desire to eat kitchen sponges

[Mim78]

I am 33 weeks and really feel craving to eat kitchen sponges (clean of course!) or at least bite them.

Had exactly same thing towards end of last pregnancy.

Apples and raw cauliflower help a bit.

Anyone had anything similar? Any tips as to cause/ things that could help?

yeah im the same but its in the bath have to run them under cold water tap then bite them repeatedly. i have heard it may be related to iron deficiency. my iron is low not sure if its a coincidence.

This sounds like pica. If you Google pica there should be plenty of info online and it is usually associated with iron deficiency i believe x

Mmmmmmmmmm.

Ah yes, pica! I had this. I wanted to eat soap. I didn't, as it happens, but I gave my midwife a moment's worry when I told her. She said 'You haven't actually done it, have you?' LOL

That's really helpful, thanks. Running under cold tap first is also essential part for me! Have been taking iron and vitamin c but will continue. Also will speak to midwife when have appt on Monday. Have been tested for iron deficiency a few weeks ago but guess it can change quickly.

I was anaemic and probably still am. I went through about twenty bath sponges, chewed them into bits with DD2 last summer.

I ran them under hot water first.

I want one now.

Thanks. Can you be iron deficient but it not show up on blood tests does anyone know?

You might need to ask to have a ferritin checked. This is a measure of the iron stores in the body, and will drop before any changes seen on the blood count. So could have a normal haemoglobin but a low ferritin.

My sister was just the same with her 3 babies. No iron issues, very healthy pregnancy each time just couldn't get enough of the texture of kitchen sponges between her teeth! Me and my mum used to go round and drive her potty by taking Spontex sponges in our handbags and casually leaving them on the sofa :)

Thanks!

The texture is a big part of it for me too...