A Strange Craving?

Hi everyone,

I read someplace that wanting to chew on ice means that you are lacking in some sort of vitamin/mineral. Has anyone else heard that, or has anyone asked their ob about it? Just curious if I should be having some level checked... Thanks!

 

It couldn't hurt to give your doctor a call if it will put your mind at ease. I did like chewing on ice while I was pregnant, but I just thought I was hot. ardon: Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

 

My mom is border-line anemic and her doc told her that chewing on ice was a sign of anemia. You should probably tell your doc at your next office visit so they can check your iron levels. It could be nothing, but it never hurts to just be sure!

 

I have heard that it can be a form of pica which is due to a deficiency. I did also crunch on ice a lot during my last pregnancy, especially in the end, but I was never anemic. You should let your OB know.

 

Thanks, ladies. I will definitely let my doctor know. I am also having a "restless legs" type of thing too, where I want to move my feet alot before I can fall asleep. (I know, totally weird.) When I had that when I was pregnant with my son, my doc told me to take iron supplements. I am beginning to wonder if these two symptoms are related...

I will update when I find out what the doc wants me to do.

 

My iron recently came back low and I mentioned to the doc about wanting to eat ice all the time and she said that is a sign of iron deficiency.

 

OH my!! I have never heard of this. I eat ice like a mad lady . I am talking like 4 - 34 0z of ice a day. Its crushed ice and i love it. I have done it even before pg. Well, after i had weight loss surgery.. I guess i should say something at my next appointment..

Thanks for the info ladies!
Maria

 

UPDATE:
Hi everyone,
Just got a call back from the nurse at my OB's office. The OB says that the ice chewing thing is strongly associated with iron-deficiency anemia. He also said that chewing ice will make the problem worse because it breaks down the iron in your blood (I don't know how that works, and I have a bachelor's in chemical engineering and a master's in biotechnology. Makes no sense to me whatsoever.) So he said to try to stop chewing on the ice ASAP.

He recommended starting an iron supplement, but he said there is no use in taking the iron supplement if I continue to chew on the ice because it will negate the effect of the iron supplement.

Hope this helps anyone who is concerned about this annoying craving!

 

Weird!! I never cared before, but since the twins I'm all about ice. Not really chewing it, more sucking on it. I delivered my three singletons in Annapolis and Anne Arundel Medical Center with docs from Annapolis ob/gyn. Just had to share! LOL

 

Glad you asked your OB about it.

 

I went to my doctor today and asked him about the ice chewing and he didn't seem to have any issues with it. I do take an iron supplement everyday and he didn't say anything about stopping the ice chewing!! Weird.....maybe I will listen to your doc instead on this one! LOL!

 

As mentioned in previous post, I mentioned this to my OB and she did say that it is a sign of iron defeciency, but she did not seem concerned or tell me to stop doing it. I am taking an iron supplement though. Well anyway, I will have to ask about it at my appointment this week...hmmmm.

 

I told my doc, he said that it is my craving.. i don't know what to do now. who else should i talk to abt this, if i do need iron supplement how do i convince him

i hope they do a test when i am 24 weeks

 

QUOTE(Mommy2BofTwins @ Jun 24 2008, 07:11 PM) [snapback]843735[/snapback]
I told my doc, he said that it is my craving.. i don't know what to do now. who else should i talk to abt this, if i do need iron supplement how do i convince him

i hope they do a test when i am 24 weeks

My doc says that they will test my iron levels again at 28 weeks but it wouldn't hurt to take an iron supplement until then.

 

I love to eat it too, I have been craving it SO bad...and guess what?!? I ended up breaking a tooth because of it! Pregnancy leeches the calcium out of your teeth and makes them really susceptible to breaks and cracks.....so be CAREFUL! I now have to live with this broken molar until after I deliver! Ouch!