While it is common to find pregnant women munching on clay and stones, doctors advise against it since it poses danger to both the mother and the unborn child.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of cravings; either sweet foods, salty snacks, or oily foods, just to mention but a few. However, the most common craving among many expectant mothers is stones or clay, popularly referred to as odowa.
This condition where people crave eating dirt or clay is medically referred to as geophagia. It is mostly associated with people suffering from pica or eating disorders.
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According to experts, many women crave eating stones and clay during pregnancy due to a deficiency in minerals in the body, such as calcium, or iron. This may be a serious underlying medical condition.
Here are reasons why eating stones during pregnancy is not safe:
- They may result in getting infections.
Eating stones or clay could lead to the ingestion of toxic heavy metals and bacteria. If these accumulate in the body, they increase the chances of infections, which could pose risk to both the mother and child.
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- Constipation
It is hard for the clay and stones to be properly digested into the body. Hence, leading to a severe case of constipation.
- Poor growth and development of the baby
Eating stones and clay, even with some of the health benefits, is risky because they lead to weight loss. This is because the stones block the digestive tract leading to vomiting, which translates to a loss in weight. The baby is therefore more susceptible to undergrowth, aside from other health complications.
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Possible treatments for these cravings
Since many women in pregnancy result to eating stones and clay because of some vitamin deficiency in the body, it is advised that they visit their OB (Obstetrician gynecologist) for help.
Eventually, though, the cravings go away after delivery. In the meantime, try to seek other ways of increasing vitamins in your body, through actual foods and fruits.
