butter on beef jerky
- Flaming Hot Cheetos dipped in peanut butter
- Fried eggs with a scoop of peanut butter on top
- Pizza rolls with pickle chasers
- Ramen with pickle juice
- Spaghetti with pickles
- Chicken biscuit crackers with cream cheese and pickles
- Potato chips mixed with pickles and sour cream
A Dollop of Daisy and Other Common Condiments
Turns out that another big craving that pregnant women can't get enough of is condiments! The top contenders include:
- Sour cream
- Mayo (with bananas or Cheez Its)
- Mustard (with popsicles)
- Ranch dressing
- Tabasco
- Ketchup
Some women noted that they just doused their dishes in these flavorful sauces while others ate them generously as dips. However, there were a handful of moms-to-be who say they slurped them up straight from the bottle.
All Things Vinegar
Since pickles top the weird pregnancy craving list, we guess that vinegar isn't too farfetched, unless you drink it straight from the bottle. Turns out a lot of expectant moms can't get enough of this sour and stinky solution.
A large portion of moms would simply indulge in salt and vinegar chips or bread dipped in oil and vinegar, whereas others stated that they "drank it like water" or added it to other beverages like their soda or tea. Talk about cleansing your palate!
Meat, and Not in the Way You Think
When I was pregnant with both of my boys, a thick slab of steak, brisket, and bacon all topped my list of things to eat. However, other moms prefer a few less mouthwatering options.
The most peculiar protein sources that pregnant moms mentioned craving were chicken liver, raw ground beef, and shellfish. Why is the last one odd? Because the women who craved these crustaceans had severe shellfish allergies.
Ice
Turns out that craving ice is not only a common occurrence in pregnancy, but it is also a big red flag. Health experts note that women who experience this urge to chomp on frozen chunks of water likely have an iron deficiency. Why would a woman crave ice and not a hearty hamburger?
Iron deficiencies cause anemia, which can lead to dizziness and weakness. Researchers "hypothesize that chewing ice triggers vascular changes that lead to preferential or increased perfusion of the brain. This would result in increased alertness and processing speed in anemic patients." In other words, it is a quick fix to a long-term solution.
Need to Know
If you experience this type of craving, talk to your OB-GYN immediately. They can prescribe iron supplements to help. Also, in case you didn't know, iron can cause constipation, so bump up your water intake once you start taking more of this mineral.
Pet Food
Yep, that's right! Old Roy apparently sounds real good to some moms-to-be! Cat food and milk bones were also listed as weird pregnancy cravings that some worked hard to avoid and others indulged in.
Rocks and Dirt
If you are having a hankering for rocks, dirt, or chalk, this is another sign that your iron and zinc might be low. All of these are surprisingly common weird pregnancy cravings. Why might that be?
Since these items all contain minerals that the body might need, it makes sense that someone might associate these items with their natural desire for these nutrients. However, eating them is not the way you want to get these essential minerals.
Cleaning & Household Products
It seems ridiculous, but many women also crave cleaning products and other household items when they are pregnant. For most, it is simply the smell that they desire, but some go as far as consuming them, which can be extremely dangerous. If the smell of Dawn seems enticing to eat, it is best to talk to your doctor immediately, before you go any further.
The top cleaning products that moms mentioned they couldn't get enough of included:
- Baby powder
- Dishwasher detergent
- Comet
- Bleach
- Snuggle dryer sheets
- Floral foam
- Baking soda (this is not safe to consume while pregnant or in large doses)
- Corn starch (this is safe once cooked, but not in its raw form)
Tires
The Michelin Man never looked so good! Date nights can get weird when you have a pregnant woman in tow, but if you like cars, we guess AutoZone might be a good spot to hang on a Friday night! It turns out that the smell of rubber is another weird pregnancy craving that can arise.
Fast Fact
Another car related craving — car exhaust. Definitely not a safe scent to be sniffing at any time!
Cigarettes & Their Ashes
No, we are not talking about getting a nicotine fix in the normal way. Many pregnant women crave eating cigarettes and their ashes. Burnt matches and charcoal are other related cravings that definitely require a chat with the doctor!
The Weirdest Pregnancy Cravings Can Signal a Health Condition
Obviously, all the listed food combinations are odd, but the weirdest pregnancy cravings are the ones that are not actually edible. Many women develop a condition called pica while pregnant. This is when a person craves or compulsively eats non-food items.
The reason that these cravings come to be is typically tied to a lack of specific vitamins and minerals. For instance, like ice, craving chalk might signal that someone has exceptionally low levels of iron or zinc in their system.
The good news is that with a proper diet, prenatal vitamins, and additional supplementation as directed by your doctor, you can see these weird pregnancy craving disappear. And for those who simply enjoy eating their graham crackers topped with a heaping helping of butter during pregnancy, you can also rest assured that most of these longings won't last after your baby arrives!
