When Do Pregnancy Cravings Start?

During pregnancy, your body goes through all sorts of changes – both inside and out. New and unusual cravings are among these common new feelings and changes you may be noticing. But when do pregnancy cravings start? Are they normal? How can they be managed?

These are all questions we’ll be touching on in this article, so let’s get started – beginning with the basics. 

What Are Pregnancy Cravings?

Pregnancy cravings are strong urges for certain foods, drinks, textures, and sometimes, non-food items. They are among the most common side effects of pregnancy, affecting up to 9 in 10 pregnant women.

These cravings can vary greatly for each woman, you may crave nutritious whole foods or indulgent treats – or even specific textures! You may even find yourself with the weirdest pregnancy cravings that you may not expect, or craving food you don’t usually like.  

While the exact cause of these cravings is still unclear, it seems changing hormones during pregnancy are likely to be at play.

Understanding your hormones might seem overwhelming with so much happening in your body during pregnancy. If you’re looking for a simple, hassle-free way to learn more about your hormonal patterns, you could consider trying our Hormone Monitor. Designed to be used alongside our Mira App and Wands, it directly helps users track hormone fluctuations such as LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone metabolite in urine – E3G and PdG, offering tangible insight into the hormonal basis for cravings.

Disclaimer: The Mira Hormone Monitor, Wands, Mira App and BBT tracking tools are intended for fertility awareness and cycle tracking purposes only. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease, to diagnose or track pregnancy, or serve as a form of contraception. The information provided through these tools should not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results and cycle patterns may vary. Users should always consult with qualified healthcare providers regarding fertility, conception, and reproductive health matters.

When Do Pregnancy Cravings Start?

While timings can vary for everyone, and may even change from one pregnancy to the next, pregnancy cravings typically tend to present during the later stage of your first trimester, and last throughout your second trimester.

Cravings can evolve, change, or fade throughout pregnancy. Some women may notice no cravings until later into their second trimester, while others may experience cravings that shift from one food type to another. Every pregnancy is different and unique.

Can You Have No Cravings During Pregnancy?

While cravings are normal and extremely common during pregnancy, some women may not experience them at all. This is also perfectly healthy and not a bad sign.

Individual hormone responses, as well as your personality, culture or socio-economic background, may affect their intensity too, so there’s little need for worry if you don’t notice any cravings during your pregnancy.

Common and Weird Pregnancy Cravings Explained

Most Common Pregnancy Cravings List

While pregnancy cravings can be highly individual and unique, there are some common food groups and drinks. Here are some examples:

• Candy

• Chocolate

• Ice cream, and other desserts

• Dairy

• Starchy carbs

• Fast food

• Fruit

• Fruit juice

• Pickles

• Pizza

• Meat

Findings behind the reason for these common cravings are still inconclusive, but there may be nutrient links to certain food groups. For example, a meat craving may signify a heightened need for iron, whereas a craving for dairy and ice cream may indicate a need for calcium. 

Weird Pregnancy Cravings: What’s Normal vs. Concerning

Many cravings are foods that already make up a normal diet, and are little cause for concern – even if they may seem unusual! 

Some women choose to satisfy their cravings, while others may try to resist; either choice is typically safe and up to the mother. If you decide to lean into the craving, try to be mindful of your food intake – a balanced, nutritious diet still remains paramount for your health, particularly when pregnant. 

However, some pregnant women notice unusual cravings for non-edible things that aren’t recommended for human consumption, such as chalk or dirt. This is known as ‘pica’, and may warrant a talk with your healthcare provider, particularly if the urges are strong.

Non-Food Pregnancy Cravings (Pica)

Pica is the craving of non-food items during pregnancy, with common examples including ice, chalk, dirt, soap, or even sand.

Pica may be a sign of certain nutritional deficiencies, such as low levels of iron or zinc. While other cravings are usually safe to satisfy, try to be mindful of these cravings, as many of them may pose health risks if given into.

If you think you may be experiencing pica, consider seeking support. A good first step could be an online health clinic, such as our Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility, which provides one-on-one consultations and may be ideal for expectant mothers seeking guidance.

Alternatively, if you’re experiencing intense, unusual, or confusing cravings, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. These feelings are more common than you might think, and there’s no shame in seeking support. A healthcare professional can help you understand what you're going through and guide you toward safe, effective next steps.

Craving Certain Foods During Pregnancy

Let’s now break down some common food cravings during pregnancy that you may notice. 

Each craving may reflect a nutrient need, such as calcium, protein or choline. If you’re looking to fill nutritional gaps while supporting your needs and hormonal balance during pregnancy, you could consider prenatal vitamins, which help fetal development and provide essential nutrients for you and your baby.

Craving fruit during pregnancy

You may notice an unusual craving for fruit during pregnancy, which is a perfectly healthy food group to indulge in! This may be due to your body needing additional hydration, vitamin C, or natural sugars. 

Some people believe that a sweet, sugary craving may indicate a baby’s gender, but these claims remain anecdotal and scientifically unproven today.

Craving cheese during pregnancy

Craving cheese may indicate certain calcium and fat needs. Like at any time in life, cheese is perfectly healthy to consume in moderation and can certainly be part of a balanced diet. Try to stick to pasteurized cheese, as it will have been heat treated to kill potentially harmful bacteria. 

Craving meat during pregnancy

Some women find themselves craving meat, even if they may usually stick to a vegetarian diet. Meat may signify certain iron/protein needs, and it’s fairly safe to satisfy this craving and to incorporate some meat into your diet. 

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, consider trying meat-free alternatives, such as veggie burgers, which are now increasingly available in many grocery stores.

Craving carbs during pregnancy

If you find yourself craving carbs during pregnancy, this may be due to higher energy demands, blood sugar dips, and comfort food psychology. Carbs make up a large portion of a balanced diet, so it is generally fine to satisfy this craving within moderation.

Craving eggs during pregnancy

On the other hand, a craving for eggs could signify a need for choline and protein. Eggs are a beneficial part of a balanced diet, and there are also vegan alternatives available in some grocery stores. 

Note: Be sure to fully cook your eggs to ensure safe and healthy consumption.

Craving orange juice during pregnancy

Similar to fruit cravings, orange juice may be linked to vitamin C needs, folate, and blood sugar spikes. Orange juice is typically safe and healthy to consume, but portion moderation is recommended. Try to opt for juices with no added sugars – or even make yours fresh at home!

Craving pineapple during pregnancy

Some people believe that pineapple triggers labor, and many women may notice a craving for this specific fruit during pregnancy. 

While the belief that pineapple promotes labor is likely a myth, it can still be a healthy part of a balanced diet. However, pregnant women should be conscious of the bromelain content in pineapple, an enzyme that can cause diarrhea and uterine cramping if consumed in large quantities, so portion guidance is recommended.

Craving salty food during pregnancy

Many women crave salty foods during pregnancy, including fries, chips, and pizza, all of which aren’t necessarily nutrient dense, but will not cause harm if consumed in moderation. 

A salt craving may be due to certain sodium needs and water retention, but it can be easy to quickly exceed your recommended salt intake with these foods. Try swapping to low sodium alternatives or make your own at-home versions, as a balanced way to satisfy the craving without consuming too much salt.

Craving ice cream during pregnancy

Ice cream and other dessert cravings can be enjoyed in small portions and alongside a balanced diet during pregnancy. 

Craving these desserts may be linked to calcium needs or blood sugar spikes. While it can be fun to indulge sometimes, try to find some healthier swaps as a happy medium, such as Greek yogurt or smoothies.

Food Cravings, Pregnancy and Baby Gender: Is There a Connection?

Food Cravings When Pregnant With a Girl

There are some ‘old wives tales’ that claim if an expectant mother is craving sweet things and sugar, she may be expecting a baby girl. However, true scientific data backing these claims is yet to be found.

Food Cravings When Pregnant With a Boy

On the other hand, some believe that salty or protein-rich cravings indicate a baby boy. This also remains anecdotal and a myth, and is not an accurate, evidence-based way of determining a baby’s gender.

Gender Prediction Myths and Theories

Other gender prediction beliefs include how strong a woman’s morning sickness might be, whether you have that “pregnancy glow,” how fast your baby’s heartbeat might be – the list is endless!

While it can be fun and exciting to theorize over your baby’s gender during pregnancy, the only proven, sure-fire way of finding out the sex is through an ultrasound when a mother is at around 20 weeks. Many women choose to leave the gender as a surprise, but an ultrasound is the perfect option to find out beforehand.

What About Food Aversions During Pregnancy?

As well as certain cravings, food aversions are another common side effect for many women during pregnancy. You may notice some smells and tastes becoming intolerable, with common food types including meat, coffee, or eggs. 

Similar to cravings, these aversions are likely to be due to the hormonal shifts occurring during pregnancy. Some also believe there is an evolutionary, biological factor at play here, with a heightened sense of smell allowing a pregnant mother to better identify things that may harm her or her baby in the natural world.

You may be able to manage your aversions through some simple lifestyle switches and coping strategies, such as eating cold versions of the food where the smell isn’t as strong, or switching to blander alternatives where the smell may not be as offensive.

However, if your aversions are preventing you from eating a balanced diet, they could affect your nutrition. Consider speaking with your doctor for some professional support if in doubt.

But when do food aversions start in pregnancy?

While not every woman will experience food aversions, pregnant women with this side effect will begin to notice certain aversions during the first trimester, similar to when cravings may begin to present.

Managing Pregnancy Cravings

What Happens If You Ignore Pregnancy Cravings?

Most cravings during pregnancy are normal food and drink items that many of us consume in our daily life, and are fine to satisfy if done so within moderation. It’s also okay to ignore your cravings, providing doing so will not lead to any nutritional deficiencies.

While giving into your cravings sometimes can be harmless, there can be some potential consequences of constant or excessive indulgence, particularly with foods that may lead to excess sugar or salt intake.

Healthy Alternatives for Common Cravings

If you’re looking to find some healthy alternatives to satisfy certain common cravings, we’ve compiled a table to help you find some easy swaps:

When to Talk to Your Doctor

If you’re noticing uncontrollable, insatiable cravings, signs of pica, or malnutrition or certain deficiencies from your food aversions, it may warrant a check-in with your doctor.

Many women believe that enduring these symptoms is just a normal part of pregnancy, with no real solutions or support, but you don’t have to go through this alone.

Whether you talk to your doctor, your OB/GYN, or even a dietitian, consulting a professional will provide you with not only expert support and guidance but also added confidence and reassurance during your pregnancy journey.

Conclusion

To wrap up, certain food cravings and even aversions are normal and extremely common for women during pregnancy, and are likely due to certain nutritional needs and hormonal shifts as your body changes and your baby develops and grows.

While most cravings are harmless, some can be unhealthy, unsafe, or may lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially if they become overwhelming. If you’re experiencing this or have any concerns, remember that professional support is always available. 

We hope this article has helped you feel more informed and supported as you navigate your pregnancy journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early do cravings start in pregnancy? Can you have them at 4 weeks pregnant?

Pregnancy cravings often begin during the first trimester, so it is possible to notice them as early as 4 weeks into your pregnancy.

When do cravings start in pregnancy? Can you experience them alongside dizziness at 2-3 weeks pregnant?

Technically, it is possible to experience these symptoms as early as 2-3 weeks pregnant, but cravings typically begin further into the first trimester, whereas dizziness is more common during the second trimester.

What do food cravings feel like in early pregnancy?

Many women describe early pregnancy cravings as strong urges to eat certain, often very specific foods - something more than general hunger. Cravings may also be accompanied by aversions to other food groups or smells.

What do you crave when pregnant with your first child? 

Cravings vary greatly for each expectant mother, and even from one pregnancy to the next. However, there is limited evidence-based data on specific cravings related to first pregnancies.

Do cravings during pregnancy indicate what the baby wants? 

Although it’s a common myth held by many, the idea that cravings indicate what the baby wants remains relatively unproven by science. While a true, concrete reason remains unknown, shifting hormones are more likely to be at play.