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Pregnancy

All I can think about is eating chalk

9 replies

Pinkseren · 12/07/2011 22:36

Now, I'm not sure if this is related to my pregnancy or not. At about 30 weeks (I'm 36+2 now) I started to get an acid reflux and bought some boots antacid tablets (calcium carbonate) which are very chalky. I love the chalky taste and whilst I have been careful not to exceed the recommended dose per day, my thoughts moved on to eating blackboard chalk. This is something I occasionally indulged in as a child, but it has not entered my thoughts until recently. So far, I have managed to resist the urge to buy a pack of blackboard chalk for fear of eating it and damaging my baby, but not sure how much longer I can last. I know that this sounds ridiculous, but apart from this, my pregnancy has been trouble free. Did anyone else get this? Will eating chalk damage my baby?

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cloudydays · 12/07/2011 22:40

have you heard of pica?

Don't know if eating chalk will do any damage, but it's probably not recommended. I'd mention it to your hcp, not because it's a big problem, but because it's common enough that s/he might have some advice.

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ShowOfHands · 12/07/2011 22:40

Google 'pica', have a word with your midwife and be reassured that this is not uncommon.

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CBear6 · 12/07/2011 22:46

I'd avoid chalk but maybe try an alternative like chalky sweets? Parma Violets, Edinburgh Rock, those alphabet seeds they have on the pick and mix counters, etc?

It's really common to crave odd things, I had a craving for fabric softener earlier in my pregnancy - it just smelled so fresh and clean that I was seriously tempted to drink it.

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peeriebear · 12/07/2011 22:50

I had this soooooo badly when pregnant with DD2. Chalk, sand, hot water, the bubbles from my bubble bath. But mostly chalk. I ate a LOT of Rennies. I tried actual chalk- it's vile- I don't recommend it! It passed as soon as I gave birth but I still like the crunch of rennies...

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peeriebear · 12/07/2011 22:51

To clarify, I didn't actually eat sand, I just craved it! :)

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whenwill · 12/07/2011 23:19

heard it was iron deificiency

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sidorek · 13/07/2011 06:54

this is calcium deficiency! quite common:) make sure you eat unprocessed chalk, or you can also crush boiled egg shells with sugar:) it will not damage the baby, for sure! contact your doctor though.

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RitaMorgan · 13/07/2011 07:05

A friend of mine had pica while pregnant too - but her craving was rubber, particularly car tires