when does a pregnancy craving become an obsessional addiction???

[charlotte121]

My pregnancy craving is Ice!!! I know this is to do with Iron levels and something called pica. But now its become rediculous, im eating betweens 7 and 10 trays of ice a day. i cant make the stuff fast enough. Its always worse when im stressed or angry too, like crunching on the ice is theraputic, rather the same feeling i imagine a smoker has after a bad day at work. when i first got pregnant it was never this bad. do u think there is something wrong with me? Havnt seen my midwife in a while so havnt had my iron levels checked. Im a little bit concerned about just how much im eating. I really dont think its normal.

I would be most concerned about your teeth!

Are you taking a good supplement?

isn't it just a sensory thing at the end of the day? after all, it's frozen water, isn't it Go and live on the north pole for a couple of months

maybe not something you'd call 'normal' but I really wouldn't worry. Maybe you're not drinking enough? And i do wish i'd just resorted to munching ice to sort out my narky pg hormones

i do worry about my teeth... do u think its doing them much harm? grinding them down perhaps. achhhh i hate dentists!!! havnt seen one in a long time which is stupid as its free whilst im pg.

p.s have been taking Iron tablets. hate the side effects tho... they suck!

Charlotte, I have the exact same craving and I thank god that the new house we moved into 3 months ago has an american fridge that produces ice!! I have about 10 glasses of crushed ice either straight, in water or with lemon barley a day. I had no idea it had to do with iron levels though, how does water help iron levels? Funnily enough my iron levels were a little low, although nothing to worry about according to mw, at about 30 weeks. I had another test about a week ago and they haven't rung to say it's still low so I don't know what levels are now.
I recently went to my Mum's for a week and had to make loads of ice cubes and what I did is put loads in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin before I would eat it. Saves the teeth a little!!
Everyone thinks I'm mad so good to find you!!

Don't worry about your teeth unless you have heavily filled/weak!

They will be fine, they are sturdy enough to cope with this pressure.

If heavily filled/brittle then maybe crush the ice a little beforehand?

The water doesnt help with your iron levels. There is a dissorder called pica that makes you crave things of no nutritional value to u and ice is one of them. google it. tis quite interesting. x