Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be concerned that I "need" to eat sponges?

32 replies

allthesponges · 27/01/2017 21:34

Name changed as this sounds utterly bonkers.

Okay bear with me as I do really need your thoughts!

When i was pregnant with DS (now 4) I had two cravings - ice - pretty standard and sponges. And I don't mean the cake type. I wanted bath sponges or, even better, those little round ones for your face. I didn't ever digest them, but chewed on them, enjoyed the texture etc. I just put it down to hormones and sure enough it passed after I had given birth.

Over the past couple of months however, the cravings have reappeared. AIBU to be concerned by this? Surely this isn't normal. I can only think it is a vitamin deficiency. Anyone else experiences this?! Def not pregnant btw.

OP posts:
HLBug · 27/01/2017 21:40

I've definitely heard of the eating sponges thing whilst pregnant. If you google it there are lots of hits. But after pregnancy...hmm...maybe just your body struggling to get back to normal?

MoonlightMojitos · 27/01/2017 21:41

Eeee I've always had this about sponges but managed to resist lol but I really, REALLY want to just rip them up with my teeth. It's the holey natural ones the most. Probably very odd... glad I'm not the only one haha.

HLBug · 27/01/2017 21:41

Ah but 4 years is a long time!

ButtonLoon · 27/01/2017 21:41

It's called "pica".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)

Trainspotting1984 · 27/01/2017 21:42

It's pica isn't it? I think you need to tell midwife

BarbarianMum · 27/01/2017 21:43

Yes. Have wanted to eat sponges all my life. Generally I didn't but during both pregnancies it became an overwhelming craving and I got through packs of the things weekly.

Writing this is making my mouth water.Smile

A word of caution though - I was diagnosed with Crohns disease a couple of years after my last pregnancy and I do sometimes wonder if all that plastic contributed to the problem. Not really sure they're safe to eat.

MichaelSheensNextDW · 27/01/2017 21:43

It's a recognised sign of anaemia. I used to sit in the bath when pregnant chomping on bath sponges.

70ontheinside · 27/01/2017 21:43

It is called pica and can occur when you are not pregnant. Talk to your GP.

Original poster
allthesponges · 27/01/2017 21:46

haha i'm not pregnant - my DS is 4.5 years old!

Can i just say that I have not actually 'indulged' in a sponge, just craved them again at the blue..

OP posts:
Original poster
allthesponges · 27/01/2017 21:50

Thanks for replies so far. Agree that it could be anaemia - will investigate, I have been really tired/stressed/run down.

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 27/01/2017 21:54

Anaemia would certainly explain it for me - I was massively anaemic when diagnosed. Get there to a doctor!

willdoitinaminute · 27/01/2017 22:03

Another sponge grinder here. I did for a number of years before becoming pregnant with DS, I was diagnosed with severe anaemia during pregnancy due to chronic heavy periods (endometriosis) over a number of years.
I had iron infusions during last trimester and a Mirena coil fitted after to stop periods. I have not craved a sponge since! I had a particular addiction to the cotton sponges, they had just the right texture and didn't taste bitter.
Also did the ice crunching. Dsis ate her weight in bran flakes during both her pregnancies just for the crunch.
Pica is bazaar.

willdoitinaminute · 27/01/2017 22:05

Oh and I used to cut the sponges into bite sized pieces and ration myself!

Soubriquet · 27/01/2017 22:06

I had this

But it was plastic

I even had my own favourite brand of coat hanger and enjoyed the crunchiness of cd cases

I swallowed it too and apart from a sore bum every now and then I had no problems

Then I started taking iron tablets and funnily enough, I haven't actually touched plastic since

ENormaSnob · 27/01/2017 22:08

I had the same sponge craving in all 4 pregnancies.

And I actually ate them.

VilootShesCute · 27/01/2017 22:13

Oh my god I love sponges. I find myself on YouTube at 3am sometimes watching foam videos. Family don't understand and think I am weird but then again dh has never been pregnant or pushed three kids out of his genitals so he can sod off. Chewing sponges is just the best.

Da1sycha1n · 27/01/2017 22:27

My weird craving which started in pregnancy was for stone/cement/mortar. My child is now 14 and I've never been able to break the addiction, I eat piles of the stuff! Literally break it off houses and buildings and crunch it up, it's sooooo delicious!

Could it be anaemia in this instance d'you think?

TheCuriousOwl · 27/01/2017 22:29

OMG this explains SO much!

I'm prone to anaemia and have always loved eating sponges.

So there we go.

QueenofLouisiana · 27/01/2017 22:31

I used to chomp on sponges- I was also massively anaemic. I'd never realised there could be a link.

Iknowyouwontlikethis · 27/01/2017 22:33

I have this it's pica but mine is for leather and I am pregnant. Happens with every pregnancy of mine

kateyjane · 27/01/2017 22:34

Totally my craving during pregnancy - through 4 children - now 16 years later Blush - my sponges have to be soaked in washing liquid (fairy is the best) I do have an iron deficiency, so it is still pica, but trying to stop!

LucilleBluth · 27/01/2017 22:35

Not read the thread but when pregnant with my three I used to chew on sponges, it was my 'craving' not sure if it's normal or not actually.

Hawkmoth · 27/01/2017 22:36

I did. It was anaemia.

I'd get in from work and lie on bed chewing a sponge. God it was good.

Hateloggingin · 27/01/2017 22:36

I saw someone on TV who ate sofas