In plain words
Pagophagia is the name for a strong craving to chew ice. Some mothers find that the urge is hard to ignore, and they chew ice many times a day. It is a type of , which means eating things that are not food. In pregnancy it is often linked to . Many mothers who have it are tested for iron deficiency or anemia. Once iron levels recover, the craving often fades. The urge does not show that the baby is harmed. Mothers may be asked about it at a prenatal visit, because it can be a sign that iron levels need a closer look.
The deeper version
Pagophagia is a form of pica characterized by compulsive ice consumption. It is strongly associated with iron deficiency, including iron deficiency without anemia, and often resolves with iron repletion. Proposed mechanisms include altered sensory or oral stimulation. Symptoms of iron deficiency are nonspecific and include fatigue, exertional dyspnea, palpitations, headache, restless legs, pallor, koilonychia, and pica. Milman (2006) reviewed iron status in pregnancy. Diagnosis typically involves , , and . Ice consumption has also been noted in other conditions and is not specific to pregnancy.
Where it comes up
- Cravings and food aversionsPregnancy: Eating
- Iron-rich foods and how to absorb themPregnancy: Eating
- Low iron and anemiaPregnancy: Your Body
- Blood-building foods after birthNourishment and Traditions
What mothers here say about pagophagia
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Milman N — Iron and pregnancy: a delicate balance. Annals of Hematology 2006
- Cunningham FG et al. — Williams Obstetrics, 25th edition, 2018